Obaseki rewards winners of Edo film festival with over $50,000 cash prizes

The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, at the closing ceremony of the Edo State International Film Festival (ESIFF) gives out over $50,000 to winners of various categories. in Benin City, called for increased private sector participation to sustain the annual film festival as well as the gains recorded with reforms to grow the state’s creative industry.

The governor’s award of $10,000 for the best overall film at festival went to a project titled, ‘Onaiwu,’ directed by Joseph Okhomina who also won the best director at the festival.

The ‘Battle of the West’ emerged best film in the use of technology; ‘Zara’ won best cellphone film and ‘the Funeral’ emerged the best student film, with each winner getting $2,000 cash reward each.

The best indigenous language film award, aimed at promoting the use of indigenous language in filmmaking, was bagged by ‘On this mountain,’ while ‘Omoatama,’ emerged the best film shot in Edo state, with each category winner going home with $5,000 cash prize.

Winners of the rural photography award also went home with N375, 000. Other winners are Best Director, Joseph Okhomina (Onaiwu); Best Actor (female), Victory Idahosa (Onaiwu); Best Actor (male), Ben Olaye (Onaiwu); Best Short Film, Tare: Best Documentary, Palm for Crude; Best Film Costume, Osayi Blessing (Onaiwu); Best Filmmaker, Ramon Abdulazeez and Best Cinematography, After a while (Egypt).

The governor, while expressing his satisfaction with the success of the festival said, “Edo people are perhaps the most creative people on the black continent.”

Obaseki noted, “Our past is there to prove that we have made masterpieces in terms of arts throughout the years. The most imaginative Africans that have ever lived are our people. The creative and historical legacy of the talents we are honoring today is extensive and rich. We are honoring our best work at the inaugural Edo State International Film Festival this evening.

“The festival dates for the following year will be revealed after today. Our purpose in being here is to present the greatest overall film award. The amount of labor and time invested in making this movie is undoubtedly greater than the award we are offering. We merely want to express our gratitude for all of your hard work and dedication in using this God-given ability to share our story.”

Obaseki continued, pointing out that the Edo people have prospered because of their inventiveness in music and movies as well as their ability to spread the gospel throughout the globe, “We have been successful in these two areas because the government has not interfered too much in your affairs, allowing you to showcase your talents and express yourself freely.

“You will see the government retreating and you will be taking greater responsibility for yourself in our upcoming film festival. Although the government lacks the talent to achieve what you are doing, we will nonetheless support you and let the industry take over.”

Head of festival jury, Prof. Osakue Omoera, while hailing the governor for the initiative, noted that the jury screened over 2,000 films from 94 countries.

Omoera advised, “We exhort and encourage industry practitioners to raise their game both technically and narratively. Raising the bar for technical proficiency is also necessary in a number of other areas, including sound design, script play, and production design.

“We urge professionals to take advantage of the government’s current training initiatives and put what they have learned into practice in order to support the production of high-caliber films from Edo State.”