International Endorsements for Eko Film Festival

International endorsements for Eko film festival

Hope Obioma Opara

With experiences and ideas gathered over the years while attending film festivals around the globe, Hope Opara is poised to host the first ever Eko international film festival between July 7 and 12, 2010. His passion and journey into the world of film festivals began in November 2008, when he attended the 30th edition of the Nantes film festival in France.

He later raised the stakes when he attended the 62nd edition of the Cannes Film Festival, and had a memorable encounter with super star actress, Angelina Jolie. He happily documented the life changing meeting in Supple magazine, which he started publishing and editing since August 2008, after six years experience as a successful printer.

Hope returned home with the motivation to launch a new film festival buoyed by the much publicized report of Nigeria as having the largest movie-making industry in Africa and the second largest in the world.

“A close associate of mine came up with the name: Eko International Film Festival. He posted it online in August 2009. By the following month, it was duly registered by me. Both of us had never undertaken any film festival project before now and knew definitely that we would be needing help.”

He eventually found a mentor in the person of Bruno Chatelin, co-founder of filmfestivals.com, a web portal launched in 1995. Bruno was in charge of the launch of over 250 films during his tenure as Marketing Director and Managing Director for Columbia TriStar Films and Twentieth Century Fox.

After meeting Bruno in Paris, they sealed a deal that makes filmfestivals.com a media partner to Eko international film festival, a feat Opara described as an unprecedented morale booster that would help realize his dream of turning his festival into a world-class gathering of movie people.

To network and gather more experience for his forthcoming festival, Opara returned again to Europe for the Rotterdam International Film Festival in the Netherlands, as well as the 60th edition of the Berlinale, in Germany. “I now feel convinced that I could put together a successful world-class film festival.”

Hardworking Opara had this to say on funding: “We are making sacrifice towards raising the needed funds for Eko International film festival, and what we need most is money to host the filmmakers and accredited journalists and enough to rent the halls we would need to screen selected films.
We need over a million dollars to make this dream of a mega film festival a reality.
We have started the fund-raising drive. We are seeking the cooperation and support of local and international sponsors. We have attracted the interest of some Nigerian banks and we expect to close deals with some prospective sponsors shortly,” he explained.

Interestingly, news of the forthcoming festival is currently spreading within and outside Nollywood, especially on the internet and Hope Opara is upbeat. “Eko international film festival will provide exciting new business and tourism opportunities. It’s going to be great fun for filmmakers and lovers of films in Nigeria and many thousands of film aficionados coming from outside our shores. The festival will definitely be a plus for Nollywood and Nigeria… For more info, kindly visit our site, www.ekoiff.com”

~ By Azuh Amatus

Azuh Amatus, 31, is a multiple awards-winning journalist with over a decade experience. At 25, he emerged as one of Nigeria’s youngest editors when he edited Hearts Magazine between 2004 and 2005. An authority on Nollywood and entertainment matters, he has also worked with various media houses spanning both the print and electronics. Currently the Society Editor of The Sun Newspapers, he handles its Showbiz Desk alongside other interesting columns, he is also an entertainment consultant. Azuh, is well-traveled and has attended several national and international film festivals, awards, seminars, workshops and conferences. His weekly columns and Centre Spread interviews with Nollywood Stars and other entertainment personalities, are a must read for his millions of fans. He has also delivered papers on Nollywood and entertainment at different fora. A graduate of Mass Communication, Azuh, is also an Associate Member of both the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) and the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON). He is the current National President of the Movie Reporters Guild Of Nigeria (MORGON) and a member of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ).

LG Mobile Phones Celebrates Iron Man 2 with New LG ALLY

LG MOBILE PHONES CELEBRATES IRON MAN 2, THE LAUNCH OF LG ALLY AND THE FUTURE OF MOBILE TECHNOLOGY

Event in NY showcased LG’s new “Stark-worthy” Android device, futuristic concept phones and Iron Man 2 augmented reality applications

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New York – May 12, 2010 /PRNewswire/ — LG Electronics MobileComm U.S.A, Inc. (LG Mobile Phones) and box office hit Iron Man 2 joined forces last night to celebrate the release of LG’s first Android handset, LG Ally. The event showcased the new LG Ally handset, innovative futuristic concept phones from the LG Design of the Future Challenge, augmented reality experiences, and the chance to meet world-renowned prop master Russell Bobbitt, who created the props for Iron Man and Iron Man 2.

