Watch the full movie ‘IN THE COLD’ on a YOUTUBE Channel:“IN THE COLD” – The Untold Story of Parental Neglect & Bullying That Will Leave You Speechless. Click link to watch https://youtu.be/eP7BQpGfy78 In a world where silence cuts deeper than words, IN THE COLD reveals the chilling journey of a Continue reading Watch the full movie ‘IN THE COLD’ on a YOUTUBE Channel→
The 77th Festival de Cannes is open!:“You may not be aware of this, but you are about to enter a parallel universe called the Cannes Vortex.” Camille Cottin was already on stage at the Grand Théâtre Lumière when lights went on for this 77th edition of Continue reading The 77th Festival de Cannes is open!→
IGUAZU WATERFALLS AND THE MOVIE BLACK PANTHER:The gorgeous Iguazu Falls, located at the Argentina-Brazil border. Coupled with the brilliance of Marvel Studios, the gigantic waterfall makes the place a worthy backdrop for such a grand superhero film Was the waterfall in Black Panther real? Footage for Continue reading IGUAZU WATERFALLS AND THE MOVIE BLACK PANTHER→
ETHNIC BIGOTRY & XENOPHOBIA AGAINST THE IGBOS IN NIGERIA:*The crime of that tribe must be so great.* In 1966: Nearly 1,000,000 of them was massacred in the North as revenge killings for a coup that was plotted by a young man that bears their name but had never Continue reading ETHNIC BIGOTRY & XENOPHOBIA AGAINST THE IGBOS IN NIGERIA→
CANON/EKO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 2022 FILM INDUSTRY WORKSHOP:
The 33rd edition of Durban International Film Festival will take place from 19 to 29 July 2012.
Supported by the National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund (principal funder), the National Film and Video Foundation, the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Economic Development and Tourism and other valued funders and partners, the festival will present over 200 screenings of films from around the world, with a special focus on films from South African and Africa.
Screenings will take place throughout Durban including township areas where cinemas are non-existent. The festival will also offer an extensive seminar and workshop programme featuring local and international filmmakers. 2012 will also see the return of Talent Campus Durban and the Durban FilmMart.
The festival calls for entries from around the world. Feature films, short films and documentaries are all welcome. The festival does have a competition component.
The deadline for entries is 16 March 2012 for short films and documentaries; 6 April 2012 for feature films. Early submissions are encouraged.
All submissions can be done via the Festival’s Eventival online system. To submit, film-makers can create an account on http://vp.eventival.eu/cca/diff2012
For more information visit: www.cca.ukzn.ac.za or e-mail diff@ukzn.ac.za
Media Enquiries
Sharlene Versfeld
Versfeld & Associates: The Communication Works
031 811 5628
083 326 3235
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Top Nigerian journalists from both the print and electronic news media were at the first press conference and screening of Iara Lee’s Cultures of Resistance Wednesday evening November 9, 2011, at the Goethe Institut in the City Hall on the Lagos Island.
Iara Lee
In attendance were Michael Nwandibie and his crew from the Silverbird TV, Collins Talker and Gboyega Obarafo from Galaxy TV, Shaibu Husseini of The Guardian, Nkiru Ifeajuna of the News Agency of Nigeria, Flora Onwudiwe of the Daily Champion, Wale Idowu-Shadrach, the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Movietainment magazine and other members of the news media.
Mr. Hope Obioma Opara, President of Eko International Film Festival and Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima, Founder of Eko International Film Festival and Publisher/Editor of Nigerians Report commended Marc-André Schmachtel, Director of the Goethe Institut for supporting the press conference and screening of Iara Lee’s multiple awards winning socio-political documentary film Cultures of Resistance.
Mr. Opara announced that Eko International Film Festival will henceforth be held every November and condemned the counterfeiting and trademark piracy of the film festival by Mr. Paul Obazele of Royal Pictures and his faction of the Association of Movie Producers (AMP).
Among the guests were the famous Nigerian filmmaker Dr. Ola Balogun who featured in the documentary, David Adejo, Aderinsola Ajao, Yacoub Adeleke, Meg Masha the hostess of the Ember Creek’s weekly Salsa Dance Night, fast rising actor and hip-hop rap artiste Aloysius Onyejegbu, aka 2MS, John Sessau and others.
Dr. Ola Balogun spoke on the bravery of Iara Lee in daring to go to the dangerous locations of political conflicts in the Middle East, Amazon Jungle, Niger Delta, Liberia, Rwanda and other battlegrounds of war and socio-political resistance to record her thrilling documentary which she is using as an instrument of justice and peace in her global human rights activities.
