Nollywood’s captivating thriller, ‘Face To Face,’ claimed the coveted Best Film award at the grand culmination of the 2023 Zuma Film Festival (ZUFF). Kenneth Okolie secured the Best Actor accolade for his stellar performance in the movie directed by Robert Peters, featuring a star-studded cast including Freddie George, Gbenro Ajibade, Tamara Eteimo, Jeff Innocent, Dustin Wilkes, and Danelle Korsak.
Set against the backdrop of Lagos, ‘Face To Face’ illuminates the everyday struggles of average Nigerians in their quest for survival.
Amidst fierce competition, the ZUFF 2023 Jury, amidst submissions of 3,340 films worldwide, shortlisted 20 short films, 19 feature-length films, eight student films, six documentaries, 10 animations, and four indigenous language films.
At the festival’s prestigious award night, special recognition in the form of the “Lifetime Achievements Awards” was bestowed upon industry luminaries and stakeholders. The esteemed recipients included Peter Fatomilola, Sambo Sanusi, legendary singer Onyeka Onwenu, veteran Kannywood actress Saratu Gidado (‘Daso’), Clarence Peters, Dauda Kahuta (‘Rarara’), and Dr. Mariya Mahmoud, Minister of State for FCT, among others.
Dr. Chidia Maduekwe, Managing Director of the Nigerian Film Corporation and Chairman of ZUFF’s Organizing Committee, commended the awardees for their dedication to excellence.
“The Zuma Film Festival celebrates your contributions to the industry. Let these awards ignite further endeavors. ZUFF continues to serve as a platform to embody the African film experience through our cultural lens,” emphasized Maduekwe.
Spanning from December 1 to 8 under the theme “Cultural Convergence,” ZUFF 2023, a collaborative effort between the Nigerian Film Corporation (NFC) and the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), showcased the essence of African cinema through Zuma film lectures, master classes, panel discussions, investment sessions, and diverse film screenings.
