The 2024 AIFF, which occurred from October 28 to November 1, was centered around the theme “Beyond Borders: Bridging Cultures Through Cinemas.” Stan Nze received the Outstanding Male Actor award for his remarkable performance in the acclaimed short film 12 Hours, while Tana Adelana was recognized as Outstanding Female Actress for her role in Tender Hedges. Notably, Adelana shared her award with Cameroonian actress Lum Nora Neba, who was honored for her performance in the Oscar-nominated film Kismet.
In 12 Hours, Stan Nze portrays Kelvin, a successful photographer in Lagos who is living a deceptive life. This 25-minute mystery thriller follows Kelvin as he confronts a chilling reality at midnight, compelling him to reflect on the last 12 hours of his existence. As the story progresses, he struggles with the truth of his life, facing the dilemma of accepting his fate or resisting it.
Directed by Tobe Anosike, 12 Hours also secured the prestigious Best Short Film Nollywood award at the 2024 Toronto International Nollywood Film Festival (TINFF). Other significant awards at the AIFF included Best Experimental Film for Tage IM Winter (Germany) and Best Animation Film for The Forest of Honest Bees (France).
The Outstanding Music Score was awarded to Kaka (Nigeria), while Kismet (Cameroon) won for Best Feature Screenplay. Four Quarters (Russia) was recognized as Best Feature Film (Foreign), and Kaka also took home the award for Best Feature Film (Indigenous).
Additional accolades included Dela: The Making of EL Anatsui (Nigeria) for Best Documentary (Feature), Lucy: A Pioneer Destiny (Italy) for Best Documentary (Short), and Evgenya Tirdatova for Outstanding Film Directing for Four Quarters.
Four Quarters, a submission from the Russian Federation, clinched the highly coveted Golden Jury Film Award.