Shaibu's MovieRUN!: With Half of a Yellow Sun, new production module for Nollywood underway

'Woju' Crooner Kiss Daniel to headline Nollywood Film Festival and awards in Germany

Organisers of the annual Nollywood Film Festival, Germany have announced that preparations are in top gear for the fourth edition of the festival. The event will hold at the prestigious Filmforum Höchst VHS Cinema in Frankfurt Am Main, Germany from September 8 through to September 10 2016. According to the Festival founder and director Isaac Izoya “preparations are in top gear. At the moment, Nollywood filmmakers from all over the world who wish to see their films screened at the festival are invited to send their films for assessment and selection’’. The Frankfurt based show promoter and acclaimed cultural ambassador also disclosed that entries for the festival is free but that only films approved by the selection committee will be considered for screening at the festival. Izoya hinted that this year the Woju crooner Kiss Daniels will headline the award and gala event and will tour europe afterwards. He also revealed that one of the biggest Nollywood act that has already confirmed attendance at this years festival and award is the comic actor, producer, director and President of the ScreenWriters Guild of Nigeria Charles Inojie. Details of entries and on the festival can be obtained at www.ehizoyafilms.com or at info@ehizoyafilms.com

For Nigerian filmmakers attending Berlinale, Mama J Restaurant as the melting point

Nigerian filmmakers and film journalists who attended the 65th edition of the Berlin International Film Festival have confessed that they didn’t miss home at all since they arrived Berlin, Germany, ten days ago. They said they have found the popular Mama J Restaurant located in the heart of Berlin as the proper ‘home away from home’. So when it is time for lunch or dinner, all roads would lead to the former Nigerian house in Berlin where Mama J restaurant currently sits. ‘We not only eat good food there but we found the place a melting point for Nigerians in Berlin’’ said Eric Ugondu, a filmmaker about the restaurant that is run by the very likeable, personable, humble and caring Edo state native Joy Osaze. Popularly called Mama J, with the ‘J’ derived from the name of her first daughter, Joy, Mama J is easily the most popular Nigerian restaurateur in Berlin Germany. Pretty with brains to engage anyone in a debate on any subject, Mama J started out her restaurant business from a small location on Schienkenstrasse, Berlin, in 2002. With demands and pressure from Africans who desired ‘home cooking’, Mama J moved to a more spacious outlet located on Donaldstrasse in 2005. Same year she opened another spot at Moritzplatz. But In 2013, the restaurants had to be merged with the one at Donaldstrasse joining that of Moritzplatz. So from just an outlet in 2002, Mama J’s Restaurant has grown to become the largest restaurant owned by an African and a Nigerian in Berlin. The Berlin International Film festival ends tomorrow and the filmmakers attending the festival say they will take their own closing party to Mama J’s place.

Synovus Media Partners Agatha Amata’s Rave TV on its Nollywood Platform

The Management of Synovus Media Limited have announced that the Lagos based marketing communication firm has added a new cable television channel, Rave TV, to shore up its Nollywood Movies Platform this year. Apart from the new cable channel, the company disclosed that it operates on seven (7) television stations and they include; KSMC Kaduna, NSTV Minna, Borno TV Maiduguri, Rima TV, Sokoto, Silverbird TV Network, CTV Kano and OGTV Abeokuta. At a recent memorable retreat held by the firm for staff and management, the company discussed the commencement of a new addition to the Synovus family--Groove On, a musical entertainment programme. Groove On, is expected to start running on television stations Pan Nigeria in the next few months. It will be recalled that Synovus Media Limited, held a memorable retreat for its management and staff in Accra Ghana last year. But this year 2015, the company chose the East African country of Tanzania for their retreat. The trip saw the management and staff as well as their families going to Tanzania for a whole week. The trip featured a lot of activities, ranging from business meetings and workshops and to guided tours and other recreational activities. The business meeting was hosted at the Serena Hotels, Daresalam. The management of the company led by Mr. Michael Adedokun, at the event, voted Mr. Timothy Ige as male staff of the year 2014. It also voted Mrs. Olamide Akeju-Adekanye as the female staff of the year. Both winners were celebrated with the cutting of cakes among other gift items presented to them. The retreat also saw the management and staff visiting several landmark areas in Tanzania.

