The Filmjoint Awards, an annual celebration dedicated to honoring excellence in short filmmaking, unfolded at the EbonyLife Place. The inaugural event featured 17 distinct categories, including accolades such as Best African Short Film and Best Actress/Actor in a Short Film. There were 40 nominated short films and short documentary films, with about 110 total nominees. 

Esteemed figures from the film industry, including Mr. Babatunwa Aderinokun, CEO of Trino Motion Pictures; and Mr. Chris Odeh, a prominent Film Producer and CEO of Sozo Films; along with other notable filmmakers like Bimbo Ademoye, Goodness Emmanuel, and Mautin Olorunleke (Mr.M), executive producer of Mami Wata, graced the occasion alongside numerous notable and emerging filmmakers. 

The heart of the event lay in the screening of various short films interspersed between category presentations. The climax arrived with the screening of the film that won the Best Indigenous Short Film category – Ihunanya’m.

The overarching goal of The Filmjoint is to establish a market for short films, transforming them from mere creative endeavors into purposeful works deserving of recognition. The Filmjoint Awards serve as a crucial platform, motivating filmmakers to strive for excellence and providing them with the opportunity to earn recognition and financial rewards for their dedication. 

Looking ahead, The Filmjoint envisions a future where short films become a staple in cinemas, shedding the perception of being mere skits or brief videos. Instead, these projects are envisaged as captivating works worthy of a cinema audience’s time and attention. The journey for The Filmjoint is still unfolding, with numerous initiatives on the horizon to further enhance the status of short films in the broader film industry.

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The Tentmakers: The FilmJoint Edition Featuring Founder Gbenga Adeoti (Creating a Distribution Avenue for Short Films)

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See the full list of 2024 nominees and winners below:

BEST PICTURE 

1. If not Freedom – Produced by Colette Brown, Tevin Sahota, Will Amorim Masheter (UK)- WINNER

2. Bugs’s Bunny – Produced by Carl Z. Seibel (US) 

3. Traf ick Me – Produced by Rhoda Seun Olowu (NG) 

4. 3.15am – Produced by Pradip Amin, Amit Patel (INDIA) 

5. Ihunanya’m – Produced by Heavens Obule, Abiodun Odu (NG) 

6. Kill The Impostor – Produced by Joshua Olaolu, Adeniyi Joseph Omobulejo (NG)

7. The Perfect Knight – Produced Stephanie Alexandre (UK) 

BEST DIRECTOR 

1. Traf ick Me – Directed by Adenrele Owen Olowu (WINNER)

2. Kill The Impostor – Directed by Adeniyi Joseph Omobulejo 

3. My Mama Na Ashawo – Directed by Nwamaka Chikezie 

4. Ihunanya’m – Directed by Abiodun Odu 

5. Purple Story – Directed by Ahmed Korede Yinusa 

6. Prey – Directed by Ese Ariremu 

BEST INTERNATIONAL FILM 

1. If not Freedom – United Kingdom (WINNER)

2. 3.15am – INDIA 

3. Bugs’s Bunny – United States 

4. The Internet Remains Undefeated – United Kingdom 

5. Selfie Control – United Kingdom 

6. The Perfect Knight – United Kingdom 

BEST AFRICAN FILM 

1. Tohazie, The Red Hunter – GHANA 

2. Ihunanya’m – Nigeria 

3. Traf ick Me – Nigeria 

4. My Mama Na Ashawo – Nigeria (WINNER)

5. Cleaners – South Africa 

6. Kill The Impostor – Nigeria 

BEST INDIGENOUS FILM (NIGERIA)

