25 July, 2018 - 08:03 The film directed by Likarion Wainaina, tells the story of a young girl whose dream of becoming a superhero is threatened by a terminal illness, inspiring her village to rally together to make her dream come true.
It is a wonderful story about resilience in the face of challenge, of hope in the imminence of defeat and a story of an African Hero in a little Girl.
The jury said: From beginning to end, this film captures the audience with its gripping story. An entire village comes together to support one family, to cope with a terminally sick child. The filmmaker uses the magic and colour of cinema to lighten a painful situation.
Supa Modo also won the European African Film Festival Award at the ZIFF 2018.
Organised under the theme Speak Up Be heard (Sema na Usikike), ZIFF held from 7th to 15th July 2018 attracted guests from all parts of the world.
The festival took place in various venues in and around the spectacular Stone Town Zanzibar.
On its 21st edition, ZIFF is proof that Africa has become a home to a vibrant film and television industry.
The organisers revealed that more than 4000 films were submitted for selection.
Commenting on this year's final line-up, Festival Director Fabrizio Colombo said: The sheer number of film submissions for ZIFF 2018 was a surprise. It is rewarding to see how much our Festival is growing and is attracting so many filmmakers around the world, but especially from our continent. We tried to stick close to our theme for this year, celebrating the courage of many filmmakers who are telling the truth and speaking out for positive change in this world.
He added: Surely, some films selected will shake the power systems and old mentalities and that is what cinema is all about, challenging perceptions and imagining a different world.
The festival took place in various venues in and around the spectacular Stone Town Zanzibar.
On its 21st edition, ZIFF is proof that Africa has become a home to a vibrant film and television industry.
The organisers revealed that more than 4000 films were submitted for selection.
Commenting on this year's final line-up, Festival Director Fabrizio Colombo said: The sheer number of film submissions for ZIFF 2018 was a surprise. It is rewarding to see how much our Festival is growing and is attracting so many filmmakers around the world, but especially from our continent. We tried to stick close to our theme for this year, celebrating the courage of many filmmakers who are telling the truth and speaking out for positive change in this world.
He added: Surely, some films selected will shake the power systems and old mentalities and that is what cinema is all about, challenging perceptions and imagining a different world.
The Wedding Ring directed by Rahmatou Ke ta from Niger scooped the Bi-Kidude Chairman Award.
Ms Ke ta thanked ZIFF for showcasing African films. She said she was both surprised and happy that ZIFF had selected her film.
Stressing that African funds were needed to fight for African identity, Ms Ke ta encouraged all Africans to be proud of their cultures. People who abandon their cultures are a dead people, she said.
Several people who addressed the awards ceremony said African stories needed to be told by Africans.
Tanzania's Catherine Credo won the Best Actress Award for her role in Fatuma .
The super-excited Ms Credo said that the film had won several awards abroad, but there was nothing as gratifying as being recognised by your own people .
It's all the inspiration I need for the next film, she said.
Bahasha by John Riber from Tanzania won the Best Editing Award. It tells the story of an elected public official who betrays his family, friends and community by taking bribe. He learns the hard way and must now find the road to redemption.
This year's Festival had a special focus on issues affecting women and this was reflected on the awards ceremony where most awards were scooped by women for their prominent roles in the film industry.
ZIFF is increasingly becoming a very important point of reference for African films. It encourages African youth to embrace production of films promoting African cultural values while challenging harmful and outdated cultural practices.
Festival Director Colombo revealed that the theme chosen for ZIFF 2019 is A New Dawn (Kumekucha).
ZIFF 2018 WINNERS LIST
EMERSON FOUNDATION JURY
BEST ZANZIBARI FILM
SISI NA WAO
BARKE ALI
Zanzibar
FILM SCHOOL JURY
SILVER DHOW AWARD
MISFIT
Karanja Ng'endo
Kenya
BEST FILM SCHOOL JURY
THE PEARL BOXER
Asimwe John Bibagamba
Tanzania
TV and WEB SERIES JURY
BEST TV SERIES FICTION
JAB
Lucilla Blankenberg,
SOUTH AFRICA
BEST TV SERIES NON FICTION
GIVING NATURE A VOICE
Andrew Tkach (Producer)
Kenya
BEST WEB SERIES NON FICTION
WAKUIGWA
Richard Magumba
Tanzania
TravelStart Flight and Hotel Bookings
TravelStart Bookings for the Film Industry
Get More Film Business South Africa
Select your Membership
BEST WEB SERIES FICTION
THE YARD
MOSES OWIRO
(Kenya)
BEST EAST AFRICA MUSIC VIDEO- TRACE MZIKI
Lameck Ditto
NABEMBEA
SIGNIS AWARD
SPECIAL MENTION
Liyana by Aaron Kopp
(Swaziland)
SIGNIS AWARD
Love and Shukla
Jatla Siddhartha (India)
SIGNIS - EAST AFRICAN TALENT AWARD
Kyenvu
Kemiyondo Coutinho (Uganda)
EUROPEAN AFRICAN FILM FESTIVALS AWARD
BEST FILM FROM EAST AFRICA
SUPA MODO
Likarion Wainaina
(Kenya/Germany)
ADIAHA AWARD
NEW MOON
Philippa Ndisi-Herrmann
Kenya
BI-KIDUDE CHAIRMAN AWARD
THE WEDDING RING
RAHMATOU KE TA
Niger
LIFE TIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
MARK LAVERI
SWAHILI FILM AWARDS
BEST SHORT FILM
PENDO
Faith Musembi
Kenya
BEST SOUND
SAFARI
Freddy Feruzi
Tanzania
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
FATUMA
by John Riber
TANZANIA
BEST EDITING
BAHASHA
by John Riber
TANZANIA
BEST SCREENPLAY
PENDO
Faith Musembi
Keny
