West Hollywood filmmaker Geoff Browne’s short film Godpower has won the Grand Jury Prize for Best Short Film at the 29th Dances With Films: LA, held at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood.
Written, directed and shot single-handedly by Browne, the 16-minute film was produced by Bruce Brown Films and Browne’s Boundless Light Productions. The award marks the festival’s top honor for a short film.
Shot entirely in the surf community of Tarkwa Bay in Lagos, Nigeria, Godpower follows a Nigerian surf instructor trying to turn a tourist’s booking into a birthday gift for his son, only to discover that the most meaningful gift cannot be bought. Watch the trailer below:
Browne made the film without a crew, working directly with the families, surfers, and youth of Tarkwa Bay, many of whom stepped in to act in the project.
The Dances With Films Grand Jury praised the film as “a cinematic gift” that is “beautiful and universally human,” placing it within a growing wave of African diaspora storytelling “commanding our attention at festivals around the world.”
“Grateful to Dances With Films for the honor — and to GP and the whole Tarkwa Bay community who made it with me,” said Browne.
Godpower was written and directed by Browne, who also served as cinematographer. The story is by GP Pekipuma and Browne. The film stars GP Pekipuma and Isaac Humphrey.
Alex Mecl executive-produced, with Browne, Pekipuma, and Garry M.B. Smith producing. Browne and Smith, A.C.E., edited the film. Luc St. Pierre composed the score.
Godpower has a runtime of 16 minutes and 14 seconds and is a Nigeria/USA production.
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