One of the tensed scenes of Cultures of Resistance
He said Cultures of Resistance is the genre of transformational documentaries that Nigerian TV stations should broadcast to the millions of people in the most populous country in Africa, because of the outstanding positive impact it would make on the cultural and political enlightenment of the people in view of the recurrent ethno religious and political violence in the northern regions of Nigeria. Then he dismissed the mediocrity of the popular Nigerian hip hop artistes and the abuse of the best practices of the film industry by the unprofessional opportunists in Nollywood.
The Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) is calling for feature, short and documentary entries for its 2012 edition, to be held in April in Nigeria, home to the world’s third largest film industry. The deadline for submissions is 30 December 2011.
Since its inception in 2005, AMAA has established itself as the most prestigious and glamorous awards celebrating filmmaking on the continent. The gala event, which is televised live around the world, attracts Hollywood celebrities alongside their African counterparts, as well as African politicians and media.
“Our theme this year is Africa Rising,” says founder Peace Anyiam-Osigwe. “With the success of last year’s AMAA winner, Viva Riva!, all of a sudden there’s this great awareness of the possibilities in Africa. It challenged the ideology of what African cinema is all about.”
After winning six awards at AMAA 2011, Djo Tundawa Munga’s gritty Congolese crime drama Viva Riva was released in America, Canada, Europe, Australasia, and an unprecedented 18 African countries to rave reviews, demonstrating the untapped audience potential of the roughly one billion Africans on the continent.
“This has been an exciting year for African cinema,” says Peace. “We’ve also seen the UK release of six Nollywood films, with Lonzo Nzekwe’s Anchor Baby and Obi Emelonye’s Mirror Boy having extended runs at The Odeon Cinema in England.”
Only films produced and released between December 2010 and December 2011 are eligible. Features may not exceed 120 minutes and shorts may not be longer than 40 minutes.
Submission forms can be downloaded from the AMAA website, http://www.ama-awards.com/.
Nominations will be announced in February 2012.
Peace is available for interviews to discuss the awards and the potential of African cinema.
Award-winning director Oliver Stone received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Savannah Film Festival
2011 Savannah Film Festival honors Oliver Stone with Lifetime Achievement Award
Screening of Roman Polanski’s “Carnage” followed award tribute
SAVANNAH, Georgia, November 4, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Academy Award, Golden Globe and Emmy Award-winning writer/director Oliver Stone (“Platoon,” “Wall Street”) was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 14th annual Savannah Film Festival on Thursday, Nov. 3.
Hosted by the Savannah College of Art and Design, Stone dedicated his award to native Savannahian and well-known publicist Bobby Zarem, whom he has known for more than 30 years. “The memory of my achievement lies in Savannah, a city Bobby loves so much,” said the award-winning director. Stone ended with, “I got your back, Bobby.”
Stone has won Oscars for directing “Born on the Fourth of July,” which was screened earlier in the day and featured a question-and-answer session with the critically acclaimed director.He has also received Academy Awards for “Platoon,” and for his adaptation of the screenplay “Midnight Express.” He was nominated for best director for his work on “JFK” and for co-writing “Nixon.” He’s also received three Golden Globes for directing “Platoon,” “Born on the Fourth of July” and “JFK” and one for writing “Midnight Express.”
The evening continued with a special gala screening of Roman Polanski’s “Carnage,” winner of the Little Golden Lion Prize at the Venice Film Festival. The film tells the story of two sets of parents who decide to have a cordial meeting after their sons are involved in a schoolyard brawl.
The festival will also honor actor Aaron Eckhart (“The Dark Knight,” “Erin Brockovich”); actor James Marsden (“27 Dresses,” “X-Men”); and directors/writers Mark and Jay Duplass (“Cyrus,” “The Puffy Chair”) later in the week. Actress Ellen Barkin (“The Big Easy,” “Ocean’s Thirteen”) and actor Ray Liotta (“Goodfellas,” “Hannibal”) have already received Outstanding Achievement in Cinema Awards while actress Lily Tomlin (“9 to 5,” “All of Me”) was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award.
Additionally, the festival has featured special guests including Universal Pictures President Ron Meyer, Alec Baldwin, James Cromwell, James Toback, Sam Levinson, Anson Mount, Miles Teller, Geoffrey Fletcher, Kenneth Lonergan, and Famke Janssen.
