‘Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti’, a film on the mother of Fela Kuti, the late Afrobeat legend, was among the top winners at the 2023 Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF) Globe Awards.
The AFRIFF award ceremony was held last weekend in Lagos to wrap up its week-long film festival.
‘Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti’ — produced by Bolanle Austen Peters — snagged the ‘Best Overall Feature Film’ and the ‘Best Screenplay’ awards.
Written by Tunde Babalola, the movie tells the story of Funmilayo; from her pioneering days as the first female student at Abeokuta Grammar School to her marriage to Israel Ransome-Kuti.
The family challenged oppression and created the Abeokuta Women’s Union, igniting a fierce battle against colonial and traditional rulers.
The film features movie stars like Joke Silva, Kehinde Bankole, Ibrahim Suleiman, Jide Kosoko, and Dele Odule.
Others are Adebayo Salami, Keppy Ekpenyong, Adunni Ade, Omowunmi Dada, Patrick Diabuah.
The annual award is organised to celebrate the best of African and global cinema, and honour films across different genres.
It also recognises the diversity and creativity of the film including original, innovative, and socially relevant works.
Below are the full list of winners:
- Best Overall Feature Film: “Funmilayo Ransom Kuti”
- Audience Choice Award: “I Do Not Come To You By Chance”
- Access Bank Best Short Film: “Until”23”
- Best Documentary: “White Nanny Black Child”
- Oronto Douglas Best Feature Film: “Funmilayo Ransom Kuti”
- Best International Feature: “Brothers,” Directed by Darkhan Tulegenov
- Best Director: Ellie Foumbi, “Our Father, The Devil”
- Best Performance Male: Gregory Ojefua “This is Lagos/Black Harvest”
- Special Jury Prize: “All the Colours of the World” and “White Nanny Black Child”
- Best International Short Film: “Nzu”
- Best Animation: “When Hearts Touch”
- Best Student Short Film: “Man and Masquerade”
- Best Screenplay: Tunde Babalola – “Funmilayo Ransom Kuti”
‘Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti’ was also one of the films considered for the Oscars by the Nigerian Official Selection Committee (NOSC) for the Academy of Motion Pictures, Arts and Sciences.
The movie is also set for release on Amazon Prime Video.
Funmilayo was born on October 25, 1900. She died on April 13, 1978, at the age of 77 after being wounded in a military raid on family property.
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