4TH ABUJA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL THE GRAND FINALE THE GRAND FINALE

The grand finale of this year's Abuja International Film Festival came to an end Friday 28th September, 207.

Guests were treated to a red carpet reception on arrival at the auditorium Hall of the Shehu Musa Yar'adua Conference Centre, Abuja.

At exactly 4.30pm the occasion started with the rendition of the National Anthem. The Festival Director Mr. Fidelis Duker, came up to the podium and thanked everyone for coming and took the audience through the humble beginnings of the now yearly film festival. He talked about why the film festival was put together - to have something for african movie practitioners to celebrate their culture, find an
avenue of getting together, rub minds and find ways of moving the film industry forward. He said it also affords other film makers from the international world, the opportunity of coming to Nigeria to share their wealth of experience, foster unity and gives opportunity for a celebration of values, friendship and craftmanship.

Musical presentations were done by a Togo based musician, followed immeiately by another act, this time, Samantha, a female singing sensation that is based in Abuja. Both artistes thrilled the audience to beautiful tunes. By popular demand, Samantha was called back to the stage a second time around, and she girated, twisting and shaking her hips to her sexy tunes, ably supported by her two vibrant
female dancers, who got applauded and cheered them all through.

After the light entertainment, awards were given to the winners in their different categories. Screening of films had been on for some time and the panelists had a very herculean task of streamlining the films to one winner in each category.

Here are the winners:

CATEGORY WINNER
(TITLE/DIRECTOR/COUNTRY

* BEST FEATURE INTERNATIONAL
HAVE YOU ANOTHER APPLE
BAYRAM FAZLI
(IRAN)

* BEST FEATURE NIGERIA
MOUNTAIN BLUES
BOND EMERUWA
(NIGERIA)

* BEST SHORT NIGERIA
MAMA PUT
SEKE SOMOLU

* BEST SHORT INTERNATIONAL M.P
YINKA DJIN
(GHANA/CANADA)

* BEST ANIMATION NIGERIA
SAI NA YI CANDI
FARUK SAYYADI
NIGERIA)

* BEST DOCUMENTARY INTERNATIONAL
FAMILIES UNDER ATTACKS
LINDOKUHLE MNYANDU
(SOUTH AFRICA)

* BEST INDIGENEOUS LANGUAGE FILM
ERIN LA KATABU
YEMI AMODU

* AUDIENCE RATING THIS IS NOLLYWOOD
ROBERT CAPUTO and
FRANCO SACCHI

Emmanuel Gabari
Reporting from Abuja, Nigeria
http://www.nollywoodgists.com