Afrinolly Short Film Competition winners announced

The top three winners in the MTN Afrinolly Short Film Competition have been selected. Over 500 entries were received from African filmmakers from 14 countries by the deadline in January 2013. A voting public then had three weeks from 15 February to choose their top three favourites for the $100 000 cash prize. Voting ended on Friday, March 8.

13 Mar 2013

Afrinolly Short Film Competition winners announced

Following an initial screening that found only 214 eligible entries, an international panel of judges in the creative industries pruned it down to the best 10 films in both the Short and Documentary categories.

The jury, chaired by documentary filmmaker Femi Odugbemi, comprised acclaimed filmmakers Tunde Kelani, Emem Isong, Juliet Yaa Asante and Obi Emelonye; content producer Bongiwe Selane, New York African Film Festival's Mahen Bonetti, The Black List's Franklin Leonard, writer Tolu Ogunlesi, Carol Kathurima and Nmachi Jidemma.

The jury shortlisted 20 entries based on the story's originality and imaginative force, clarity of purpose and its ability to captivate as well as how effectively the filmmaker reflected technical knowledge of acting, editing, sound, lighting, camera work etc.

The winners

Short Film:

First Prize ($25 000) - Dara Ju - By Anthony Onah

Second Prize ($10 000) - The Promise - By Akin Okunrinboye

Third Prize ($5 000) - To serve with all our Strength - By Ishaya Bako (HomeVida)

Documentary:

First Prize ($25 000) - Hustle On A Mile - By Bemigho Awala

Second Prize ($10 000) - A short "DOCUMENTARY" - By Soji Oyinsan II

Third Prize ($5 000) - Black and Gold - By Joseph Akwasi

The winners in the 4th to 10th positions in both categories will receive $500 each. The official awards presentation will take place on Friday, 22 March at the Oriental Hotel, Lekki, Lagos.

The MTN Afrinolly Short Film Competition is an initiative of FCO Limited, developers of the MTN Afrinolly mobile phone app. Its aim is to digitally showcase African cinema talent and provide a platform to foster the production of African content and make same available online. The competition was supported by MTN, Goethe Institut, Blackberry, IREP and Google as the social media partner.

View the winning videos at afrinollyshortfilmcompetition.com/winners