The Ibadan International Film Festival has announced the official selections for its third edition set to take place in September. Out of over 3,000 submissions from more than 150 countries, the popular movie, ‘Jagun Jagun’ by actor and filmmaker, Femi Adebayo, leads the nominations list with seven nods, followed closely by the Iranian film, ‘Pregnant’, which has five nominations; and ‘Golden Blood’, also from Iran, in four categories. A filmmaker and the convener of IIFF, Ogunlade Usman, aka Blackky, expressed excitement about the calibre of films selected for the awards.
He said, “The diversity and depth of the films we’ve selected are truly remarkable. Each submission underwent a rigorous screening process, and the final selections are a testament to the global talent in the film industry. We’re particularly proud to see Nigerian films like ‘Jagun Jagun’ leading the nominations, as it highlights the strength and potential of African cinema on the world stage.
” The festival’s director, Babatunde Ojobaro, also stated that the IIFF was not just about showcasing films, but also creating a space for dialogue, learning, and collaboration. He added, “We have an incredible lineup of panel discussions, workshops, and networking events that will offer filmmakers and attendees the opportunity to engage with the industry in meaningful ways.” Related News Femi Adebayo's 'Jagun Jagun' wins best indigenous language movie at AMVCA I’ve broken ribs, bones doing stunts in movies — Adamson Ibrahim My experience making special effects for Jagun Jagun – Hakeem Effects On his part, the head of communications for the IIFF, Femi ‘Davies’ Alagbala, praised the efforts of the college of screeners and jury for ‘meticulously reviewing each submission’.
Movies nominated in the ‘Best Feature Film’ category include ‘Golden Blood’ (Iran), ‘Pregnant’ (Iran), ‘Jagun Jagun (The Warrior)’ (Nigeria). The ‘Best Short Film’ category had films such as ‘Blackhole’ (USA), ‘The New Cardinal’ (USA), ‘Jude’ (Nigeria); while the ‘Best Animation’ category had movies such as ‘1996’ (USA), ‘Headless’ (France), and ‘Earthed’ (UK)..
