Pete Edochie has been honoured with the African Film Legend award at the 2020 The African Film Festival (TAFF) for his role in the development of the film industry in Africa.
The African Film Festival (TAFF), which held from June 2, through June 6, 2020, in Dallas, United States of America, was screened live online.
Due to ravaging coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19), the 73-year-old veteran actor Pete Edochie was unable to attend the four-day festival but followed proceedings online from his Enugu residence, and was presented with TAFF 2020 Living Legends Award Certificate by actress Patience Ozokwor popularly known as Mama G.
Also, plans are underway for the festival founder and filmmaker, Kelechi Eke, to personally deliver Edochie’s trophy after the pandemic.
Speaking on the choice of Pete Edochie for the honour, the festival’s founder and filmmaker, Kelechi Eke who is also a software engineer, said the veteran actor deserves the honour, having contributed immensely to the development of the African film sector, in addition to bringing happiness and joy to many homes across the continent and beyond.
According to Mr. Kelechi Eke, Pete Edochie came into prominence in the 1980s after he played the lead role of Okonkwo in an NTA adaptation of Chinua Achebe’s all-time bestselling novel, Things Fall Apart, and since then, the bearded actor has not looked back.
South African veteran actor and director, Dr. Jerry Mofokeng, winner of the 2006 Oscars Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, introduced Pete Edochie as the Living Legend awardee, which featured film screenings, online workshops, training sessions, and TAFF closing awards ceremony.
This year, the festival showcased African independent films that either promotes African culture, address issues affecting Africa or explores African landmarks and historic leaders.
