The eight selected short films were all screened at the Africa in Motion film festival on 25 October, 2008 and the winning film was announced by jury member and acclaimed filmmaker Gaston Kaboré at a special awards ceremony after the screening. Filmmaker Rogério Manjate will now receive £1,000 prize money to assist him in his filmmaking career.

The winning film, "I Love You" was selected by a jury consisting of acclaimed Burkinabe filmmaker Gaston Kaboré; writer, presenter and filmmaker Zina Saro-Wiwa; director of the Scottish Documentary Institute Noe Mendelle; and high-profile film critic, writer and producer Mark Cousins.

Zina Saro-Wiwa said of the winning film, "How much did I love this film? 'I Love You' is much sexier than is normally expected in African film, and was wonderfully directed, and I loved the timing and pace. The film was brief and confident with lots of heart. Daring but tender and sweet." In praise of the film, jury member Noe Mendelle has added, "I Love You is a candid yet very moving drama, with outstanding cinematography."

Speaking about the competition as a whole, Mark Cousins said, "Short films are the spurts of life, the new shoots, of the film world. It is great that Africa in Motion is focusing on them. That's where the discovery and vitality is. The short film competition, and its considerable prize, is a brilliant way of putting the festival's money where its mouth is, and giving a fillip to the zingy and daring new African directors."

[27 Oct 2008 10:10]

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