With Dayo Ogunyemi, it’s a new wine in a new bottle at the AMAA’s

When the founder and Chief Executive officer of the Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) Peace Anyiam-Osigwe announced at the 10th edition of the awards, which held last year in Yenegoa, Bayelsa State that she was quitting her position as Chief Executive officer to concentrate fully on advancing the cause of filmmaking in the continent through her Africa Film Academy (AFA), most observers thought that it was just a political statement. After all they argued that she has always said that she will ‘quit as CEO’ but each year she returns as the pivot of the premier film award, which is also regarded as Africa’s answer to the Oscars. But a press statement issued last week and signed by the consulting Head of Media for the AMAA’s Tope Ajayi has indeed confirmed that the baton has changed hands at the AMAA’s. Although Peace Anyim- Osigwe will continue to function as President of the AFA and AMAA, the task of running the AMAA’s going forward is now the responsibility of renowned entertainment law and finance expert Dayo Ogunyemi. A long standing member of the Governing Board of AFA and a film law expert for the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO), Ogunyemi has spent the past two decades at the confluence of entertainment, media and technology with employment experience with Booz Allen& Hamilton's media and technology practice, Sony Music Entertainment Inc., and BMG. The new AMAA CEO has in the past decade, focused on the finance, media and technology landscapes in Africa, garnering experience in principal investing, consulting, financial advisory and capital raising. A Beta Gamma Sigma graduate of Columbia Business School, who holds a Juris Doctor from Columbia Law School and an SB from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Ogunyemi, who is also admitted to practice law in New York, has served as one of the principal advisers to the Nigerian film industry on finance, distribution and intellectual property, including negotiating key licensing and distribution agreements. He has also formulated policy, advising the UN ECA and more than 7 African governments and regional economic communities (including the EAC and ECOWAS) on intellectual property, telecommunications, technology, e-commerce and finance. Ogunyemi’s immediate plans as CEO as he disclosed will include evolving AMAA into an even more inclusive reward and recognition platform for African filmmaking – whether in the continent or the African Diaspora. He also plans to strengthen AFA’s institutional structure so as to make it more proactive and responsive. But importantly, Ogunyemi needs to and urgently so, amplify the AMAA’s reach – both in terms of audience and value to winners, nominees and the filmmaking community. Also, Ogunyemi needs to build a team that will work hard at raising the bar in production value for the actual AMAA ceremony and other events.

WAPTV Partners CONSAT on Free Decoders

The multiple-award-winning Wale Adenuga Productions Television otherwise called WAPTV has partnered with CONSAT (Continental Satellite) to reward WAPTV viewers across Nigeria by giving out several CONSAT Decoders every week; complete with 2 Months Free Subscription to over 60 Exciting Nigerian and Foreign Channels. According to Wole Adenuga, WAPTV’s Managing Director, “This Special Promo is just one of the many surprises that WAPTV has for its viewers this 2015. This partnership is aimed at rewarding current subscribers and viewers while introducing CONSAT Decoders and WAPTV to many more households across Nigeria. We look forward to welcoming new members to the exciting world of WAPTV.” Viewers of WAPTV can win the CONSAT Decoders by simply watching any of the popular programmes including KOOKOOROOKOO Morning Show (Mondays – Saturdays, 7:00 – 10:00am), Sport Arena (Wednesdays, 10:00 – 11:00pm and Saturdays, 10:30 – 11:30am) and Top 5 (Saturdays, 1:00 – 2:00pm). They will also be expected to call during the LIVE programmes to answer easy Trivia Questions. Similarly, participation is possible through www.facebook.com/wapTVs WAPTV, the Family Entertainment Channel, is available on Channel 812 on CONSAT Decoder; as well as on STARTIMES Channel 116, STARSAT Channel 189 and MYTV (STRONG Decoder). The Channel is watched across Nigeria and several countries across Africa and Europe; including Ghana, South Africa, Kenya, United Kingdom, Italy, France and many others.