Industry executives and technology enthusiasts arrived at Twelve21 in New York City to attend the event and explore what makes LG Ally a truly “Stark-worthy” product. Featuring a full slide out QWERTY keyboard and front touch screen, Ally also boasts an optional augmented reality application. Consumers who purchase Ally will be able to download this exclusive application as well as never before seen Iron Man 2 content at www.lgim2.com or by texting 95173 from their mobile phone.

IRON MAN 2 POSTER

Guests at the event also experienced a 3-D prototype mock-up of the LG Design the Future Challenge Prop Master’s Choice Award which was presented by Bobbitt. Additional film props, such as the futuristic Iron Man Mark VI suit, were also on hand at the event to engage attendees in a world of innovation and endless possibilities.

The culmination of yet another successful partnership between LG and the Iron Man franchise, other elements of the collaboration included a multi-faceted marketing campaign designed to highlight how technology can bring people together and make everyone a modern day Super Hero. Incorporating an advertising campaign featuring a super-hero-themed television commercial, in-store and gift-with-purchase promotions, and a movie-themed microsite, LG’s multi-platform initiative inspires movie fans and gadget gurus alike to bring the power of an LG Android device and Augmented Reality to life.

###

About LG Electronics, Inc.
LG Electronics, Inc. (KSE: 066570.KS) is a global leader and technology innovator in consumer electronics, mobile communications and home appliances, employing more than 84,000 people working in 115 operations including 84 subsidiaries around the world. With 2009 global sales of USD43.4 billion, LG is comprised of five business units – Home Entertainment, Mobile Communications, Home Appliance, Air Conditioning and Business Solutions. LG is the world’s leading producer of flat panel TVs, audio and video products, mobile handsets, air conditioners and washing machines. LG has signed a long-term agreement to become both a Global Partner and a Technology Partner of Formula One™. As part of this top-level association, LG acquires exclusive designations and marketing rights as the official consumer electronics, mobile phone and data processor of this global sporting event. For more information, please visit www.lgusa.com.

About LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company
The LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company is a leading global mobile communications and information company. With its cutting-edge technology and innovative design capabilities, LG creates handsets that provide an optimized mobile experience to customers around the world. LG is pursuing convergence technology and mobile computing products, while continuing its leadership role in mobile communication with stylish designs and smart technology. For more information, please visit www.lgmobilephones.com.

About LG Electronics USA
LG Electronics USA, Inc., based in Englewood Cliffs, N.J., is the North American subsidiary of LG Electronics, Inc., a global force and technology leader in consumer electronics, home appliances and mobile communications. In the United States, LG Electronics sells a range of stylish and innovative home entertainment products, mobile phones, home appliances and business solutions, all under LG’s “Life’s Good” marketing theme. For more information, please visit www.LG.com.

See Letters to Juliet on May 14 and Fall in Love

The love story movie Letters to Juliet is coming out on Friday May 14, 2010. But it would have been great if the film came out last Valentine. This is going to be the romantic movie for summer. Go and see it and fall in love this weekend.

When a young American (Amanda Seyfried) travels to the city of Verona, home of the star-crossed lover Juliet Capulet of Romeo and Juliet fame, she joins a group of volunteers who respond to letters to Juliet seeking advice about love. After answering one letter dated from 1957, she inspires its author (Vanessa Redgrave) to travel to Italy in search of her long-lost love, which sets off a chain of events that will bring a love into both their lives unlike anything they have ever imagined.

letters-to-juliet-poster

Letters to Juliet
Directed by Gary Winick

Produced by Caroline Kaplan
Ellen Barkin
Mark Canton
Sharan Kapoor
Written by Screenplay:
Jose Rivera
Screenplay:
Tim Sullivan

Starring Amanda Seyfried
Chris Egan
Vanessa Redgrave
Gael García Bernal
and Franco Nero

Music by Andrea Guerra

Editing by Bill Pankow

Distributed by Summit Entertainment

Release date(s) May 14, 2010

Country United States

Language English

Wall Street 2: Money Never Sleeps at 63rd Cannes Film Festival

One of the most anticipated Out of Competition films at the 63rd Cannes Film Festival is Oliver Stone’s Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps, the sequel to his 1987 Academy Award-winning film Wall Street. Famous actor Michael Douglas returned to reprise his role as Gordon Gekko, but Shia LaBeouf is not actually another Charlie Sheen of the first Wall Street. The film is highly rated as one of the seven films to watch out for at the prestigious film fiesta. Supple magazine will join others at the Cannes on Friday where the Publisher Hope Obioma Opara is already expected to promote our inaugural Eko International Film Festival (EKOIFF) as we prepare to host the film world in the mega city of Lagos this summer.

