15 Nigerian films were selected to be screened at the 2023 edition of Kurzfilmtage Winterthur, Switzerland’s biggest short film festival running from November 7th to 12th.
Besida
This Chuko Esiri-directed film first came out in 2018. It’s a short noir drama about the fragile relationship between two siblings. It was shot in Abraka (a town in Delta State) and produced by Arie Esiri.
Ixora
This is a 2022 queer love story about two female journalists, directed by Nigerian filmmakers, Nengi Nelson and Nosazemen Agbontaen, and produced by A ZENN Collective Production.
Egúngún (Masquerade)
This is a bilingual (English and Yoruba) film made by Olive Nwosu in 2021. It focuses on a young queer lady who returns to Nigeria for her mother’s funeral, where she discovers herself and purpose. Egúngún features Teniola Aladese, Elizabeth Momoh and Angel Peters.
Hello, Rain
The celebrity filmmaker of Nollywood’s Mami Wata, C.J. “Fiery” Obasi is back in the news for the International Kurzfilmtage selection of his 2018 short horror film, Hello, Rain. It’s about a scientist-witch who distributes power to herself and friends through tech and magic.
Harmattan
Muyiwa Awosika’s new psychological horror is about two army recruits who turn against each other in their bootcamp.
A Quiet Monday
Dika Ofoma’s new short film is a social drama that centres around two siblings who defied mandatory Monday sit-at-home during a social unrest in the eastern part of Nigeria. It stars Emmanuel Igwe and Uzoamaka Aniuonoh.
Do You See Me
Off the 2023 release of Bravo, Burkina!, Wale Oyejide wraps up production of his latest, Do You See Me, in time to screen at Kurzfilmtage Winterthur 2023.
You Matter to Me
This film captures how the parents of Immaculata Abba, the film director, experience joy even in the midst of grief or tension.
Memory XX
A romance that was once hot goes sour and memory is all that’s left as these two lovers rediscover themselves. It’s a 15-minute film by Ewoma Great Oro and Olamide Akinjare.
A Study On Love
Olayinka Eno Babalola explores love in this 2020 experimental documentary. You can watch it on her IG page.
Àlááfíà Ni
“Àlááfíà” means “peace” in Yorùbá, and this film about the life of Lagosians, explores the internal serenity that prevails regardless of trials and tribulations. Tobi Onabolu wrote this film and co-directed it with Sonia Irabor.
Aje and Bruja
Two powerful African mothers join forces to fight and torture a female serial killer. Aje and Bruja came from the stables of Nosa Igbinedion in 2022.
I Am An Easy One to Forget
This 10-minute Sonia Irabor film came out in 2021. It’s a tale of a guy who shut himself away from contact with people, staying awake to overthink the parallel between reality and illusion.
The Nightmare on Broadstreet
Ayo Lawson and Femi Johnson made this film that follows five friends who met to hang out at a Freedom Park museum then ended up running from a masquerade.
Lizard
Akinola Davies Jr. released Lizard in 2020. In it, an eight year old kid with the supernatural ability to sense danger discovers the underworld of a Lagos megachurch.
Rehearsal
This film follows the art of staging miracle healings. The protagonists carry out, improve and scrap different formats. Rehearsal is about church, theatre, faith and credibility.
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