Creative Group endorse Jonathan for 2015 election

A group, Nigeria League of Creative Artistes (NLCA), has endorsed President Goodluck Jonathan for the 2015 presidential election. A statement issued Lagos by the Chairman of the group Prince Lekan Banjo said the endorsement of Jonathan was based on his achievements in office since 2011. Banjo remarked that the group aligns with the president’s transformation agenda and the successes recorded so far. According to Banjo ‘’we completely align with the transformation agenda of the present administration which is transforming different sectors of the economy such as our creative sector, the health, aviation, road and rail transport, agriculture, power, education and human capacity development. It is on the strength of these milestones that we wish to declare our support for President Jonathan in the 2015 election. We want him to continue with the good works beyond 2015’’. Speaking also, Vice Chairman of the league Ngozi Anajemba stated that the group’s support for President Jonathan was not based on any primordial sentiments. She stressed that their support was based ‘’on concrete evidences of achievements recorded in different sectors of the economy which has been made manifest in the recent rebasing of the economy and Nigeria’s new status as Africa’s biggest economy.’’ She later joined the Chairman to call on Nigerians to support the president and his administration’s development agenda.

National Honours Award To Teco,Peace,Others... Excites Nigerian Film Corporation

The Nigerian Film Corporation (NFC) is excited about the Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR) award to two Nigerian motion picture practitioners by the President and Commander-in-Chief, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan (GCFR). They are Teco Benson and Peace Anyiam-Osigwe. Reacting to a release on Monday September 10, 2012 by the Federal Government, the NFC was elated that Senators Ayogu Eze and Zainab Kure who bagged the Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON), and Ambassador S.O. Willoughby, Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON), respectively, made the list. In a statement, Afolabi Adesanya, Managing Director/Chief Executive of the apex film agency, the NFC, said, ‘’again the industry is being recognised for her tremendous contributions to the development of the Creative Arts economy of Nigeria’’. The motion picture industry, he said, has also boosted the profile of Nigeria within the comity of nations, describing the recognition as not only apt, but encouraging. Teco Benson and Peace Anyiam-Osigwe bagged the Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR) award. The Nigerian Film Corporation, and indeed Nigeria’s motion picture professionals, Adesanya further said, are challenged by these recognitions, for according to him, “it takes contributions of both the private sector and government to ensure sustainable growth within the film sector”. Teco Benson, an actor, producer and director launched into movie making in 1994. To his credit include, Suicide Mission, Scores to Settle, State of Emergency, Mission to Nowhere, The Senator and many more. Peace Anyiam- Osigwe, known as Industry Energizer, has been promoting the Nigerian and by extension the African Cinema through her pet projects, Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) and African Film Academy (AFA). To her credit include; Blind Date, Sons of Thunder, Messenger of Doom, and The Preachers Daughter and Laviva. Ayogu Eze (CON), a Senator of the Federal Republic since 1999, was a one time Special Adviser and later, Special Assistant to the Governor of Enugu State. He was Commissioner of Information, Enugu State. He has also served on the Senate Committees on Police Affairs, National Planning, Federal Character & Inter-Government Affairs and later as Chairman, Senate Committee on Information. Senator Zainab Kure (CON) was the former First Lady of Niger State.(1999-2007). During her tenure she brought succour and comfort to the youths and women of Niger State through her pet project- the Youth Empowerment Scheme (YES). The YES project elevated the economic status of youths and women of Niger State, including vulnerable children who needed attention and empowerment. At the National Assembly, her sustained support for legislations on economic empowerment and poverty alleviation programmes is second to none. Senator Kure’s impact is already being felt within the Nigerian motion picture sector with her membership of the Senate Committee on Information. Senators Eze and Kure, as members of the Senate Committee on Information, have leveraged their positions to provide invaluable support for the continual growth of the Nigerian motion picture sector. Ambassador S.O. Willoughby’s (OON) input, as Deputy Chief Executive Officer, NEPAD, towards the development of Nigeria’s roads, telecommunications and trans-border cooperation’s among African countries is worthy of note. The Nigerian motion picture industry, no doubt benefitted immensely from Ambassador Willoughby wealth of experience during his tenure as the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Information.

