Month: July 2022

UNIVERSAL AWARDS HOLDS NOVEMBER

The second edition of the Nigerian domiciled Universal Movie Awards (UNIMA) is scheduled to hold in Lagos on November 26.

Founder and President of the yearly international award, Hope Obioma Opara, disclosed that UNIMA is geared towards presenting a platform through which the Nigerian film industry Nollywood will host filmmakers all over the world.

“The primary vision of UNIMA is to add value and creatively enrich the entertainment industry through excellent work in film and television,” Opara said, adding that the 2022 edition will feature some activities such as workshops, a master class and industry interactive session proceeding the awards night.

“The workshops will engage young men and women in more meaningful ways to look inside themselves to rediscover their potential. We are looking forward to having in attendance foreign invitees including members of the diplomatic corps, our Nollywood film industry practitioners and all the nominees in different categories and other local invitees. We also look forward to partnerships with the government and corporate organizations, who can leverage our platform to showcase their products and bring brand loyalty to their organization.” At the first edition held in 2021, filmmakers from different countries around the globe won awards.

“The movie from Nigeria Voiceless by Robert Peters won the Best picture and best director, others are movies from USA Ghana, Kenya, Cameroun, Brazil, Russia, Zambia and Best TV Commercial Awards,” Opara disclosed, adding, “UMA is currently receiving entries for the different categories of the 2022 edition. The categories are Feature & Short Film. Feature and Short Documentary, Foreign Language & Indigenous Film (Subtitled in English), Best TV Commercial.” 

Guardian Newspaper: Shaibu Husseini PhD

The Berlin International Film Festival is dismayed and outraged to hear of the arrest of another Iranian filmmaker. On Monday, the renowned and multiple award-winning director Jafar Panahi was arrested. Jafar Panahi’s films have been shown at the Berlinale many times, and in 2015, his film Taxi was awarded the Golden Bear. Panahi was arrested when he sought to inquire with the prosecutor‘s office about the directors Mohammad Rasoulof and Mostafa Al-Ahmad, who were arrested on July 9. A critic of the Iranian government, Jafar Panahi has been the victim of repression for many years.

“The arrest of Jafar Panahi is another violation of freedom of  expression and freedom of the arts. We ask the Iranian authorities to release the detained filmmakers immediately,” say the Berlinale directors Mariette Rissenbeek and Carlo Chatrian.

Courtesy Shaibu Husseini Phd