The film of the year cast (Devil’s cast) pose for a photo with their accolade as well as cheque worth Shs20m on Friday at Kampala Serena hotel. PHOTO BY MICHAEL KAKUMIRIZI
When the movie ‘Devil’s chest’ was announced the winner in the category of Best editing and post production, Samuel Masaba, the director of the movie called for calm and advised the rest of the directors to keep working hard.
“Today it’s me and tomorrow it’s going to be someone else. We just have to keep working hard as I have been doing so without sleeping,” he said.
This was the 3rd award the movie was winning during last Friday’s Uganda Film Festival at Kampala Serena Hotel gardens. But little did he know that it was far from over. The movie was announced winner in the ‘Best Feature film’, ‘Best film costume’, ‘Best music and sound’, and Film of the year.
Eddy Kenzo performing on Friday at Serena hotel during the Uganda film festival. PHOTO BY MICHAEL KAKUMIRIZI
Yat Madit came second with three accolades, ‘Best actress’ (Hasifa Nakitende) and ‘Best Actor’ (Michael Wawuyo Jnr) and Best TV drama’.
Unique accolades
Unlike other award ceremonies that just give out accolades; the Uganda Film Festival appreciates the work of all the winners by giving them a cash price, certificate of appreciation and other gifts. Because it dominated the evening, the movie received over shs35m, (3m, 20m, 10m etc) courtesy of Citi bank as well as certificates and decoders.
However, there were others winners and these include Rayong Rushabiro (The Torture) who took the Best actor of 2017. He’s win not only surprised him but most of his fans. In fact, they lifted him from his seat all the way to the stage. His speech would have gone on if he wasn’t stopped by the emcee. He got a dummy cheque of shs5m, a 32 inch screen, decoder and certificate. His 20 years in film did finally pay off. This was one of the tightest categories and he beat Steven Ayeng from the movie ‘orders above’, Rodney Zikussoka from ‘Damage and Hustle’ and Felix Bbale from ‘faithful’ among others.
Local musician Cindy entertains the guests alongside her queen dancers at Kampala Serena hotel during the Uganda film festival on Friday. PHOTO BY MICHAEL KAKUMIRIZI
The ‘Best short Film’ went to Rehema, Zzina won the ‘Best documentary’, ‘Best East African film’ going to ‘What goes around comes around. ‘Rain’ by the Nabwisos took the ‘Best screen play’ while ‘Order from above’ won the Best cinematography.
Because music goes hand in hand with movies, the ceremony had to have some entertainers and these included Gravity Omutujju, Steve Keys who impressed with cover songs like ‘Munakampala’, ‘Live and die in Africa’, ‘Shape of you’ and ‘I know who I am’ simultaneously’. Kadongokamu musician Mathias Walukkaga also performed but was a little bit disappointing because he sang off playback which was not expected of him.
Other performances came from Eddy Kenzo and Cindy who closed the show at a few minutes past midnight.
However, like on most events, there has to be challenges and on this particular one, the sound and stage operators DVI sounds and visual, messed up the event with non-operating microphones and the one which was used kept going on and off. The teleprompter also went off when the category of ‘Movie of the year’ was being read and they couldn’t do anything about it. Leaving UCC’s Eng Godfrey Mutabazi with no option but to just announce the winner.