A Nigerian filmmaker, Ololade Olufisayo Oludotun, has won the inaugural 2023 Native Shorts Creatives Competition for his short film, ‘Lost but found’.
The film is about a young who girl discovers her passion for art as she sketches in her sketchbook.
As years pass, the girl grows into a troubled young woman burdened by the pressures of conventional life. Seeking solace by the river, she finds a moment of clarity and reconnects with her artistic calling.
Inspired by the serene surroundings, she begins sketching a movie idea, which magically comes to life.
Transformed into a confident filmmaker, she captures the magic of storytelling on screen, finding fulfilment and purpose.
For his effort, he was awarded £1,500 ($1,918), ahead of Abdoulie B. Jarju (Gambia) who won $500 for his one-minute short film, ‘The International Filmmaker’.
The production is about a clash of egos, misconceptions, and intrusive thoughts that unravel in unexpected ways.
An African rebel leader hires an international filmmaker, unaware that his bodyguard is a renowned four-time award-winning director.
The filmmaker, driven by greed and a misguided saviour complex, arrives in Africa, while the rebel leader underestimates his own people’s abilities.
This short film delves into the complexities of human nature, challenging perceptions and raising questions about identity.
The third prize of $500 was won by Nigerian Benjamin Olukoya for his film, ‘The Nightmare’.
The film is about a Lagos creative’s morning whose routine takes a surreal turn when he experiences a series of events in a dream-like sequence.
After waking up and going through his daily activities, he embarks on a journey through traffic, witnessing a dispute between two vehicles.
Teddy Muraya from Kenya won the most social media votes for his film A Journey of Inspiration.
Other shortlisted filmmakers were Babucarr Manka (Gambia) for Who are you?; Brian Odong (Uganda) for Blocked; Jacktone Alufwani (Kenya) for The Dusk; and Ubi Ofem Ubi (Nigeria) for You Good? The short film competition organised by the online platform, iamnativ.com, is open to visual storytellers in Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Tanzania and Uganda.
Speaking on the feat, Oludotun, in a statement on Friday, June 23, said: “I am encouraged; winning a global award at a time of global crises when women and young girls everywhere face an immense range of challenges – from the inability to access food, education and employment to the threat of gender-based violence feels like a tremendous honour and an equally tremendous responsibility to do more advocacy with my films.
“The sooner any nation understands girl children are as equally important and that the lack of women in leadership roles holds back not only women, but all people, the sooner we will be able to advance society as a whole.”
Oludotun has directed various movies, including ‘Stupid Finder’, which officially premiered on YouTube in May 2022 by EbonyLife Creative Academy owned by the famous media entrepreneur, Mo Abudu, and supported by the Lagos State Government.