The Uganda Film Festival (UFF) which aims at awarding outstanding film creations in the country, was held at Serena Hotel Kampala Friday, November 30.
The award gala, was the culminating event of the week-long festival that was marked by several activities including film screenings, film exhibition market, workshops, training among others.
UFF is Uganda’s equivalent of the “Oscars”. It’s glitz and glamour, it’s about film and Uganda’s local content.
Veronica’s Wish was the biggest winner in the evening. A movie directed by Rehema Nanfuka, telling the story of a woman who struggles with love after she is diagnosed with a terminal illness.
The movie scooped nine awards including Best Feature Film, Best Cinematography, and Best Screen Play, among others.
State Minister for Information and National Guidance Hon Idah Nantaba officiated at the gala.
She commended government through Uganda Communications Communication (UCC) for supporting local talent.
Nantaba also lauded Multichoice, the brand holders of DSTV Uganda, for introducing a dedicated channel, the Pearl Magic TV, that airs only Ugandan content.
“This shows that we have good content to compete in the industry,” she said.
She committed as a legislator to see that taxes on equipment used by filmmakers is reduced to encourage more production of local content.
“As a legislator, I’m working hard to see that local content is protected through enacting laws like the copyright law, which is now the biggest issue filmmakers are facing today.”
Mr Godfrey Mutabazi, the UCC Executive Director, said that the commission is mandated to make sure local content is shown at the front of Uganda‘s media.
“That’s why we always come up with the Uganda Film Festival to ensure that our actors are praised and portrayed in a good way as they are,” he said.
Mutabazi also revealed that UCC has partnered with Century Cinemax’s Acacia Mall, Cinemagic Metroplex Naalya, Cinemax Entebbe and Cinemax at Ham Shopping Mall near Makerere University to show free Ugandan movies on their big screens.
Here’s the full list of winners:
Best Student Film
Idi Amin’s Boat
Best Short Film
Kyenvu
Best Animation
Chebet
Best East African Film
World Tofauti
Best African Film
Sometimes In Yesterday
Best Actor in TV Drama
Ejule Paul (Taste Of Time)
Best Actress in TV Drama
Nantambi Juliet (Mistakes Girls Do)
Best TV Drama
Mistakes Girls Do
Best Costume & Production Design
Veronica’s Wish
Best Sound
Veronica’s Wish
Best Editing & Post Production
Veronica’s Wish
Best Cinematography
Veronica’s Wish
Best Screen Play
Veronica’s Wish
Best Supporting Actor
Simon Base Kalema (Veronica’s Wish)
Best Supporting Actress
Stella Nantumbwe (Bella)
Best Actor
Raymond Rushabiiro (Five Days To Live)
Best Actress
Nisha Kalema (Veronica’s Wish)
Viewer’s Choice Award
94 Terror
Best Feature Film
Veronica’s Wish
Best Film Director
Rehema Nanfuka (Veronica’s Wish)
Lifetime Achievement Award
Abbey Mukiibi