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Michael Douglas is back in his Oscar®-winning role as one of the screen’s most notorious villains, Gordon Gekko. Emerging from a lengthy prison stint, Gekko finds himself on the outside of a world he once dominated. Looking to repair his damaged relationship with his daughter Winnie, Gekko forms an alliance with her fiancé Jacob (Shia LaBeouf). But can Jacob and Winnie really trust the ex-financial titan, whose relentless efforts to redefine himself in a different era have unexpected consequences.

Directed by Oliver Stone
Produced by Oliver Stone
Edward R. Pressman
Michael Douglas
Eric Kopeloff’
Alessandro Camon (exec.)
Celia D. Costas (exec.)
Written by Bryan Burrough (story)
Allan Loeb (screenplay)
Stephen Schiff (writer)
Starring Michael Douglas
Shia LaBeouf
Josh Brolin
Carey Mulligan
Cinematography Rodrigo Prieto
Studio Edward R. Pressman Film
Distributed by 20th Century Fox
Release date(s) September 24, 2010 (2010-09-24)
Country United States
Language English
Preceded by Wall Street

The following is the complete final list all the films to be screened at the 63rd Cannes film festival.

Competition

 

 

  • ANOTHER YEAR directed by Mike LEIGH
  • BIUTIFUL directed by Alejandro GONZÁLEZ IÑÁRRITU
  • COPIE CONFORME (CERTIFIED COPY) directed by Abbas KIAROSTAMI
  • DES HOMMES ET DES DIEUX (OF GODS AND MEN) directed by Xavier BEAUVOIS
  • FAIR GAME directed by Doug LIMAN
  • HORS LA LOI (OUTSIDE OF THE LAW) directed by Rachid BOUCHAREB
  • LA NOSTRA VITA (OUR LIFE) directed by Daniele LUCHETTI
  • LA PRINCESSE DE MONTPENSIER (THE PRINCESS OF MONTPENSIER) directed by Bertrand TAVERNIER
  • LUNG BOONMEE RALUEK CHAT (Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives) directed by Apichatpong WEERASETHAKUL
  • OUTRAGE directed by Takeshi KITANO
  • POETRY directed by LEE Chang-dong
  • RIZHAO CHONGQING (CHONGQING BLUES) directed by WANG Xiaoshuai
  • SCHASTYE MOE (MY JOY) directed by Sergei LOZNITSA
  • SZELÍD TEREMTÉS – A FRANKENSTEIN TERV (TENDER SON – The Frankenstein Project) directed by Kornél MUNDRUCZÓ
  • THE HOUSEMAID directed by IM Sangsoo
  • TOURNÉE (ON TOUR) directed by Mathieu AMALRIC
  • UN HOMME QUI CRIE (A screaming man) directed by Mahamat-Saleh HAROUN
  • UTOMLYONNYE SOLNTSEM 2: PREDSTOYANIE (THE EXODUS – Burnt by the sun 2) directed by Nikita MIKHALKOV
  • Un Certain Regard

  • AURORA directed by Cristi PUIU
  • BLUE VALENTINE directed by Derek CIANFRANCE
  • CARANCHO directed by Pablo TRAPERO
  • CHATROOM directed by Hideo NAKATA
  • FILM SOCIALISME directed by Jean-Luc GODARD
  • HAHAHA directed by HONG Sangsoo
  • HAI SHANG CHUAN QI (I WISH I KNEW) directed by JIA Zhangke
  • LES AMOURS IMAGINAIRES (HEARTBEATS) directed by Xavier DOLAN
  • LIFE, ABOVE ALL directed by Oliver SCHMITZ
  • LOS LABIOS (THE LIPS) directed by SANTIAGO LOZA, Ivan FUND
  • MARTI, DUPA CRACIUN (TUESDAY, AFTER CHRISTMAS) directed by Radu MUNTEAN
  • O ESTRANHO CASO DE ANGÉLICA (THE STRANGE CASE OF ANGELICA) directed by Manoel DE OLIVEIRA
  • OCTUBRE (OCTOBER) directed by Diego VEGA, Daniel VEGA
  • PÁL ADRIENN (ADRIENN PÁL) directed by Ágnes KOCSIS
  • R U THERE directed by David VERBEEK
  • REBECCA H. ( RETURN TO THE DOGS) directed by Lodge KERRIGAN
  • SIMON WERNER A DISPARU… (LIGHTS OUT) directed by Fabrice GOBERT
  • UDAAN directed by Vikramaditya MOTWANE
  • UNTER DIR DIE STADT (THE CITY BELOW) directed by Christoph HOCHHÄUSLER
  • Out of Competition

