*Londoner*, an autobiographical film directed and written by Babatunde Apalowo, won the Red Sea Film Fund Award for Best Fiction Feature at the Durban FilmMart, receiving a cash prize of $5,000. The film, which also garnered recognition at the 15th edition of the FilmMart held in South Africa from July 19 to July 22, revolves around Ayo, a Nigerian bank manager who travels to London to reunite with his family. Upon arrival, Ayo finds out that his wife is emotionally involved with another man and seeks a divorce.
Produced by Pamela Drameh and Sarudzayi Marufu, *Londoner* explores themes of displacement and personal struggle, reflecting Apalowo’s own experiences of adapting to life in the UK. Apalowo, who has also won the Teddy Award at the Berlin Film Festival for his queer romance *All the Colours of the World Are Between Black and White*, described his feelings of isolation and the contrast between personal space in Nigeria and London.
Other notable winners at the FilmMart include Sean Drummond and Sheetal Magan, who received The Known Inner Circle Award for their South African film *Acts of Man*.