Go to Nexim and access $200M INTERVENTION FUND

Officials of the Nigerian Export Import Bank (NEXIM) have announced the provision of $200 million intervention fund for the Nigerian creative industry. However they stressed at an interactive forum in Cannes that the fund can only be accessed by filmmakers with bankable projects as well as practitioners of the creative industry with proposals that shows how the funds accessed can be recouped. Also at the forum, which was moderated by Mr. Tex Benibo of the Nigerian Film Corporation (NFC), the Nigerian Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) announced a number of tax regime and Incentives which if implemented will support the growth and development of the Nigerian Motion Picture Industry in particular and African cinema as a whole. The NEXIM officials announced that the guidelines for accessing the funds can be obtained from the organizations website www.neximbank,com.ng

NFC announces film essay competition topic

“Film, Family Values and the Society” has been announced as the topic for the 2012/2013 edition of the Nigerian Film Corporation (NFC) Annual Film Essay Competition. Entry submission has also opened. A statement from the NFC says that, the topic is being released, just on the heels of the just concluded ZUMA Film Festival, 2012 which among others, featured the presentation of cash prizes to winners of the 2011/2012 edition of the (NFC) Annual Film Essay Competition, to enable for wide and quality participation. The topic seeks to evaluate the challenges inherent in home video/films, whether or not they enhance core and positive family values, and its effect on the society among others, the statement added. As part of the terms and conditions, winners in past editions of the Essay Competition are not eligible to participate, just as the participation age remains 18years and above, and a participant must be a Nigerian. Submission of entry is from June 1, 2012 and ends on June 30th 2012. Entries can be submitted on-line via md_nfc@hotmail.com,or contact@nfc.gov.ng at any of the NFC’s offices in Jos, Abuja and Kano. The statement also added that all essays must not be less than eight pages on A4 paper size, single-spaced with full contact details of participant(s) and a one-page bio-data. Prize monies of between N100,000.00 to N50,000.00 will be presented to winners early next year (2013).

Ghanaians vote for Mr. and Mrs.

Barely two weeks after she released her critically acclaimed movie, Mr and Mrs to the Ghanaian market for home entertainment, Chinwe Egwuagu has revealed that she has reasons to be happy as the movie has generated wide acceptance and sales in Ghana. The movie, which enjoyed favorable media appraisals while in the cinemas went on sale in Ghana last week and according to reports, the movie made commendable sales in the Gold Coast the same week it was released on DVD, owing to the acceptance of the flick by Ghanaians. The movie which brought fast rising acts; Joseph Benjamin and Nse Ikpe Etim together under one roof, talks about daily occurrences and upheavals encountered in most relationships and marriages and how such situations can be remedied. Revealing the reason behind her decision to release the movie on DVD, Chinwe, a graduate of Mass Communication from IMT Enugu said, “the success of Mr and Mrs at the cinemas was commendable and I have been getting requests from people asking that they will like to see the movie again, and I actually think the time is right for a DVD release’’. Directed by Ikechukwu Onyeka, the movie was released in Nigeria on Monday, August 20 and reports available indicate that it witnessed huge patronage. The movie tells the story of Susan Abbah (Nse Ikpe-Etim), a lawyer who is holed up in a marriage that has been engulfed with issues from differences in the social strata. At the other end is another couple Linda and Charles played by the duo of Thelma Ojiji and Paul Apel who seemingly have a perfect marriage until Linda begins to take her husband for granted because she takes care of all the bills in the home.

HIS WORD....HIS BOND!?

Nigeria's Information Minister labaran Maku has assured of a quick consideration of the long awaited Motion Picture Practitioners Council (MOPPICON) bill by the Federal Executive Council. In fact Maku promised that an executive bill formally establishing MOPPICON and the moribund Film fund policy would be sent to the national assembly for further consideration and speedy passage before the end of the second quarter of 2012. The information Minister gave the assurance on Wendesday May 10 in Abuja while declaring closed the four day long 2012 edition of the Zuma International Film Festival organized by the Nigerian Film Corporation (NFC) a parastatal of the Ministry. The festival held at the grounds of the Nicon Luxury Hotel in Abuja and it attracted filmmakers from Nigeria, Spain, USA, France and Australia. Maku who declared the festival open on Sunday said he was motivated to ensure a quick consideration of both policies because of the resilience exhibited by the filmmakers for the growth of the Nigerian motion picture industry dubbed Nollywood. Maku stated that he was convinced that Nollywood, rated second best movie-producing society in the world after Indian’s Bollywood, deserved more attention than it is getting at the moment.

