For Kelani, birthdays are for watching movies

By Igalaman

It was the birthday of foremost cinematographer Tunde Kelani on Thursday February 26 and rather than call an ‘owambe’ party even though it is not typical of him, the prolific filmmaker called out his friends, colleagues and fans to a small film screening ‘soiree’ at one of the cinema’s screening his latest feature ‘Dazzling Mirage’.

Fans had the opportunity to meet ‘the great Kelani’ himself. They saw the movie but much of the day was spent on signing autograph and taking pictures with the iconic Kelani.

By the way the movie ‘Dazzling Mirage’ is still showing in cinemas across the country. It is about the life of a typical sickle cell disease sufferer who by reason of her peculiar genotype is sentenced to bouts of crises which makes life very unpredictable. It is a story of travails and triumphs against the odds of physical pains and psychological traumas which a lady experiences in her journey towards self fulfillment and it exposes and challenges received myths about Sickle cell sufferers in a hard... indifferent and calculating environment. 

Kunle Afolayan and Lala Akindoju on the set of Dazzling Mirage

It stars Kemi Lala Akindoju, Kunle Afolayan and Yomi Fash Lanso in lead roles.  

The Duplex: Mike Ezuruonye, Omoni Oboli scamper in house of horror 

* movie in a Cinema near you as from March 6

By Igalaman 

Popular actress Omoni Oboli and leading male actor Mike Ezurounye may have featured in loads of movies but they have never spared as man and wife in any movie. But together, they play man and wife in this gripping modern day horror about Emeka (Mike Ezuruonye), who is on the edge of life, as he battles, not only to save his wife Adaku (played by Omoni Oboli) and their unborn baby, but also his investment of N120million. He does this inadvertently, on a cemetery, glorified in a posh duplex – but too late, the resident ghost is already on rampage.

Distributed by FilmOne, a sister company to Filmhouse Cinemas, The Duplex, which hits cinemas across Nigeria on March 6, is a piteous, tense experience by a young couple in their journey to start a life. Ezuruonye and Oboli, display an infectious chemistry in this there first movie as a couple in a Nollywood movie ever. And the film, pegged on the lesson of greed, plays up the contrast between a contented wife and a more adventurous husband, with sub plots of the sometimes woman’s financial possessiveness and the man’s notable ego and secretiveness in the family.

In The Duplex, Chukwuma Omezioke took ill shortly before the Nigeria/Biafra war and died. His wife and only son left Lagos for their hometown, trusting the property with the deceased best friend, Mr. Balogun. But they were never to return to it because the caretaker had personalized the house documents. Omezioke’s ghost will not take the cheating lying low, as it turns a serial killer, on the trail of buyers of his stolen home. The cheap Lagos detach property, in a serene environment, kick started a turbulent journey toward the living relations of the real owner to prevent more torment, torture, spiritual attacks, madness and deaths. Indeed, The Duplex holds that ‘there’s more to a cheap property than fraudulent intent.’

Laced with some comic relief, viewers, according to Isikaku, are soon to see that ‘though a woman is amusingly freaked under a spiritual attack, perhaps a man's reaction to the same situation is more laughable.’ Produced by Emmanuel and Stella Isikaku and directed by Ikechukwu Onyeka, other cast of the movie include Uru Eke (Dora); Anthony Monjaro (Jones); Ayo Umoh (Akpan) and Maureen Okpoko, who played the bald-headed lady psychic. The movie is fresh from the stable of Videofield International Limited Production and it was screen played by Stanley Isokoh. 

Entries open for Nollywood Film Festival in Germany

Stories by Igalaman 

Ambassador Isaac Izoya

Organisers of the annual Nollywood Film Festival, Germany have announced that preparations are in top gear for the second edition of the festival, which has served as a platform to showcase films made by Nigerians at home and in the Diaspora. The event will hold at the prestigious Filmforum Höchst VHS Cinema in Frankfurt Am Main, Germany from September 10 through to September 12 2015. According to the Festival founder and director Isaac Izoya “preparations are in top gear at the moment. The event will hold in September and for three days, the arena will be busy with works made by Nigerians who are scattered all over the world making the black race proud with their films. 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. Details of entries and on the festival can be obtained at www.ehizoyafilms.com or at info@ehizoyafilms.com

Last call for iREP Docu-Film Festival 2015

Organisers of the annual iREP Documentary Film Festival have announced last call for entries for the fifth edition of the festival, which is scheduled to hold from the 19th to 22nd March 2015, in Lagos.

