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The Federal Capital Territory will again this year host the Hausa movie players at its second edition of the Savannah International Movie Awards (SIM). The event, which has been slated to take place in December 2011 at the Ladi Kwali Hall, Sheraton Hotel and Towers, Abuja would demonstrate and showcase to Nigerian entertainers, various great works of art and movies staged by Kannywood performers in the entertainment industry alongside other Nollywood movies through cinema exposition.
Information coming from the organisers of SIM 2011 said, the event is organised to celebrate Nigerian motion picture artistes with specific focus on Hausa filmmakers who have contributed immensely to the development and progress of Kannywood in diverse ways.
The statement noted that this year’s edition would be a masterpiece as serious efforts are being made to overhaul the total gamut of the processes that would lead to achieving a world class festival. While reeling out submission guidelines for the award ceremony which is the second edition, the President and chief organiser of the event, Mohammed Dahiru said this year’s gallery of motion picture experts would be exceptional.
On the entry, Dahiru said, each entry must be accompanied by a completed entry form and DVD. “All entries will be viewed by constituted committees and there will be no cuts or changes. Festival selections will subsequently be announced while all entrants will be notified by e-mail. The president of the jury is expected to present awards to films and videos selected as best in their category at the awards ceremony in December this year.”
He said this year’s event which has being themed ‘Film As A Tool For National Transformation,’ will host a crop of icons in the entertainment industry across the country and the continent. According to him, the event will mainly focus on ways of developing movies and tourism attractions in Nigeria. “Practitioners in the industry who wish to enter for the various categories are required to follow the entry guidelines which can be obtained in three centres; Kano, Kaduna and Jos. Eligible films must have been produced after January 1, 2010 and preference will be given to films which are yet to be screened nationally or in Africa. Categories include: Feature, Documentary and Animation,” he added.
Meanwhile, the statement further announced that this year’s event is anticipating support and collaboration from some state governments who have shown interest in fostering national transformation through entertainment. It also added that the states will further market their respective government policies on national transformation by entertainment.
In another development, observers are of the opinion that the SIM Awards is currently the most regarded and anticipated film event within the shores of the Hausa communities both within and outside the country. Airing his views, the managing director, Nigerian Film Corporation (NFC), Mr. Afolabi Adesanya who unveiled the maiden trophy of the event last year and also served as the special guest of honour, expressed his happiness for the giant strides of the organisers of SIM awards. He said, “In every entertainment region of the world, there is a body set up to reward hardworking actors and actresses. The SIM awards is to Kannywood what the African Movie Awards Academy (AMAA) is to Nollywood and on this platform,
Kannywood can grow and become what it is meant to be.”
Last year’s event which was conducted under a peaceful atmosphere celebrated the popular and multiple awards winning actor, Ali Nuhu with the prestigious award, ‘SIM Hero Of The Year.’ The award is synanymous with Cannes International Film Festival’s ‘Palme d’Or.’ Also honoured with a Life Time Achievement certificate was the famous actor, Daudu Galadanci, while the late Hauwa Ali-Dodo (Biba Problem) was accorded with a post-humous award for her immense contributions to the Hausa film industry.
About SIM Awards:
Founded in 2010, the Savannah International Movie Awards (SIM Awards) has a vision to create a platform for the continent to zoom in on the diversity and creativity of Nigeria and Africa at large through motion pictures. Starting April 2010, in the tradition of the likes of the Dubai Art & Movie Exhibition and the Filmfare Awards of India, SIM Awards seeks to unite filmmakers from across the country on the African soil.
The event has also lauded in different quarters by discerning observers as the elixir the Kannywood needs to raise a common benchmark for content quality. In consonance with these view, the President of SIM Awards, Mohammed Dahiru posited , ‘’SIM Awards seeks to create a bench mark for professionalism towards Audio Visual renaissance when nothing less than global pictures with universal sound will make Kannywood pictures enjoyed and celebrated worldwide rather than tolerated.”
The first edition took place last year in Abuja, Nigeria, hosting the crème de la crème and other key players, film-makers, celebrities, actors, directors, film buyers, distributors, visual artistes, film students, amateurs, film lovers and the media.
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