Kampala. A couple of Ugandan film-makers have been nominated in the prestigious The African Film Festival (TAFF) awards in United States of America due to take place in Dallas, Texas on June 30, 2019. Among the nominees include actress Leilah Nakabira, Dianah Tanzi alias Dianah Nabatanzi, Director Zziwa Aaron, Mathew Nabwiso, Samuel Saviour Kizito and actress Nodryn Avanci. Ugandan Film ‘The Forbidden’ scooped three (3) nominations for the Best Actress (Leilah Nakabira), Best Screenplay (Samuel Saviour Kizito and actress Nodryn Avanci) and film Director Zziwa Aaron was nominated for best film director for his film ‘Twisted Minds’ where also actress Dianah Nabatanzi was for best actress.
The nominees will be competing with film makers from all over Africa and the United States. TAFF awards that celebrate African motion pictures will serve as a Dallas or U.S. premiere opportunity for several filmmakers across the globe, whose films are selected to the festival. Actress Leilah Nakabira who will be attending the award night in Dallas told Daily Monitor that this is a great opportunity for the budding Ugandan film industry to shine. She went on to explain that the TAFF awards will give Ugandan filmmakers a platform to compete in the global market with established filmmakers. “It is a greatest opportunity for the Ugandan Film Industry and the nominations have opened doors Ugandans to expand the market for Ugandan films” Nakabira. Below is the full list of nominees.
BEST ACTRESS NOMINEES
Between (Stella Damasus) – USA
My Image (Syriette Che) – Cameroon
Twisted Minds (Diana Nabatanzi) – Uganda
Leading Lady (Phoenix Ifeoma Ezendu) – Nigeria
The Forbidden (Leilah Nakabira) – Uganda
BEST ACTOR NOMINEES
Tenacity (Tsi Conrad) – Cameroon
Sema (Hassan Daffur) – Tanzania
’94 Terror (Mateega Smith Shadic) – UGANDA
Bed of Thorns (Nsu George) – Cameroon
Last Night (Prince Osei) – Ghana
BEST YOUNG TALENT NOMINEES
Rising Star (Eric Appiah) – Ghana
Oga Baloji (Jasmin Fakunde) – Nigeria
Bed of Thorns (Nchini Sylvia-Bright Bih) – Cameroon
Made In His Image (Anah Ambuchi) Kenya)
Losing My Religion (Ihiechineke Anthony) – Nigeria
BEST DIRECTOR
Twisted Minds (Zziwa Aaron Alone) – Uganda
Sema (Timoth Conrad) – TANZANIA
My Image (Nkanya Nkwai) – CAMEROON
Nogochi (Toumani Sangare) MALI
Bad Luck Joe (Ramesh Jai) – GHANA
BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT NOMINEES
Pathbreakers (Uganda)
Jumer (Egypt)
The Vision (USA)
Putting Safety on the Front Burner (Nigeria)
Rwanda, an African Metamorphosis (Rwanda)
BEST NARRATIVE SHORT NOMINEES
Oriki (Nigeria)
Rising Star (Ghana)
Closed (Nigeria)
Bibi Mtoto (Uganda)
Losing My Religion (Nigeria)
BEST COSTUME
Bigger than Africa (Nigeria)
Tenacity (Cameroon)
Disguise (Nigeria)
Nogochi (Mali)
’94 Terror (Uganda)
BEST INDIGENOUS
Tenacity (Cameroon)
Salamu (Tanzania)
Assang (Gabon)
Butterfly (Cameroon)
Bigger than Africa (Nigeria)
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Nomfundo (South Africa)
Closed (Nigeria)
A leaf (Egypt)
Nogochi (Mali)
Tenacity (Cameroon)
BEST SOUNDTRACK NOMINEES
Sema (Tanzania)
Rain (Uganda)
Vain Glory (Cameroon)
Lucky (Ghana)
Oga Baloji (Nigeria)
BEST EMERGING FILMMAKER
Panafricus – Casted Souls (Senegal)
Uyoyou Adia – The Fourth Side (Nigeria)
Joseph Boateng – Rising Star (Ghana)
Galina Kolchina – Africa Tells (Russia)
Claire Jeantet – Restoring Dignity (France)
BEST SCREENPLAY
Bedroom Points (Nigeria)
Captive – Ko NKanga (South Africa)
State of Mind (Zimbabwe)
Parental Responsibility (Australia)
The Forbidden (Uganda)
ROOTFLIX VIEWERS CHOICE
Assang (Gabon)
Sema (Tanzania)
Casted Souls (Senegal)
Tenacity (Cameroon)
Oriki (Nigeria)
Salamu (Tanzania)
Golden Fish, African Fish (Senegal)
Vain Glory (Cameroon)
The Forbidden (Uganda)
Halimat (Nigeria)
Sens Dessus Dessous (Gabon)
Leading Lady (Nigeria)
Good Luck to all the nominees!
editorial@ug.nationmedia.com