iKon Awards Launch the 2024 Edition in Style
Kampala, Uganda - On the 18th of September, the prestigious iKon Awards launched the 2024 edition of their annual celebration of creativity and innovation in the creative sector. The event took place at the Kampala Serena Hotel and was graced by an array of industry professionals, the 2023 edition winners, and talented creators from various fields within the creative sector. Actress, emcee, singer, and radio personality Cleopatra Koheirwe had the honor of hosting the event, setting the tone for the evening.
The previous iKon Awards ceremony was held on the 25th of March 2023, at the same venue. Remarkably, a mere five months later, the iKon Awards is launching its second edition, demonstrating the awards' growing significance within the creative community. The launch marked the opening of submissions for nominations for the upcoming edition. Additionally, the launch event hinted at the revelation of the iKon Awards Young Fellowship Program finalists that would be announced soon.
James Tusiime, the Country Director of Reach Ahand, opened the ceremony with a speech. He expressed gratitude to the partners and the Sauti Plus team for organizing the wonderful event and emphasized that all creative initiatives stemming from Reach Ahand’s subsidiary - Sauti Plus, such as movies like "When You Become Me," "Kyaddala," "Sabotage," and more, as well as prestigious awards like the iKon Awards, align with Reach Ahand's mission to empower youth through creativity.
The founder of iKon Awards, Mr. Humphrey Nabimanya, took the stage and extended his appreciation to the sponsors who made the event possible. He emphasized the importance of collaboration within the industry to elevate it to new heights. Mr. Nabimanya shared the exciting news that iKon would be exploring opportunities for winners and participants outside or even within the country. An example would be an internship at global entertainment giants like Netflix or Disney. These opportunities would not only expose Ugandan talent to the world but also bring valuable experience and skills back to Uganda. On the same note, he expressed appreciation for the Uganda producers who have taken up young talents from the Fellowship programs to help them learn more about film by interning at their productions like Matthew Nabwiso with Sanyu, Nathan Magoola with Beloved, Doreen Mirembe with DamaLie and more. With these opportunities to these young creators, it builds a good young pool of good filmmakers which makes the future of the industry great.
A panel discussion followed, featuring key partners of the iKon Awards, including ATS Events, Century Cinemax, Muchachos, Print Creations, and industry players like producer and exhibitor Ashiraf Mulima, as well as iKon Young Filmmaker Fellowship Program 2023 winner, Doreen Mirembe. The discussion revolved around the vital contributions of various companies and organizations to the growth of the film industry and their reasons for supporting the iKon Awards.
From left to right. Solomon from Print Creations, Animator, Producer, and Exhibitor Ashiraf Mulima and IKon Awards Young Filmmakers Fellowship Program 2023 Winner Doreen Mirembe at the panel during the recently concluded Ikon Awards 2024 edition launch. Photo by Sauti Plus
Akram Juuko from Century Cinemax highlighted the need to bridge the gap between Ugandan content producers and cinemas. He acknowledged the partnership with Sauti Plus to screen Ugandan movies in Century Cinemax every Thursday which was in the pipeline and to be announced soon as a significant step in this direction. Century Cinemax expressed its commitment to supporting the film industry further through the iKon Awards and additional initiatives.
Vivien, a Client Service Executive at ATS Events, discussed the collaborative synergy between ATS Events and iKon Awards, emphasizing how it empowers them to realize their creative potential. ATS Events recognizes the critical role of well-executed movie events in elevating the entire creative sector and gaining respect both nationally and internationally.
Solomon from Print Creations, another sponsor of the iKon Awards, raised an important point about branding within the film industry. He emphasized the importance of consistent and captivating branding, from posters to trailers, to create a lasting impact.
As the discussion continued, the topic of establishing an academy for the iKon Awards arose. Usama Mukwaya, the producer of the awards, acknowledged the idea and hinted that it might become a reality in the near future but expressed the awards' commitment to breaking creative boundaries and exploring even more innovative ideas, setting them apart from other awards ceremonies.
The key takeaway from the event was the importance of collaboration and support for Ugandan content, a sentiment emphasized by Legendary Actor Mr. Sam Bagenda, Mr. Charles, the Head of Office at UNESCO, and Joe Kigozi, Chairman of Reach Hand's Board. They stressed the significance of promoting Ugandan films and talent to a broader audience.
The event culminated in a passionate plea from director Ricard Mulindwa, urging Joe Kigozi to explore opportunities for Ugandan movies to be broadcast on one of Next Media's stations. Humphrey Nabimanya echoed this plea, requesting dedicated airtime, particularly between 3 to 5 PM on NBS, to showcase Ugandan content.
Mr. Joe Kigozi - Deputy Group CEO / Chief Strategy Officer at Next Media Services and the Chairman Board at Reach Hand Uganda at just concluded iKon Awards 2024 Edition Launch. Courtesy Photo by SautiPlus
The evening ended on a high note with the awarding of certificates and hampers to the previous year's winners, courtesy of Sumz, one of the event's sponsors. Among the recipients was eight-year-old actor Turinayo Josam, who captivated the audience with his presence, accompanied by the director of the film he starred in, "Meat," from Kisoro.
The night concluded with an electrifying performance by the talented artist Geosteady, leaving attendees inspired and eager for the upcoming 2024 iKon Awards ceremony. As the creative industry in Uganda continues to thrive, events like the iKon Awards play a pivotal role in recognizing and nurturing the wealth of talent within the nation, and this year's launch was a resounding success, promising an even brighter future for Ugandan creativity.
By Martin Kabagambe