By Ogova Ondego
Published August 14, 2011

The sixth edition of the Lola Kenya Screen movie festival, skill-development programme and marketing platform for children and youth in eastern Africa wound up in Nairobi on August 13, 2011 with Belgium narrowly beating Italy to the Golden Mboni Award for the best children’s film. The former’s Le Maillot De Cristiano (Cristano Ronaldo’s Shirt) by Vincent Bruno had tied with the latter’s  Pizzangrillo (Lighthearted Boy) by Marco Gianfreda forcing the chairperson of the jury to break the deadlock. Gianfreda’s  Io Parlo (I’ll Tell on You) won the Golden Mboni at this Africa’s premier event exclusively designed for children and youth in 2009.

The best youth film award, the 14-Plus, went to Madagascar’s Dzaomalaza et Le Saphir Bleu (Dzaomalaza and the Blue Stone) by Mamihasina Raminosoa and Andriamanisa Radoniaina while the second and third prizes, respectively, went to La Playa De Berlin (Cannon Beach) by Manuel Calvo and Mi Otra Mitad (My Other Half) by Beatriz Sanchis, both of Spain.

The full list of the awards announced in the Kenyan capital by the jury comprising Graig Selewan, Daki Mohammed, Daisy Okoti and Joseph Simiyu are:

The Golden Mboni for the best children’s film: Le Maillot De Cristiano (Cristano Ronaldo’s Shirt), Vincent Bruno, Belgium.

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The Silver Mboni for the second best children’s film: Pizzangrillo (Lighthearted Boy), Marco Gianfreda, Italy.
The Bronze Mboni for the third best children’s film: Voltereta (Somersault), Alex Morants, Spain.

The 14-Plus Award for the best youth film: Dzaomalaza et Le Saphir Bleu (Dzaomalaza and the Blue Stone),Mamihasina Raminosoa and Andriamanisa Radoniaina, Madagascar.

The 14-Plus Award for the second best youth film: La Playa De Berlin (Cannon Beach), Manuel Calvo, Spain.

The 14-Plus Award for the third best youth film: Mi Otra Mitad, (My Other Half), Beatriz Sanchis, Spain.

The 14-Plus Award Special Commendation: Bizzaire, Martin Ndichu, Kenya.

Special Youth Prize: Ombetja Yehinga Organisation, Philippe Talavera, Namibia.

The Best Student Film: Jutro (Tomorrow), Bartosz Kruhlik, Poland.

The Most Experimental Film: Voltereta (Somersault), Alex Morante, Spain.

The Best Documentary: Paradiso, Alessandro Negrini, Northern Ireland.

The Best Documentary Special Commendation: Mbambu and the Mountains of the Moon, Lucian and Natasa Muntean, Serbia.

The Best Animation: Gamba Trista (Loser Leg), Francesco Filippi, Italy.

The Best Kenyan Film: Zebu and the Photofish, Zipporah Nyaruri, Kenya.

The Best Children’s Rights Film: Mute, Muayad Alayan, Palestine.

5th Kids for Kids Festival Africa Prize: Vanessa’s Dream, Adede Hawi and Daki Mohammed, Kenya; Monsters of the New Age, Brian Saruni, Kenya.

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Lola Kenya Screen was yet to announce three more prizes at the end of the festival that was held, for the fourth year running at the Kenya National Theatre in Nairobi city centre.

Supported by ComMattersKenya under its ArtMatters.Info’s skill-development programme, the mentors at the 6th Lola Kenya Screen included Cajetan Boy (Scripting), Benson Kamau (Camera), Karama Ogova (Editing) and Allan Aligula (Post-production). The 2011 heads of sections included Bethsheba Achitsa (General Manager), Fadhili Ogova (Screening Manager), and Karama Ogova (Technical Manager). Also serving on the staff were Eva Wambui (Guest Relations Officer), Joseph Simiyu (Festival Assistant), Daki Mohammed (Master of Ceremonies) and Beatrice Mwangi (Festival Intern).