Babatunde Apalowo’s ‘Londoner,’ a film written and directed by the Nigerian filmmaker, has won the Red Sea Film Fund. Apalowo, who is based in the United Kingdom, is known for works such as ‘A Place for Happiness,’ ‘Catcher,’ ‘The Millions,’ and ‘Death for Sale.’ In 2023, he earned the Teddy Award at the Berlin Film Festival for his queer romance, ‘All the Colours of the World Are Between Black and White.’
The 15th edition of the Durban FilmMart, which took place in South Africa from July 19 to July 22, showcased impressive film projects from across the continent. ‘Londoner,’ produced by Pamela Drameh and Sarudzayi Marufu, is an autobiographical feature that follows Ayo, a Nigerian bank manager who travels to London to reunite with his family. Upon arrival, he finds out that his wife is involved with another man and seeks a divorce. The film reflects Apalowo’s own experiences of adjusting to life in the UK.
In an interview with Variety, Apalowo shared his personal insights, stating, ‘Nigeria is a place where personal space does not exist. In London, the opposite was the case. I realized I could die on the road and people would just drive on by. For the first time in my life, I felt lonely.’ ‘Londoner’ is Apalowo’s second feature film. Other notable winners at the FilmMart Awards included Sean Drummond and Sheetal Magan, who received The Known Inner Circle Award and a cash prize of $10,000 for their South African film, ‘Acts of Man,’ and the award for Best Fiction Feature with a $5,000 cash prize.