By Habibu Maaruf Abdu
The maiden edition of the Kano International Film Festival was held from 28th to 30th September 2022 in Kano, the iconic epicentre of Northern Nigeria’s Kannywood film industry. The festival, organised by Classical Film Modern Academy, is billed to hold annually to promote the film industry and build its personnel’s capacity. The Kannywood filmmakers have fully participated in the festival, which came a few months after their collective boycott against a similar event, the Zuma International Film Festival (ZUFF 2022).
Themed ‘Content Connectivity’, the festival received over 50 films from 15 countries. Among its 20 official selections are Harsh Living (UK), Wade in the water (US), The Irish Barn Dance (Ireland), Cemetery Hunt (Brazil), Everything collapses (Italy), I am a chance (Belgium), and Love trap (Cameroon).It also featured paper presentations, panel discussions, a masterclass, a film screening, and Award Ceremony.
The three-day occasion kicked off on Wednesday, 28th September 2022, with paper presentations and round table discussions at the Grand Central Hotel in Kano city. The first paper on ‘Film regulation’ was presented by the zonal director of the National Film Censorship Board, Mr Umar Fagge. It was followed by papers on ‘VFX technology’ and ‘English subtitle’ by Mal. Inuwa Tofa and Kabiru Musa Jammaje, respectively.
The second day of the festival saw its founder, Captain Musa Gambo, leading a masterclass at the Classical Film Modern Academy in the morning before the event later moved to Platinum Cinema to screen the Kannywood films nominated for awards in different categories. The films include Murjani (Dir. Sadiq N. Mafia, 2018), Sadauki (Dir. Hassan Giggs, 2019), Bana Bakwai (Dir. Ali Nuhu, 2020), Tsakaninmu and Sarki Goma Zamani Goma (both Dir. by Ali Nuhu in 2021), and more.
The historic film festival ended Friday, 30th September 2022, with an award ceremony at the Grand Central Hotel. The award event, hosted by Jamilu Yakasai, recorded a massive turnout of actors, directors, and producers, alongside dignitaries such as the SSA to the Kano state Governor on Kannywood affairs, Mal. Khalid Musa, and the industry’s pioneer trade analyst, Mr Usman Jibril (Solo). However, superstars like Ali Nuhu, Adam Zango, and Maryam Yahaya, who are also part of the award winners, were absent from the ceremony.
On the other hand, Kannywood’s highly respected elder, Alhaji Ibrahim Mandawari, whose name was alleged to be unjustly removed from the recipients of the ‘Life Time Achievement Award’ in this year’s edition of the Zuma Film Festival, has received the same ‘Life Time Achievement Award’ at the event.
Below is the complete list of winners:
Best Actor: Adam a Zango for Sadauki
Best Actress: Maryam Yahaya for Sarki Goma Zamani Goma
Best Supporting Actor: Alhassan Kwalle for Sadauki
Best Supporting Actress: Aisha Najamu for Sarki Goma Zamani Goma
Best Director: Ali Nuhu for Sarki Goma Zamani Goma
Life Time Achievement Award: Ibrahim Mandawari
Best Film: Sarki Goma Zamani Goma (Abubakar Bashir Mai-Shadda)
Best Series: Izzar So (Lawan Ahmad)
Best Screenplay: Yakubu M. Kumo for Sarki Goma Zamani Goma
Best Cinematograhy: Murtala Balala for Sarki Goma Zamani Goma
Best Production Design: Mairo Abdullahi for Sadauki
Best lighting: Usman Usee for Sarki Goma Zamani Goma
Best Sound: Shamsu Glo/Sani Candy for Sarki Goma Zamani Goma
Best Editor: Mailafiya Abdullahi