Femi Odugbemi's 'Gidi Blues' goes to Ghana, Uganda

This is an exciting time for Nigerian filmmaker and former ITPAN president, Femi Odugbemi. Weeks after the premiere of his latest movie, Gidi Blues, which African Magic has since bought over, the movie seems to be attracting interest from festivals across the continent, with requests to screen the film.

On the other hand, Odugbemi himself, who chaired the Africa Magic Viewer’s Choice Award (AMVCA) Jury for three consecutive terms, has become one of the most sought after filmmakers in the continent, having been selected as a judge for different film festivals. From all indications, it’s going to be a busy year for the CEO of DVWorx Studios starting from this month.

Currently, Odugbemi is among the curating panel of the the Pan-African Representation for Golden Tree International FilmFest in Frankfurt, Germany, and is excepted to jet to Goree Island, Dakar, Senegal, on Thursday, August 18 through 22, for a meeting of the jury. Aside from particularly proposing documentaries from Africa and Diaspora, Odugbemi will also join other panelists to select a total of 40 films representing Africa and its Diasporas, which will feature at the film fest in Germany.

From Senegal, the co-founder of iRep International Documentary Film Festival will move to Accra, Ghana, where Gidi Blues has been selected as closing film for the Black Star International Film Festival Ghana. Aside from being a big honor, as the closing films of festivals are highly coveted, the platform will give Odugbemi the opportunity to speak with Ghanaian film community, as well as share his wealth of experience with festival attendees.

Meanwhile, Odugbemi has been returned as the Chief Jury for this year’s Ugandan Film Festival, making it an unprecedented third time in a row.

“It’s a huge honour signifying a major acknowledgement of the quality of Nigerian cinema and the respect with which we are viewed across Africa,” he noted.

Aside from his role as Chief Jury for the festival, which opens on August 22, 2016, in Kampala, Uganda, Odugbemi’s Gidi Blues was also picked as the opening film for the festival organised by the Uganda Communications Commission.

In a letter dated August 5, 2016, the Executive Director of the Commission, Godfrey Mutabazi, while requesting for Odugbemi’s approval, said, “as part of the festival activities, the Commission would like to screen the movie Gidi Blues during the festival. We believe the young film producers in the industry in Uganda will be inspired and gain a lot from the experiences and the challenges you encountered when producing the film,” Mutabazi said.

Just last month, the British Council selected Odugbemi as one of eight international Judges for the Shakespeare short film competition and platform. According to the organisers, judges and users from across Africa will vote the films, with the highest rated film making Film of the Month. The platform will continue for the duration of 2016 and will result in a final winner, who will get a screening opportunity at a UK film festival.