By Hwok Nathaniel Gang
History was made at the 2023 African International Film Festival (AFRIFF), when for the first time in the festival’s 13-year history, two films simultaneously won the Special Jury Prize—the highest honor in the award category of the festival.
This year’s festival which saw a total of 2,000 film submissions from more than 100 countries scattered across 5 continents, was coordinated by a star-studded jury which included (but is not limited to) the likes of Steven ‘Dr’ Love, Nicholas Weinstock, Busola Tejumola and Abby Ajayi; as well as Hollywood’s veteran actors Desmond Elliot and Kate Henshaw.
Upon the commencement of the festival on November 5th, only 100 films were selected from the lot and screened by the international jury to present 14 Globe awards to the most outstanding artistry and maestro in visual storytelling.
Despite this heated competition, “All the Colors of the World are between Black and White” by Nigerian Director Babatunde Apalowo, and “White Nanny, Black Child” by South African Filmmaker Andy Mundy-Castle emerged the first paired winners of the Special Jury Prize.
Although both films discuss different plots using see rate genres and storytelling techniques, they both share a common thought-provoking theme which revolves around segregation and the dilemma associated with identity crisis; making them the undisputed ultimate choice for the Jury as well as film lovers and enthusiasts.
White Nanny, Black Child
Poster for White Nanny, Black Child
Image Credit: The Voice
This film is an 80-minute documentary on the experiences of 9 Nigerians who were adopted by White Britons between 1955 and 1995 in a practice known as “farming”. Under the professional guidance provided by the filmmakers, these individuals in under six days of filming, took turns recounting the confusion and trauma they had to endure in the process of discovering their identity, finding a sense of belonging and understanding the concept of family at an early age.
The film had its world premiere at Sheffield Doc Fest earlier this year, and subsequently had its TV premiere on October 3. It was made in loving memory of acclaimed Brixton artist, Ty Chijioke, whom Mundy-Castle had described as one of the inspirations behind the film, as well as a major stakeholder in its production process.
The BAFTA-nominated director said, “The idea to make this film came to me around 2018 when a handful of friends shared that they had gone through this private fostering experience during childhood, which led me to a deep dive in research on the phenomenon. One of the people that I spoke to was the late music artist Ty Chijioke who went to my secondary school and was a friend of my older brother.”
“I began making this film with Ty and unfortunately he passed away during the pandemic, which was incredibly tough for the production and almost halted everything. I’m glad to say that it didn’t and Ty’s legacy will live on as the film is made in his memory, ” he added.
Asides sharing the Special Jury Prize with All the Colors of the World are Between Black and White, White Nanny, Black Child also won the best Documentary Feature award at the AFRIFF 2023.
All the Colors of the World are between Black and White
Poster of All the Colors of the World are Between Black and White
Image Credit: Google
This 92-minute romantic drama film had its world premiere in February at the 73rd Berlin International Film Festival, and subsequently won the Teddy Award for best LGBTQ-themed feature film.
The film, which is set in Nigeria, tells the story of two men who meet and fall in love during a photography competition in Lagos. However, their love is threatened by societal norms about homosexuality, making it almost impossible to truly express their affection for each other.
Speaking about the inspiration for the film, Apalowo said, “‘All the Colors of the World Are Between Black and White’ was initially intended to be a love letter to the city of Lagos, celebrating its vibrant energy and culture. However, the film took on a deeper meaning when I witnessed a tragic event that would change the course of the story.
“While in University, I had a bunkmate who was lynched because of his sexual orientation right in front of me while I watched helplessly. This event inspired me to tell the story of Bambino, a metaphorical outsider who finds himself questioning his own identity while reconciling his past. I wanted to explore the struggles and challenges that he and others like him face in a society that often rejects and punishes those who are different. It is a deeply personal and meaningful film for me, as it touches on themes of identity, belonging, and the human experience in all its complexity.”
In a society where segregation and social bigotry are still practiced in subtility, even among brothers and members of the same race and social class, these two films have broken out of the spiral of silence to express thoughts that others have been too shy and/or unperturbed to discuss. By awarding these films with one of their most esteemed awards, the jury and AFRIFF organizers are subtly hinting toward a change in status quo. Not just for the award in itself, but for the African entertainment and film industry as well.
AFRIFF to Africa and the World
AFRIFF was founded in 2010 by Chioma Ude, a passionate film buff and entrepreneur. The festival which usually lasts the span of a week, consists of activities such as award shows and film training classes. It honors participants in categories such Feature, Documentary, Short, Animation, and Students Short, as well as awards and prizes for Directing, Acting, and Screenplay.
Other awards such as the special awards for Audience Choice and Outstanding Film Jury Award are some of the highest ranking categories of honors which the festival provides its most exceptional entries.
This year’s festival, however, in addition to the film screening and award presentation gala, was particularly noteworthy for its revolutionary ‘Script to Screen Project’—a 12-month immersive incubator and content creation acceleration program for nurturing talent and enhancing creative capacities, with a focus on screenwriting and content production. With this, the festival hopes to elevate African narratives on a global platform.
