Winners emerge from Script2Screen Reality TV show

The High Definition Film Academy (HDFA) has announced winners for its 4-week long TV show tagged ‘Script2Screen Africa Filmmaking Reality TV project – Focus Nigeria’. The winners were announced at a glamourous grand finale held at the Silverbird Galleria in Victoria Island, Lagos yesterday. They include Anita Abada, who won the “Best Screenplay” award; Oghenetejiri […]

The High Definition Film Academy (HDFA) has announced winners for its 4-week long TV show tagged ‘Script2Screen Africa Filmmaking Reality TV project – Focus Nigeria’.

The winners were announced at a glamourous grand finale held at the Silverbird Galleria in Victoria Island, Lagos yesterday.

They include Anita Abada, who won the “Best Screenplay” award; Oghenetejiri Idogho, who won the “Best Filmmaker” award and Lydia John, who won the “Best Actor” award. Also, group 4 among the finalists won the “Overall Best Short Film” for their movie titled: “Isidore” which was directed by Nuhu Dalyop, one of the 60 contestants who made it through the rigorous auditioning and screening.

Each of the winners went home with an award plaque and a N500,000 Acting, Screenplay and Filmmaking contract respectively while the overall group winner received N1million prize.

Speaking at the event, the visioneer and CEO of HDFA, Bright Wonder Obinna Obasi, said the show was focused on raising a new breed of revolutionist-filmmakers who will take the Nollywood industry to greater heights.

The HDFA boss said “the training programme was to bring actors and filmmakers together basically to train them in the most creative manner.”

He added that the academy is poised to also establish a world class film academy in Nigeria that will empower people from the African continent who are passionate about acting and filmmaking.

Ezeigwe Chioma Juliet, who was one of the 60 finalists and an award nominee for Best Filmmaker, said that the training was one she would never forget for life.

She said the four weeks intensive training she had at the Script2Screen camp in Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos has opened her eyes and gave her voice to start public awareness on sexual abuse and domestic violence, having being molested by her school bus driver at a tender age.

Juliet vowed to be a voice for victims of sexual abuse and promised to make films that address their plights, adding that her first film will be out by June this year.

“We want to raise filmmakers who understand that film is an ideal catalyst for change and linking a powerful story with highly developed activist campaign could move public opinion and start a revolution,” Obasi said.

The event also witnessed the premiere of all short films scripted, acted, directed and produced by all the award finalists which were screened to the guests in attendance. The short films are The Anonymous, Torn, The Catalyst, Isidore, and Idama.

It will be recalled that during the Reality TV show which lasted for about one month, the contestants were taken through intensive trainings programmes and competitions to produce their own films.

At this year’s edition themed: “Film as a Catalyst for Revolution,” the finalists were drilled by Nollywood veterans including Kalu Ikeagwu, Stella Damasus, among others.

At the start of the project, both actors and filmmakers were grouped into five groups and made to produce a short film with focus on a corrupt-free Nigeria.

While commending all the participants for their creativity, Obasi however thanked MacArthur Foundation for supporting the project.