Music movie, Hoodrush in cinema’s from October 12

One of the yet-to-be-premiered movies making the rounds on all platforms in Nigeria, Hoodrush will premiere and also hit the cinema the same day, Friday October 12, 2012 at the popular Silverbird Galleria, VI, Lagos. The musical thriller which is still generating lots of positive buzz from members of the society especially the youths on social media platforms features talented Nollywood actress, Bimbo Akintola, O.C Ukeje, Gabriel Afolayan, Bolanle Ninalowo, Ijeoma Agu, Lee Lee Byoma and a host of others. The movie was directed by Dimeji Ajibola, a new comer in feature film who has done quite a number of production works for multinationals, media houses and has a number of short films to his credit. Hoodrush is produced by Flipsyde Studios where Dimeji is the Technical Director. Many industry stakeholders, celebrities and journalists from all walks of life are all expected at the October 12 premiere and cinema release date of the movie which has been tipped by many as one of the blockbuster movies to watch out for this year.

INDUSTRY NEWS

Former Secretary General of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) Emeka Rollas in a pose with former President of the AGN Segun Aina-Padonu (aka Segun Arinze) after they signed an MOU with the Federation of International Actors in Los Angeles in 2012. Segun Arinze resigned effective May 2nd after failing to conduct a national election in Benin city, Edo state on April 28 in which Rollas, Steve Eboh and ibinabo Fiberisima contested. The sit-tight AGN Board of Trustees (BOT) are currently shopping for a interim executive that will organise the next election.

Cinema debut for Heroes and Zeroes

Five days after its cinema release, one of the biggest movies of the year, Heroes and Zeros started off on a tremendous note by making huge sales in its first five days at the cinemas. Reports monitored by Bigsam media, the movies publicist, indicate that the movie might have sold about 4 million Naira in the first four days. It was also gathered that the movie which casts star actors like Nadia Buari, Bimbo Manuel, Nobert Young, Funso Adeolu may be gunning for a blockbuster as word of mouth adverts and good publicity has increased the turn out by the day. As it is, more movie enthusiast have been trooping to the cinemas to catch a glimpse of the emotive movie.. Heroes and Zeros is directed by award winning motion picture director Niji Akanni and it features a mixture of veterans and green horns like Bimbo Manuel, Nadia Buari, Gabriel Afolayan, Olu Jacobs, Norbert Young, Tina Mba, Akin Lewis, Funsho Adeolu and Chervel Bridgette.

Bimbo Akintola speaks of her involvement in Hoodrush

The delectable and talented Bimbo Akintola has come out to expressly talk about her role in the yet-to-be-premiered musical flick, Hoodrush. Hoodrush is a musical movie, which tells the story of two brothers, Shez (O.C Ukeje) and Tavier (Gabriel Afolayan), the struggles they face and surmount before they rose to prominence. The movie features Bimbo Akintola, O.C Ukeje, Gabriel Afolayan, Bolanle Ninalowo, Ifeoma Agu, Lee Lee Byoma and others. The movie is directed and produced by Dimeji Ajibola, the Technical Director at Flipsyde Studios. Bimbo Akintola is not a stranger to acting and Nollywood as a whole, the talented actress came into public consciousness after starring in Owo Blow, Out of Bounds where she starred alongside prolific actor, Richard Mofe-Damijo and The Mourning After, a movie that sheds light on the pains of widowhood. ‘’For those of you who haven’t heard me sing before, you will see a bit of that in Hoodrush’ Bimbo said. Speaking more on the movie, Hoodrush, the amiable actress said ‘’it was great working with Dimeji, the producer of Hoodrush because he is the kind of producer that listens and when you listen to people you work with, you will go places, I am saying this because I have come across many producers who are not good at what they do, they just assume everything would sort itself out as soon as they get on set and things are not done that way. There are some that send you scripts and you can’t even read the first page, I have about 15 scripts like that in my apartment, this is so because the producers weren’t professional enough in the way they do things’’.

ON POINT!

Award winning filmmaker wants someone to urgently intervene in the current rip off in the movie distribution business or he will 'quit' making films. Afolayan, producer and director of three of the industry's jubilee hits -Irapada, Figurine and Phone Swap is crossed that he has to part with 65 percent of whatever he earns in the cinema to cinema owners and then from his 35 percent he has to part with another 20 percent to government as tax and then 10 percent to the distributor. So na wetin come remain for the filmmaker? Afolayan feels that until the sharing formula is redressed in favour of the filmmaker, they would just be working like elephants and eating as ants!

Shaibu's MovieRUN!

Shirley Frimpong Manso's Love or Something Like that as a headline film of Nollywodweek 2015

Tuesday 17 September 2013

With Half of a Yellow Sun, new production module for Nollywood underway

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