     

  • AUTOBIOGRAFIA LUI NICOLAE CEAUSESCU (The Autobiography of Nicolae Ceausescu) directed by Andrei UJICA
  • CARLOS directed by Olivier ASSAYAS
  • KABOOM directed by Gregg ARAKI
  • L’AUTRE MONDE (BLACK HEAVEN) directed by Gilles MARCHAND
  • ROBIN HOOD directed by Ridley SCOTT
  • TAMARA DREWE directed by Stephen FREARS
  • THE TREE directed by Julie BERTUCCELLI
  • WALL STREET: MONEY NEVER SLEEPS directed by Oliver STONE
  • YOU WILL MEET A TALL DARK STRANGER directed by Woody ALLEN
  • Special screenings

     

  • 5 X FAVELA, POR NOS MESMOS (5 X FAVELA) directed by Wagner NOVAIS, Manaira CARNEIRO, Rodrigo FELHA, Cacau AMARAL, Luciano VIDIGAL, Cadu BARCELOS, Luciana BEZERRA
  • ABEL directed by Diego LUNA
  • CHANTRAPAS directed by Otar IOSSELIANI
  • COUNTDOWN TO ZERO directed by Lucy WALKER
  • DRAQUILA – L’ITALIA CHE TREMA (DRAQUILA – ITALY TREMBLES) directed by Sabina GUZZANTI
  • GILLES JACOB, L’ ARPENTEUR DE LA CROISETTE (CITIZEN CANNES) directed by Serge LE PERON
  • INSIDE JOB directed by Charles FERGUSON
  • LA MEUTE (THE PACK) directed by Franck RICHARD
  • NOSTALGIA DE LA LUZ (NOSTALGIA FOR THE LIGHT) directed by Patricio GUZMAN
  • OVER YOUR CITIES GRASS WILL GROW directed by Sophie FIENNES
  • Cinefondation

     

  • COOKED directed by Jens BLANK
  • COUCOU-LES-NUAGES (Anywhere out of the world) directed by Vincent CARDONA
  • DAKUJEM, DOBRE (Thanks, Fine) directed by Mátyás PRIKLER
  • EL JUEGO (THE GAME) directed by Benjamin NAISHTAT
  • FROZEN LAND directed by KIM Tae-yong
  • HINKERORT ZORASUNE (THE FIFTH COLUMN) directed by Vatche BOULGHOURJIAN
  • IJSLAND (ICELAND) directed by Gilles COULIER
  • ITT VAGYOK (HERE I AM) directed by Bálint SZIMLER
  • JA VEC JESAM SVE ONO ŠTO ŽELIM DA IMAM (I ALREADY AM EVERYTHING I WANT TO HAVE) directed by Dane KOMLJEN
  • LOS MINUTOS, LAS HORAS (THE MINUTES, THE HOURS) directed by Janaína MARQUES RIBEIRO
  • MIRAMARE directed by Michaela MÜLLER
  • SHELLEY directed by Andrew WESMAN
  • TAULUKAUPPIAAT (THE PAINTING SELLERS) directed by Juho KUOSMANEN
  • Short films in Competition

  • BLOKES (BLOCKS) directed by Marialy RIVAS
  • CHIENNE D’HISTOIRE (BARKING ISLAND) directed by Serge AVÉDIKIAN
  • ESTAÇÃO (STATION) directed by Marcia FARIA
  • EZRA RISHONA (FIRST AID) directed by Yarden KARMIN
  • MAYA directed by Pedro Pío MARTÍN PÉREZ
  • MICKY BADER (BATHING MICKY) directed by Frida KEMPFF
  • MUSCLES directed by Edward HOUSDEN
  • ROSA directed by Monica LAIRANA
  • TO SWALLOW A TOAD directed by Jurgis KRASONS
  • Sex and the City 2: The Fun is Twice as Much as the First

    Fans and others are already purchasing tickets for the opening weekend of Sex and the City 2 and Fadango the popular movie-ticket website is reporting 20% increase in sales due to the frequency of the demand.

