The Out in the Silence Award presented the award and a $5,000 cash prize to Apalowo.
By Hope Ibiale
All the Colours of the World are Between Black and White, a debut film by Nigerian director, Babatunde Apalowo, has been announced as the recipient of the Frameline Fest Out in the Silence Award. The Out in the Silence Award, which is an honour conferred to an outstanding film project that highlights brave acts of visibility, especially in places where such acts are rare because of the harsh conditions that make it difficult for LGBTQ+ people to live freely, presented the award and a $5,000 cash prize to Apalowo.
Sharing the news on his Twitter page, the film’s producer, Damilola Orimogunje, said, “Our film All the Colours of the World are Between Black and White has just won the prestigious @framelinefest Out in the Silence Award. The 47th Frameline Film Festival was held in San Francisco, California, and the festival is known as the world’s biggest and longest-running queer film festival.”
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The film, which has also won the Teddy Award for best LGBTQ-themed feature film in Berlinale, tells the story of two young men who form a powerful connection with one another in Nigeria—where homosexuality is illegal. All the Colours of the World are Between Black and White stars Tope Tedela, Riyo David, Martha Orhiere, Uche Chika Elumelu, Martha Ehinome Orhiere, and Floyd Anekwe.
The Frameline Film Festival, formerly the San Francisco International LGBT Film Festival, began as a storefront event in 1976. The first film festival, named the Gay Film Festival of Super-8 Films, was held in 1977. The festival is organised by Frameline, a nonprofit media arts organization whose mission is “to change the world through the power of queer cinema.” It is the oldest LGBTQ+ film festival in the world.
In addition to examining queer and trans histories, Frameline47’s program spotlights the legacy and impact of LGBTQ+ cinema. The Out in the Silence Award is generously underwritten by longtime film community members, Dean Hamer and Joe Wilson.