Executive Director of the festival Mr. Femi Odugbemi disclosed that this edition ‘’promises to be four days of over 40 documentary film screenings, insightful panel discussions, training and workshops, and networking’’.  He disclosed that the iREPRESENT Documentary Film Festival 2015 is planned to take full advantage of online connectivity and interaction through live stream broadcast and feedback. According to him ‘’#‎iREP2015‬ is premised on the reality that Digital media technology is expanding narrative possibilities and shaping audiences’ experiences of how realities are articulated. Documentary filmmaking is coming to terms with these new realities and continuously finding hybrid strategies to navigate the blurred lines and satisfying the ever changing temperament of the digital world that is hip, fun-seeking, chaotic, multi-tasking, and attention sapping’’.

Odugbemi also said ‘’for documentary filmmaking, digital technology presents a challenge and an opportunity that would either remarkably transform and redefine what passes as a documentary film or bury the art in its past’’. Information on submission and the festival can be sourced at info@irepfilmfestival.com or at http://irepfilmfestival.com.

No Oscar for ‘Timbuktu’, but…

Sissako

‘Timbuktu’ the film by Mauritanian filmmaker Abderrahmane Sissako, didn’t win the Oscars last Saturday but it was good that the film which featured in competition at Cannes last year made it to the top five films of the foreign-language Oscar. ‘Ida’ a film from Poland by Pawel Pawlikowski received the diadem for the foreign language category. South Africa (Tsotsi by Gavin Hood in 2005) and Algeria (Z by Costa Gavras in 1969), Ivory Coast (Black and White in Colours by Jean Annaud in 1976) has previously won the foreign language diadem for Africa at the Oscars. Meanwhile Sissako has been named President of the Cannes 2015 Cinfondation and Short Films jury. Sissako will chair a four-man jury that will award three prizes at the Cannes closing ceremony scheduled for May 24. The festival begins on May 13.

Bob and Cassandra Udokwu clock 15 as man and wife

* couple declare that for them 'it is till death'

By Igalaman 

Just this Thursday February 19, notable actor and politician Bob Manuel Udokwu and his adorable wife of over a decade and half Cassandra called a quiet dinner event to mark 15 years of blissful relationship. 

Being a top player in the entertainment industry where practitioners are often vulnerable to distraction, observers consider the tall, handsome, dashing and well-built actor as one who can be considered very lucky in his marital life. At the event held at Golden Tulip Hotel, Lagos, Bob who is back to his beat as Senior Special Assistant to the Governor of Anambra State on Entertainment gave the always gorgeously dressed Cassandra and mother of his two children yet, most of the credits for the stability and success of the union. 

According to the actor and show host ‘’my wife is not only a homemaker, but she is a friend, lover, wife, mother, partner. Adviser, confidant and many more positive attributes rolled into one’’. Bob had explained that one of the reasons they walked this far together, is the commitment they made right from the very beginning that they must make their marriage work. ‘’We dialogue and show mutual respect to each other’’ he said while his lovely wife nodded in agreement. Madam Cassandra had earlier remarked that for them, ‘it is till death’ as they have never contemplated and will never contemplate separation or divorce.

Stakeholders support take off of AVRS

Story by igalaman

Audio Visual Rights Society of Nigeria (AVRS), the nation’s sole collective management organization for cinematograph films, has held its maiden stakeholders’ forum. The well-attended and star-studded forum held on Thursday February 19, 2015 at the exquisite Planet One Entertainment Centre, Maryland, Lagos. The forum is the first in a series of such public enlightenment programs lined up by AVRS for the year.

 

Chairman of AVRS Mahmood Ali-Balogun

Chairman of the Society, Mahmood Ali-Balogun explained at the start of the forum that the cardinal objective of the Forum was to enlighten stakeholders in the film and broadcast industry on the purpose, nature and operations of AVRS. He also said that the forum was held to explain to the stakeholders  ‘’their rights and obligations to the Society’’ with a view to establishing cordial working relationships with various stakeholders in the film industry.

 

Movie Sheik Zeb Ejiro and other stakeholders at the AVRS forum

Addressing the nearly 300 movie practitioners who attended the Forum, Mr. Ali-Balogun traced the background to the formation of AVRS, citing the need to strengthen capacity of industry practitioners to fight piracy, as well as the clamour for royalties and residual income as fundamental reasons that led to the establishment of a CMO for the audio-visual sector.

