Short Films

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Mined Zone

JUJU STORIES
JUJU STORIES

• Director: Abba Makama, C.J. ‘Fiery’ Obasi, Michael Omonua
• NIGERIA, FRANCE / 2021 / DCP / Colour / 84’ / English, Pidgin English; Turkish, English s.t.

• Director of Photography: Femi Awojide
• Editing: Chinedum Okerengwor
• Music: Philippe Razol
• Cast: Belinda Yanga Agedah, Don Ekwuazi, Bukola Oladipupo, Paul Utomi, Elvis Poko, Nengi Adoki, Timini Egbuson
• Producer: Oge Obasi
• Production Co.: Fiery Film, 20 Pounds Production
• World Sales: Ifind Pictures

2021 Africa FF (Nigeria) Best Director
2021 Locarno Swiss Critics Award
2021 Masharika FF (Rwanda) Special Mention

Inspired by the global film movements such as Taiwanese New Wave, the Nigerian film collective Surreal16 aims to develop a new identity for Nigerian cinema that diverges from the religious propaganda and dominant generic conventions of Nollywood. Surreal16's practice is significantly shaped by a quest for a counter-hegemonic and anti-colonial African language and aesthetics. Indigeneity and folklore become powerful tools for the collective's alternative filmmaking. Surreal16's three-part anthology film Juju Stories explores juju (magic in Nigerian folklore and mythology) through diverse contemporary perspectives of the filmmakers Michael Omonua, Abba Makama, and C.J. Obasi. From love potions to witchcraft, the anthology locates juju in everyday urban settings of the former capital Lagos, and treats folklore as social commentary.

This film was a Meetings on the Bridge participant.