Organisers of the British Urban Film Festival have announced that this year’s awards ceremony is to be held at London’s Rich Mix on Friday December 2 – the climax to the week long event.
Actor, writer and director Femi Oyeniran (The Evolution of Black British Music) will host the BUFF Awards for the 5th time having previously co-hosted with Larushka Ivan-Zadeh in 2016 and Linda Egwuekwe in 2019. His new co-host for this year has been announced as Mosique Lavontelle (MLavontellePresents, The Hotlist UK).
The recipient of this year’s honorary award is prolific British-Nigerian filmmaker Obi Emelonye, whose body of work (both in the UK and in Nigeria) includes Last Flight to Abuja, Black Mail, The Mirror Boy, Badamasi and Echoes of War. The award (to be presented by producer/director Don Omope (Makate Must Sell, TATU, The Wedding Party) is recognition of his 20+ years contribution to cinema.
10 awards will be given across the official selection, including for best live scripts, best actor, best actress, best feature film, best short film, best international film, best soundtrack and best documentary. In a statement, festival director Justin Chinyere said: “This year’s BU Film Festival awards are not to be missed! With a rich mix of over 90 films being screened throughout the week, the closing ceremony is a beautiful way to award filmmakers for their brilliant efforts. The films that have been nominated are full of flavour from many diverse cultures which tell stories we all want to see, reshaping how we see the world for many years to come. I am in awe of the fantastic work that all the filmmakers have contributed to make this festival possible and I can’t wait to share their talents with you and add them to the list of household names that have previously exhibited at our festival”.
Navy (Duaine Carma Roberts) was named best feature film at the 2021 BUFF awards last December. For her performance in Navy, Ophelia J Wisdom was voted best actress; George Russo took home the prize for best actor for Baby Boy; Ken Fero & Souleyman Garcia won the award for best documentary (Ultraviolence) and The Gospel According to Gail (Florence Winter-Hill) earned the prize for best short film.
Best International Film – nominees
Remember Me: The Mahalia Jackson Story (dir: Denise Dowse)
Collision Course (dir: Bolanle Austen-Peters)
Child of The Occult ( dir: Adesola Sunday Oyin-Adejobi, Isaac Oluwole Olaleye)
Best Soundtrack – nominees
Silent World (dir. Charlie Dennis)
When the Rain sets in (dir. James Hughes)
Wetin Man Go Do (dir. Lukas Zeickner)
Remember Me – The Mahalia Jackson Story (dir: Denise Dowse)
Best Short Film Award – nominees
My Jerome (dir: Adjani Salmon)
Dysphoria (dir: Yennis Cheung)
Fifty Four Days (dir: Cat White & Phoebe Torrance)
Puzzled Path (dir: Kenneth Ma)
The Blessing Anyiam-Osigwe Best Actress Award – nominees
Shin-Fei Chen (Dysphoria)
Sophie Cartman (Four O’Clock Flowers)
Kelise Gordon (Long Walk Home)
Ledisi (Remember Me: The Mahalia Jackson Story)
Best Actor – nominees
Nicholas Pinnock (Can I Help?)
Kelechi Udegbe (Collision Course)
Wil Johnson (The Track)
Bally Gill (Bus Driver)
The Victor Adebodun Best Feature Film Award – nominees
The Wife and her House Husband (dir: Marcus Markou)
Donkey Dust (dir: Kit Akinluyi)
Four O’Clock Flowers (dir: Peter Callow)
Pattern (dir: Ivan Madeira)
Best Documentary (sponsored by PBS) – nominees
Buddleia – The Unchained Story (dir: Tracy Kiryango)
Fenom (dir: Kayla Johnson)
Hostile (dir: Sonita Gale)
Black Daddy: The Movie (dir: Damon Jamal Taylor)
Best Live Script Award – 3 recipients
Helen Alexis Yonov (Burden of Light)
Stephen Graham (I’m a Gun)
Hecham Elhajoui (War Criminal)
The British Urban Film Festival Honorary Award recipient:
Obi Emelonye
