By Hussein Kiganda
Five Ugandan films, namely Crystal directed by Leonard Amanya; Kafa Coh directed by Doreen Mirembe; Beneath Beauty directed by Aisha Kyomuhangi; Contracted directed by Josephine Kabahuma, and the animated film No Way Out by Ashiraf Mulima, have been chosen to represent Uganda at the prestigious Kaduna International Film Festival 2023 in Nigeria.
The films have received 14 nominations across various categories. Notably, Michael Wawuyo Snr has been nominated for Best Actor for his role in Kafa Coh, and Leonard Amanya for the Best Male Director for his work on Crystal.
Jolly Namara from Beneath Beauty and Cleo Kabuye from Crystal have both been nominated for the esteemed Best Actress award. The brilliant cinematography of Racheal Mambo and Fauzia Mulimira in Beneath Beauty has earned them a nomination for Best Cinematography.
The animation No Way Out by Ashiraf Mulima has been acknowledged as the Best Animation, and the screenplay of Crystal by Leonard Amanya has secured a nomination for Best Screenplay.
Additionally, Doreen Mirembe has been recognised as the Best Female Director for Kafa Coh. Furthermore, the films Beneath Beauty, Kafa Coh and Crystal have received nominations for Best Feature Film and Best International Film, while “Contracted” has been selected for screening at the festival.
In an interview with The Kampala Sun, Ashiraf Mulima, the talented animator behind No Way Out, expressed his deep honour at being selected once again to showcase his work in Nigeria. He mentioned that his film had previously won the prestigious Best Animation award at the Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAAs) in 2022 and conveyed his confidence in bringing more glory to his home country.
“I am immensely honoured to represent our nation once again. Last year, I had the privilege of winning the award at the AMAAs for the same film, and I am confident that I will bring this esteemed accolade back home,” Mulima remarked.
The sixth edition of the Kaduna International Film Festival, aptly named KADIFF, is scheduled to take place on August 23, 2023. This film festival, the first of its kind in northern Nigeria, is an annual five-day event that encompasses master classes, tourism, exhibitions, film screenings, workshops, seminars, and many other engaging activities.
