Judgement day for Club Music Video Awards

By George Wabweyo

The judges to the inaugural Club Music Video awards jetted in on Tuesday to begin the tasking work of distilling the top Ugandan Music Videos over the last one year. They will have to sift through over 800 submitted videos from both known and nondescript artistes and videographers from all over Uganda.

The five judges include Ugandan-born Channel O Manager, Leslie “Lee” Kasumba , South African film maker Mathew Stonier, former MTV senior producer and Huffington post columnist, Jasmine Dotiwalla, and Phil Nwankwo, a talent and Music manager with Trace TV for Anglo phone Africa. The five carry between them a wealth of credentials spanning years of working with videos internationally.

The five judges were presented to the press during a briefing at Protea Hotel by Club Brand Manager, Samuel Hooper.

“For the next three days, the judges will have to sift through the entries using custom made software to pick the highest scoring four entries for each category that will automatically be the nominees,” Hooper said.

He also explained that the judges were picked not only because of their experience and expertise but also to allow for a judging process with no biases or pre-conceptions. The judges, who addressed journalists, lauded the introduction of these awards and predicted them spawning a more vibrant Ugandan music industry whose products cuts across borders.

“I have no doubt that the CMVs will help generate creativity and make a difference to Ugandan artistes and their technical skills,” said Judge Jasmine Dotiwalla.