Still new to the international scene, but growing fast, this year’s Mashariki African Film Festival attracted over 44 features, documentaries, and short films by filmmakers from Rwanda, Burundi, Malawi, Cote d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso Congo-Brazzaville, France and Belgium.
Event screening for the short film program started March 5th and ended this past Saturday. Since then, MAFF has handed out awards and cash prizes for what the three best short films.
The winner was Pluvier Benko, who took home first at MAFF for his film, ‘A ride in a Coffin.’ In second, Clementine Dusabejambo for ‘Behind the World.’ Then coming in third was Olaf Hamelek for ‘Agasanduku.’
On the jury Gerald Lichen, Fibby Kioria, the Maisha Film Lab director and Moses Serugo, a Ugandan film critic.
Tresor Senga, the president of Mashariki African Film Festival, praised the event for its ability to promote and grow the African film industry. Also, adding that MAFF is responsible for fostering an African cinema culture with an attention to professionalism and quality.