 

Cross Section of Stakeholders at the AVRS forum

Having scaled the primary hurdles of formation of AVRS and its approval to function as a CMO by the Nigerian Copyright Commission, Mr. Ali-Balogun said the time was due for rigorous and extensive sensitization of all stakeholders comprising industry practitioners and commercial users of audio visual content across the country, to get everyone well-informed on their duties, rights and obligations. He stressed on the need for all prospective members of AVRS – producers, directors, screen writers, lead actors and actresses – to endeavour to become formally registered members and assignors to the Society, as the strength of a CMO usually derives from the number of mandates it has in repertoire, based on which it could commence licensing users of works of its members on all platforms.

GM OF AVRS Barrister Eme Akiba-Eyo

 Also speaking, the General Manager of AVRS, Barrister Eme Akiba-Eyo outlined to stakeholders the benefits of membership of AVRS and threw light on the nature and operations of the Society. In her words, “AVRS is a company limited by guarantee and approved to function as a CMO by the regulatory agency being the Nigerian Copyright Commission. For avoidance of doubt it is neither a guild nor an association but a corporate organization duly incorporated to operate in accordance with the provisions of its memorandum and articles of association, section 39 of the Nigerian Copyright Act, and the Collective Management Organizations Regulations 2007. As film producers, directors, screen writers, lead actors and actresses, your membership of AVRS guarantees earning of royalties and the peace of mind which comes with knowing that while you engage in your various creative efforts, AVRS is busy working round the clock as your watchdog against unauthorised exploitation of your works.”

In his goodwill message, the Director-General of Nigerian Copyright Commission, Mr. Afam Ezekude, represented by Barrister Obi Ezeilo, congratulated AVRS for convening the stakeholders’ forum and charged practitioners to close ranks and work collectively towards achieving the goals of the Society. The NCC Boss advised stakeholders to avoid any indulgence that may weaken the capacity of AVRS to deliver on its mandate.

There were several interventions from guest and stakeholders at the forum. For instance, the General Manager of Copyright Society of Nigeria, COSON, Mr. Chinedu Chukwuji, in his remarks expressed happiness that AVRS was making steady progress but warned that the journey ahead would demand serious sacrifice without which the set objectives would not be achieved.

The CEO of Wawoo TV, Dr. Don Pedro Obaseki, who was a part sponsor of the event, commended AVRS but bluntly admonished all stakeholders to eschew rancour and work in one accord towards the overall benefit of the industry. 

A very significant part of the event was the interactive session during which participants asked questions bothering on membership procedure, assignment of rights, licensing, distribution of royalties, enforcement of rights, and the now prevalent digital streaming of audio visual content. And the Directors of AVRS who were present at the event including Barrister Tunji Bamishigbin, Chief Gabriel Okoye (Igwe Gabosky), Sir Emmanuel Isikaku, Otunba Aina Kushoro, Mr. Fidelis Duker, Mrs. Emem Isong-Misodi, and Prince Jide Kosoko provided answers to the questions posed by stakeholders. 

Anchored by Mr. Francis Onwochei who is also a Director of AVRS, dignitaries at the event included film maker and former Managing Director of Nigerian Film Corporation, Mr. Afolabi Adesanya, president of Theatre Arts and Movie Producers Association of Nigeria (TAMPAN) Yemi Sholade, president of the Association of Nigerian Theatre Practitioners (ANTP), Comrade Victor Ashaolu, top Nollywood Producers, directors, actors, actresses and marketers including Mr. Dejumo Lewis, Mr. Emeka Ossai, Chief Cosmos Ndulue, Richmond Ezihe, Sunny McDon, Zeb Ejiro, Christopher Ozoemena, Alex Enyengho, Chico Ejiro, Abbey Lanre, Adewale Elesho, Nobert Ajaegbu, Debo Debo, Ralph Nwadike,  Aisha Abimbola and a host of others.

The forum recorded a broad-based participation by members of various Nollywood guilds and associations, prominent among which are the Association of Movie Producers (AMP), Directors’ Guild of Nigeria (DGN), Actors’ Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Association of Nigerian Theatre Practitioners (ANTP), Theatre Arts and Movie Producers Association of Nigeria (TAMPAN), Film and Video Producers & Marketers of Nigeria (FVPMAN) and Yoruba Video Film Producers and Marketers Association of Nigeria (YOVFPMAN). Others are the Nigerian Society of Cinematography, Association of Nollywood Core Producers (ANCOP), Motion Picture Distributors of Nigeria (MOPIDON), The Golden Movie Ambassadors of Nigeria (TGMA), Independent Television Producers Association of Nigeria (ITPAN), Screen Writers Guild of Nigeria and Indigenous Movie Makers Association of Nigeria (IMMAN).

The success of the Lagos stakeholders’ Forum is viewed as a gateway to more successful outings as the train moves to other film production hubs across the country in the weeks ahead.