Ahead of this year’s edition of Lagos International Film Festival (LIFF), coming up from 24-27 October, 2013, at Silverbird Cinemas, Ikeja-Lagos, organizers have confirmed that Ugandan film, “Is This Love,” produced by Kenyan-born Yvonne Kasera, will headline the festival by 5pm on Thursday, October 24, 2013, and that it will be screened alongside Nigerian short film, “Easy Money.”

“Is this Love,” a film that tackles the issue of domestic violence from a very unusual angle, was produced in Kampala, Uganda, and has won many prizes at festivals around the world, was directed by Sharp Zungelo; while “Easy Money,” which reflects this year’s theme of LIFF, “New Nollywood… New Partnership… New Frontiers,” deals with the dangerously speculative approach of Nigerians, who flock to unlicensed wonder banks.

A press release by Precious Temilokun, stated that the relationship between creativity and capital will be a major focus during the festival, as a panel of experts will be constituted to discuss these issues, adding that famous Cameroonian filmmaker and administrator, the founder and organizer of Ecrans Noir Film Festival Yaoundé, Monsieur Bassek Ba Khobio, will preside over the jury of LIFF 2013.

According to the release, Monsieur Bassek is not new to jury duty having presided over the 2007 FESPACO panel that awarded the grand prize, Yellenga d’ Stallone to Europe-based Nigerian filmmaker, Newton Aduaka, the only time a Nigerian has won the grand prize at FESPACO.

Monsieur Bassek, who was, until recently, the Regional Secretary (Central Africa) for Federation of Pan African Filmmakers FEPACI, noted about the event thus: “2013 LIFF would be my second time in Nigeria and I have no doubt that this second time will be even more interesting than the first. The lineup of movies appears very exciting and I do not have any doubts that I and my colleagues on the jury will do justice to it.”

Other members of the jury include award winning novelist, gender activist and literary icon, Professor Akachi Ezeigbo, Nollywood star and broadcaster, Bimbo Manuel, and representatives of various stakeholders.

The jury will select winners in various categories including, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Costume, Best Make Up, Best Student Film and many more; while the grand prize, The Golden Camel, is usually awarded for best overall film.

Founded by Filmmaker Madu Chikwendu, LIFF is the flagship of LIFF Festivals Group that includes Leap International Film Festival and Reelteens Festival; and this year’s festival is a bouquet of screenings, panel discussions, conference networking programmes and, of course, parties.

© NICO news