1. Ihunanya’m – Directed by Abiodun Odu (WINNER)

2. My Mama Na Ashawo – Directed by Nwamaka Chikezie

3. SÈBLÁ – Directed by Viyon eso Awhanse 

4. Boju-Boju – Directed by Tobi Adekunle Daniels

5. Prey – Directed by Ese Ariremu 

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY 

1. Traf ick Me – Adenrele Owen Olowu 

2. In the Stillness – Stephanie She Ifendu 

3. Kill The Impostor – Adeniyi Joseph Omobulejo (WINNER)

4. Ihunanya’m – David Sawyerr 

5. My Mama Na Ashawo – Joshua Ice Dauda 

6. READ MY BODY – George Joel 

7. BAIT – Okoh Loveth Maduabuchi 

BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN 

1. In the Stillness – In The Stillness 

2. Ihunanya’m – Sharon Akinsola 

3. My Mama Na Ashawo – Chris Eneh 

4. Kill The Impostor – Emaduku Oghenetejiri (WINNER)

5. Read My Body – Gobum Rotdung Panchen 

6. Traf ick Me 

7. Tamed – Etienne Benedict 

BEST SOUND OVERALL 

1. Kill The Impostor – Olushola Adekoya 

2. Traf ick Me – Adeboye Banjo (WINNER)

3. SÈBLÁ – Tunmise Daniel, Fisayo Adefolaju 

4. Boju-Boju – Chorrie Eugene Muta’a 

5. Read My Body 

6. Ihunanya’m 

BEST ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE 

1. Ihunanya’m – Chikamma R.C (WINNER)

2. My Mama Na Ashawo – Annointed Augustine

3. Last Tango in Abuja – Preach Bassey

4. Risk Men Take – Grey Chidi Maha 

5. Prey – Solomon Madu 

6. Collide – Myde Glover 

7. No Be So – Frank Eric 

BEST ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE 

1. Traf ick Me – Victory Emodi (WINNER)

2. Kill The Impostor – Susan Echa 

3. Ihunanya’m – Celia Okechukwu 

4. Last Tango in Abuja – Ruth Nkweti 

5. Venj – Rose Okeke 

6. Strength of a Woman – Etta JoMaria 

7. Purple Story – Ruby Chinaza Akubueze 

8. Omozi – Teniola Aladese 

BEST SCREENPLAY (ORIGINAL OR ADAPTED) 

1. Kill The Impostor – Adeniyi Joseph Omobulejo 

2. Traf ick Me – Adenrele Owen Olowu 

3. Ihunanya’m – Fisayo Ojabodu (WINNER)

4. My Mama Na Ashawo – Brenda Ogbukaa Garuba 

5. Strength of a Woman – Omobolanle Ladoja, Iyke Osoka, Etta JoMaria 

BEST COSTUME DESIGN 

1. Ihunanya’m – Vivian Bassey 

2. My Mama Na Ashawo – Chris Eneh (WINNER)

3. In the Stillness – Barrie Oladipo 

4. Read My Body – Theo-Ziny Joel 

5. Strength of a Woman – Enun Couture 

6. Kill The Impostor – Olamide Awodire 

BEST MAKE-UP/SFX 

1. Bait – Iwatt Emila Kenneth (WINNER)

2. Ihunanya’m – Vivian Bassey 

3. Traf ic Me – Wisdom Ananaba 

4. Boju-Boju – Retyit Idi Damulum, Barry Alice Fidelis 

5. Read My Body – Benita Bam’mun Mathew

BEST FILM EDITING 

1. Traf ick Me – Adenrele Owen Olowu (WINNER)

2. Kill The Impostor – Adeniyi Joseph Omobulejo 

3. In the Stillness – Vanti Adeokun 

4. Ihunanya’m – Victory Onyegbule, James Agu 

5. Bait – Michael Akindeloyin 

6. Read My Body – Theo-Ziny Joel 

7. Purple Story – Ahmed Korede Yinusa 

8. Venj 

BEST DOCUMENTARY FILM 

1. Baghdad Graphics – Directed by D.k. Odessa (Iraq)- WINNER

2. Untold African Stories – Directed by Alex Tackle (Namibia) 

3. The Only Black Mark in an Infinite White – Directed by Eren Ozkaradeniz (Turkey)

4. Big Dreams – A tale of resilience – Directed by Twamsan Danaan (Nigeria)

5. El Canto del Quetzal – Directed by Austin Faust (United States) 

6. ON YOUR OWN – Directed by Daniel Itegboje (Nigeria) 

7. ProBoots – Directed by Thuso Desmond Mogotsi (South Africa) 

BEST STUDENT FILM 

1. WÆRPED – Directed by ‘Dimeji Ogunranti (Nigeria) – WINNER

2. Amy’s House – Directed by Jude Schabort (South Africa) 

3. The Funeral – Directed by Ashimedua Ruth ODIACHI, GODWIN NZEKWE (Nigeria)

4. Murder is Art – Directed by Jamie Franks (South Africa) 

5. Full Circle – Directed by Reginald JUMBO, Kenneth IGWE (Nigeria)

6. ORGANIC – Directed by Bryce Donson (Nigeria) 

JURY AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING STORYTELLING 

1. If not Freedom – Directed by Will Amorim Masheter (UK) 

2. 3.15am – Directed by Amit Raj Verma (INDIA) 

3. Traf ick Me – Directed by Adenrele Owen Olowu (NG)- WINNER

4. Bugs’s Bunny – Directed by Carl Z. Seibel (US) 

5. Kill The Impostor – Directed by Adeniyi Joseph Omobulejo (NG) 

6. Ihunanya’m – Directed by Abiodun Odu (NG)

What Kept Me Up was a media partner of The Filmjoint Awards 2024.

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