    Why all the buzz ?

    sex-and-the-city-2-movie-poster

    The following is an Exclusive Interview with Michael Patrick King, the Director and writer.

    You were very funny out there.

    Michael Patrick King: Thank you. Thank you. What are you going to do in front of a crowd? I didn’t have 3D. I had to have a couple of jokes.

    The last film was so successful, do you feel the pressure for the sequel?

    Michael Patrick King: There’s always pressure. Anytime you create a new artistic anything, there’s pressure because one of my rules when I did the series, and I maintained it on this movie, was never to repeat. I try not to repeat a story. I try not to repeat an emotion. I want it to be all sort of new for the viewers and to challenge myself as a writer, so there’s always pressure. What else can you come up with? But these characters are so vibrant to me and to people around the world who still follow their lives, it’s easy to get lost in like what they would do, so the pressure comes off on me and more into the work.

    So how come the idea to go to Abu Dhabi and how was it to shoot over there?

    Michael Patrick King: Okay, that’s a big story. How much time have you got? Here’s what happened: When I finished the first movie I had no idea for a 2nd movie. And then I saw the parties around the world when the movies were being shown. Everybody was showing up dressed up and the movie was a big success and the opportunity came and the first thing I thought was, well I want this to be a party. And also because when I was writing the script we were in an economic downturn still, and still are around the world. Financially it’s not the same world as when we did the first movie. So I thought, okay it’s a depression. In the Great Depression what did people do? What do people need? And I thought extravagance. Let’s put them on a big vacation. Then I thought what’s happening right now? And the theme of the movie for me really is tradition. And even how women today in New York City are still struggling with traditional roles no matter how evolved they are, they still have to struggle with wife, mother, single still.

    Continue reading.

    Director: Michael Patrick King
    Writer: Michael Patrick King
    Studio: New Line Cinema
    Cast: Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Cattrall, Kristin Davis

    Release: May 27, 2010

    Naomi Campbell Breaks Down On Oprah Winfrey Show

    naomi-campbell-picture-1

    Black British supermodel Naomi Campbell broke down on the Oprah Winfrey Show and confessed that she regretted all her tantrums and her unfortunate victims, from her housekeeper Ana Scolavino to her limousine driver.

    “I am ashamed of everything I’ve ever done,” she confessed.
    Her mother Valerie Morris blamed herself for the irrational mood swings of her famous daughter.
    “I was 19 when I had Naomi. I was a single mum, a father and mother. I wanted the best for my daughter, and I left Naomi to work to give her a better life,” Morris said as Naomi sobbed.

    Naomi also blamed her addiction to drugs for her lack of self control. She said cocaine is a devil’s drug.
    Well, Naomi’s billionaire lover Vladimir Doronin of Russia is not complaining and he can afford all the luxuries she wants and we hope sniffing cocaine will never be seen in her closets again.

    Naomi+Campbell+Vladimir+Doronin+Relaxing+Beach+-BsVZ8wtxuNl

    Naomi Campbell is on an extreme detox diet of maple syrup mixed with cayenne pepper, lemon juice and water for as long as 18 days to maintain her sexy physique that makes her look younger than her almost 40 years on earth. Her fitness expert is her Russian boyfriend. But Emily Hill of the Guardian calls it mad diet, because starving yourself could lead to serious complications such as Naomi Campbell’s scandalous temper tantrums. These extreme diet regimes affect the moods like drugs.
    Hill listed the following celebrities on similar regimes

    – Cheryl Cole eats according to her blood-type – it’s called the Eat Right 4 Your Type diet

    – Kirsten Dunst’s diet consists 70% alkaline foods and 30% acid.

    – Jennifer Aniston takes a glass of freshly squeezed lemon juice first thing every morning and on a new baby food diet.

    – Liz Hurley lives on a bowl of cabbage soup a day.

    – Megan Fox indulges in a cider vinegar cocktail.

    “Campbell needs to put the syrup away and embrace the bread basket,” Hill said.

    Detox regimes and hot temper tantrums aside, Naomi Campbell is already planning a fashion for relief charity show for the benefit of Haiti. She is bringing designers, models and celebrities together to raise funds for the rehabilitation of the displaced people in Haiti as she did after the 2005 Hurricane Katrina.

