All the films presented in the Best Short Film or Online Video category at the seventh edition of the Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards are thoughtfully written, executed and produced. None is longer than fifteen minutes but the effect they leave on the viewer will definitely last longer than the duration of each film.
Oga John by Bolanle Akintomide
One doesn’t immediately get the sense that ‘Oga John’ is the type of production that is set out to address mental health. A young girl on the verge of suicide gets a second chance at life after noticing a Mentally Aware Nigeria Initiative (MANI) Mani business that a shop merchant, Oga John, slipped into her nylon when she bought rat poison, presumably to end her life. MANI is a non-profit organization focused on raising awareness about mental health and illnesses as well as working to connect service users to mental health professionals. The movie is just over 9 minutes long but it packs a lot, shining the spotlight on a subject matter that isn’t talked about enough.
Thorn by Bola Akanbi
Written, Produced and Directed by Bola Akanbi, ‘Thorn’ tells the story of Tony who has a traumatic past. He grew up seeing his dad beat his mother and later him too. That trauma that he has been carrying along manifests itself when he wrongly intervenes in what he thought was a domestic squabble. In this riveting depiction, we see his past connect with his present and in the process ruining his future.
Prueba by Stanlee Ohikuhare
Stanlee Ohikuhare is no stranger to the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards having bagged four of the awards for various productions that he has been involved in over the years. He is hopeful to win it again this year with ‘Prueba’, a film about 24-year-old Chinny; an aspiring actress who must resist sleeping with a renowned movie producer to secure an acting role. “The movie explores a moment in the prevalent scourge of sexual harassment against young female actresses in the movie industry globally. It is rich in subtexts and has been rendered in a Lateral manner to keep the perception of the viewers universal and diverse,” he wrote.
Tokunbo by Rogba Arimoro
A Tokunbo vehicle in Nigeria is the local name used to describe second-hand vehicles imported from Europe. In Rogba Arimoro’s ‘Tokunbo’, we see the story of a man’s life jam-packed into the almost thirteen minutes long production which his shot entirely in a car with a mobile phone. He finds love, marries, has a son and eventually loses his wife to cancer. The end depicts him getting rid of the car because it is too filled with memories of his life with his wife.
Here's a quick look at the promo for Best Film or Online Video:
Which of the Nominees tell the best story in the shortest period? Vote for Oga John, Thorn, Prueba or Tokunbo here.
The seventh edition of the AMVCAs are brought to viewers across the continent by Africa Magic in association with MultiChoice and proudly sponsored by Amstel Malta. Join the conversation using the hashtag #AMVCA7 and follow @africamagictv for live updates. You can also check out the full list of Nominees and vote.