By Priscilla Osaje

Abuja, July 7, 2022

Nigerian filmmaker Kunle Afolayan’s movie ‘Citation’ has won the ‘Best International Film’ award at the 2022 National Film Festival (NFF) in the United Kingdom.

The renowned filmmaker took to his Instagram page @kunleafo to announce the great achievement to his fans and well-wishers.

According to him, the award came as a surprise to him, as there was no form of lobbying to win. It was a merited one, he said.

“Two days ago in London, Citation won Best International Film. The Director and the entire production team did not see the award coming.

“We are grateful for the support and recognition of the public and the organisers.

‘I am glad we got recognised without even lobbying,” he wrote.

He added that the NFF award happens to be an annual award that celebrates achievement of filmmakers, actors, actresses among others.

“The National Film Awards is an annual awards ceremony celebrating the achievements of established and independent filmmakers, actors, actresses, casting directors, production companies, and crew who make up the motion picture industry.

“The National Film Awards holds four events annually in the United Kingdom, USA, South America, Africa, and Australia.

“The nominations and voting for the NFA are submitted and voted for by movie fans.

‘The NFA is produced by the National Film Academy which also produces the new National Film Festival,” he added.

The movie is about a 21-year-old female student in the campus, who took the case of a trendy university don to the institution’s senate body, on account of the latter’s treatment of her.

They were unfolding events that eventually pit her world against that of the respected academic, revealing the realities that frequently play out in many male-dominated educational environments.

The movie featured some Nollywood stars such as Ibukun Awosika, chairman of First Bank of Nigeria (FBN); Temi Otedola, Joke Silva, Jimmy Jean-Louis, Ini Edo, Yomi Fash-Lanso, Adjetey Anang, Gabriel Afolayan, Bienvenu Neba, among others.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the video clip showed the moment the lead characters, Jimmy Jean Louis and Temi Otedola, received the award and Otedola said “it was a win for Nollywood and Africa.”

NAN also reports that fans have taken to his Instagram page to congratulate Afolayan for the remarkable feat.