    ~ Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima

    Win $10, 000 in KBB.COM Video Car Review Contest

    KBB.COM ANNOUNCES $10,000 VIDEO CAR REVIEW CONTEST, BE AN EDITOR FOR A DAY

    Company Looking for Two-Minute Automotive Video Reviews, General Awesomeness Required

    IRVINE, Calif., May 5, 2010 /PRNewswire/ — Kelley Blue Book www.kbb.com, the leading provider of new- and used-car information, announces a new video car review contest offering a grand prize of $10,000 and the opportunity to play Kelley Blue Book Editor for a day. Anyone with a video camera and an interesting take on a car of their choice is encouraged to step up to the plate and show the Kelley Blue Book editors a video review of two minutes or less. A panel of judges will judge entries based on creativity, the ability to capture the essence of the vehicle being reviewed, cool and unusual visuals, overall presentation, professionalism, and ‘general awesomeness.’

    All interested gear-heads and video novices can log on to Kelley Blue Book’s YouTube channel www.youtube.com/kbb, watch the contest video and reply with their two-minute video to enter. Entrants are also required to visit kbb.com to register their entry for the contest at www.kbb.com/contest.

    The contest is now open and submissions will be accepted until 4:59:59 PM PDT on June 15, 2010. The creator of the winning video will win a cash prize of $10,000 and an all-expenses-paid trip to the company’s home office in Irvine, Calif., to be a vehicle reviews editor for a day. Coming in second or third place in this contest also offers big cash, with the runner up collecting $5,000 and a third-place prize of $1,000 for their efforts. Contest rules are available at www.kbb.com/contest.

    “The life of an automotive journalist is pretty great. What could be better than driving cool cars, sharing your thoughts about them and getting paid to do so,” said Micah Muzio, video road test editor, Kelley Blue Book. “We want to see how inventive, talented and just plain awesome our viewers are on camera. Ten thousand dollars and access to the exciting world of automotive journalism await the creator of the most dazzling video.”

    Participants and everyday vehicle voyeurs can follow all of the video submissions, comments and fun on the company’s YouTube channel throughout the contest. A winner will be named during the second week in July.

    About Kelley Blue Book (www.kbb.com)
    Since 1926, Kelley Blue Book, The Trusted Resource®, has provided vehicle buyers and sellers with the new- and used- vehicle information they need to accomplish their goals with confidence. The company’s top-rated Web site, www.kbb.com, provides the most up-to-date pricing and values, including the New Car Blue Book® Value, which reveals what people actually are paying for new cars. The company also reports vehicle pricing and values via products and services, including software products and the famous Blue Book® Official Guide. According to the C.A. Walker Research Solutions, Inc. – 2009 Spring Automotive Web Site Usefulness Study, kbb.com is the most useful automotive information Web site among new and used vehicle shoppers, and half of online vehicle shoppers visit kbb.com. Kelley Blue Book’s kbb.com also is a W3 Gold Award winner, sanctioned by the International Academy of Visual Arts. Kbb.com is a leading provider of new car prices, used car Blue Book Values, car reviews, new cars for sale, used cars for sale, and car dealer locations.

    Media Contacts:
    Robyn Eckard
    949-268-3049
    reckard@kbb.com

    Joanna Pinkham
    949-268-3079
    jpinkham@kbb.com

    Brenna Robinson
    949-267-4781
    berobinson@kbb.com

    Join Bono and Iman on the Red Carpet for The Lazarus Effect Tonight

    TONIGHT, 4th MAY AT 11:30PM GMT

    Join us tonight as we live stream the red carpet from The Lazarus Effect film screening at MoMA in New York. We’ll be livestreaming on Facebook. We’ll be joined by Gabourey Sidibe, Bono, Hayden Christensen, Iman, film director Lance Bangs, and others who will be coming out to show their support of the film.

    So many friends of (RED) have already given their voice to spread the word about The Lazarus Effect. Have a look:

    We’ll be asking questions to our friends as we’re live on the red carpet tonight, so let us know what you want us to ask! Just submit your questions on Facebook.

    The event will stream live on (RED)’s Facebook page at 11:30pm GMT on Tuesday 4th May.

    See you there!

    Angela @ (RED)

    The Lazarus Effect HBO Documentary Review

    Share In a selfless effort to raise awareness worldwide about the impact that antiretroviral (ARV) drugs have in curing HIV and AIDS, HBO is set to air a new documentary, titled ‘The Lazarus Effect.’ The documentary, which was directed by Lance Bangs and executive produced by Spike Jones, subtly parallels the journey that the more than 29 million people living with HIV or AIDS in Sub-Saharan Africa go through every day to the Biblical story of Lazarus.

