SHNIT Film Festival berths in Lagos

For its 10th edition, the short film festival comes with a $100,000 jackpot as it adds Lagos to its playgrounds around the world.

The SHNIT Short Film Festival has added the city of Lagos to the programme for its 10th edition. Nigeria’s entertainment capital joins nine other cities around the world simultaneously hosting the short film fest from October 4 to 7.

The Royal Roots Theatre in Ikeja and Freedom Park on Broad Street are the two venues, in Lagos, where over 300 short films from around the world will be screened free to the public; offering film professionals and enthusiasts a platform for creativity, collaboration, and networking. The festival is a collaboration of Da Rocque Koncept and the National Association of Nigerian Theatre Arts Practitioners, NANTAP.

Over the course of four days, SHNIT will feature screenings, discussion panels and an awards ceremony. With an international competition slot and another for ‘Made in Nigeria’ shorts, the award categories come with a total prize money of over 100,000 Swiss francs. A Jury will award prizes to short films in the following categories: up to 5 Minutes* CHF 20,000 (~ $22,000 ~N3.3million); Up to10 Minutes* CHF 20,000 ($ 22,000~ N3.3million); Up to 20 Minutes* CHF 20,000 (~ $22,000 ~ N3.3million); Up to 40 Minutes* CHF 20,000 (~ $ 22,000 ~ N3.3million). The audience award is open to all films and comes with a prize worth CHF 20,000 (~ $ 22,000 ~N3.3million).

The organisers, in a statement, said the SHNIT objective “is to become a transnational and transcultural short film festival that bridges creative talents and audiences by happening simultaneously in different cities across the globe. Each country runs its edition (which we call a “playground”) with available local resources: box- office revenue, sponsorship, partnerships, grants for Arts and Cultural projects, etc.”

Other locations for the multi-city festival are Bern (Switzerland), Cape Town (South Africa), Cologne (Germany), Vienna (Austria), Singapore, and San Jose (Costa Rica). Joining Lagos as first time locations are San Francisco (USA), Cairo (Egypt), and Auckland (New Zealand).

Shnit International Shortfilm festival operates as a non-profit organisation. The annual festival is created, and centrally coordinated by the shnit Foundation (Artistic directorship) in co-operation with playground executives (Festival management). The shnit Foundation is an international not for profit registered foundation based in Switzerland.

SHNIT becomes Nigeria’s only second short film festival after the In Short Film Festival, which is now in its second year