    The documentary also brilliantly shows the struggles and triumphs that Africans living with HIV or AIDS face and overcome. Bangs interviewed four people who live in Lusaka, Zambia, and have been diagnosed with the disease. Their journeys back to health show that their lives do, indeed, resemble the story of the Lazarus Effect.

    The first powerful shot of ‘The Lazarus Effect’ is of an African woman, who is clearly sick, explaining the story of Lazarus. She detailed how Jesus walked into Lazarus’ grave after he died and pulled him out, saying he would live again. She then says it’s a story of hope, which Bangs showed was the case with the four people he documented.

    These people include Bwalya, an 11-year-old orphan; Paul Nsangu, a young man who is married and has a daughter; Concillia Muhau, who has a daughter that is virus-free; and Constance (Connie) Mudenda, an HIV Peer Education Supervisor.

    After her and her husband were both diagnosed with HIV, Connie was able to courageously move forward with her life, even though they had to decide to either pay for their ARVs or for food. After hearing about a clinic that offered free drugs, she was one of the first people to enroll.

    Connie now works as a Peer Education Supervisor at the same clinic. She helps fund the 40 cents a day needed for the ARVs, which most patients can’t afford. She also selflessly educates people how to stay healthy with the disease and how they can prevent transmitting it to others.

    Connie also rightfully encourages patients to attend support groups. While people in Lusaka were at first afraid to go to the group because they were fearful of the stigma that surrounds it, she resiliently expanded the group from five patients to most of the community.

    ‘The Lazarus Effect’ was produced by HBO Documentary Films, in conjunction with the private sector (RED) and Anonymous Content. It is set to premiere on Monday, May 24 at 9pm EST, as part of a large-scale campaign (RED) has launched to show the impact that AIDS programs have throughout Africa.

    HBO should be praised for taking a step back on showing just purely entertainment movies and instead also focusing on life-threatening issues. The world can come to realize that through the help of (RED) and several health organizations, including The Global Fund and The President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, Africans inflicted with HIV or AIDS can survive by taking ARVs. The drugs are paid for by the organizations, who also want to help educate people living with the disease on how to stay healthy.

    With the help of ‘The Lazarus Effect,’ (RED) and its partners, including Apple, Gap and Hallmark, the impact and benefits ARVS have in treating AIDS in Africa really has a way to reach more people than ever before. Viewers will most likely not only empathize with those inflicted with HIV or AIDS, but they will also want to help fight the pandemic any way they can.

    ~ Written by: Karen Benardello

    A Nightmare on Elm Street Tops Box Office, But Flops in Ratings

    The Samuel Bayer’s remake of Wes Craven’s 1984 horror film A Nightmare on Elm Street must not be shown to children if you don’t want them to be afraid of going to bed, because they would be scared to see the terrifying slasher Freddy Krueger in their dreams. And if you hate nightmares, avoid it at the first sight of the poster if you do not want to wake up and see that your nightmare is REAL!

    The R-rated A Nightmare on Elm Street was released on April 30, 2010 to 3,332 theaters and approximately 4700 screens and made $32,205,000 in the United States. But the biggest American film overseas is Iron Man 2 earning more than $100.2 million in 53 foreign markets so far.

    A Nightmare on Elm Street did not receive any critical acclaim. In fact, about 70% of the leading film critics are not impressed, because the film lacks depth.
    “I did jump a few times, and I liked Haley’s dour malevolence, but overall, the new Nightmare on Elm Street is a by-the-numbers bad dream that plays a little too much like a corporately ordered rerun. One, two, Freddy’s coming for you. Three, four, we’ve been there before, ” said Owen Gleiberman of Entertainment Weekly.

    ~ By Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima

    The Story:
    Freddy Krueger (Jackie Earle Haley) returns in A Nightmare on Elm Street, a contemporary re-imagining of the horror classic. A group of suburban teenagers share one common bond: they are all being stalked by Freddy Krueger, a horribly disfigured killer who hunts them in their dreams. As long as they stay awake, they can protect one another…but when they sleep, there is no escape.

    Director: Samuel Bayer
    Writer: Wesley Strick
    Studio: New Line Cinema
    Cast: Jackie Earle Haley, Rooney Mara, Kyle Gallner

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