The 14th annual Savannah Film Festival has also presented special screenings including Jim Field Smith’s “Butter;” Lee Hirsch’s “The Bully Project;” Dito Montiel’s “The Son of No One,” starring festival honoree Ray Liotta; David Cronenberg’s “A Dangerous Method;” and Michel Hazanavicius’ “The Artist.” Shown also were Lynne Ramsay’s “We Need to Talk about Kevin;” Ralph Fiennes’ “Coriolanus;” and Sam Levinson’s “Another Happy Day,” starring festival honoree Ellen Barkin.
The annual Savannah Film Festival presents a full range of cinematic creativity from both award-winning professionals and emerging student filmmakers. As the university for creative careers, SCAD offers the only major film program in the United States integrated within an acclaimed art and design university. In the past seven years, the university has been one of the top 10 U.S. film schools in producing Student Academy Award finalists.
For more information on the festival and a complete schedule of events, visit scad.edu/filmfest.
SCAD: The University for Creative Careers
The Savannah College of Art and Design is a private, nonprofit, accredited institution conferring bachelor’s and master’s degrees at distinctive locations and online to prepare talented students for professional careers. SCAD offers degrees in more than 40 majors. Visit scad.edu.
Media Contact:
Jennifer Bins
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Ekoiff/Goethe-institut Presents Iara Lee’s Cultures Of Resistance
The Eko International Film Festival and the Goethe-Institut Lagos will host the press conference and screening of Iara Lee’s Cultures of Resistance on Wednesday November 9, 2011, at the Goethe-Institut Lagos, Nigeria, at 3 pm.
Goethe-Institut Nigeria
Location Lagos
Lagos City Hall,
Catholic Mission Street
opposite Holy Cross Cathedral
Lagos Island
Cultures of Resistance features the recollections of the socio-political resistance of the legendary Afrobeat king Fela Anikulapo Kuti, the Niger Delta Militants of contemporary political struggle in Nigeria and other forces of resistance in other parts of the world.
Iara Lee is a Korean Brazilian film producer and director based in New York City. She is better known as the director of the documentaries Synthetic Pleasures and Modulations, as well as for her involvement with the “Gaza Freedom Flotilla”, in which at least nine pro-Palestinian activists were killed by Israeli naval forces.
She is the founder of the Caipirinha Foundation and a member of the Council of Advisors to the National Geographic Society.
The movie adaptation of “We Need to Talk About Kevin,” the 2003 novel of American author Lionel Shriver is the winner of the best film at the 55th BFI London Film Festival Wednesday. The novel won the Orange Prize for fiction in 2005.
The film described as an unflinching portrayal of a mother’s troubled relationship with her son featured Oscar winner Tilda Swinton, starring as Eva, Kevin’s mother
Kevin (Ezra Miller), 15, commits a massacre at his high school and goes to jail. Stunned, his mother, Eve (Tilda Swinton) can only react to tragedy when it begins to correspond with her husband, Franklin (John C. Reilly), who lives far and recalls the boy’s troubled past.
“We Need to Talk about Kevin” premiered at the last Cannes Film Festival was directed by Scottish film maker Lynne Ramsay. It beat eight other films, including Russian Alexander Sokurov’s Faust that won the Golden Lion at the 68th Venice International Film Festival.
“In the end, we were simply bowled over by one film, a sublime, uncompromising tale of the torment that can stand in the place of love,” said John Madden, chair of the judging panel.
“‘We Need to Talk About Kevin’ is made with the kind of singular vision that links great directors across all the traditions of cinema.”
The festival closes Thursday evening with a gala screening of “The Deep Blue Sea,” Terence Davies’ adaptation of Terence Rattigan’s play starring Rachel Weisz.
~ By Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima with contributions from Mike Collett-White.
Del-York International Spearheads “Bem-Vindo A Nollywood’’ Film Festival
In São Paulo, Brazil
LAGOS, NIGERIA, 25 October 2011 – Del-York International is teaming up with Kinopedia Ltd and the Departamento de Expansão Cultural da Secretaria de Cultura, Prefeitura de São Paulo to host the first Nollywood film festival in South America from 18th–27th November 2011.
This milestone will be held at the Cine Olido in São Paulo, Brazil,, which will host a roundtable discussion featuring some of Nollywood’s most respected practitioners as well as showcase a retrospective of nine films by the award-winning director Tunde Kelani.
Since the Festival marks the beginning of a multi-year cultural exchange with the government of Brazil, The film festival aims at promoting Del-York’s mission to inaugurate a sustainable relationship between the Nigerian film industry “Nollywood” and the Brazilian people, by celebrating the Yoruba heritage and traditions shared by both nations. especially those that trace their origin to the Yoruba tribe in Nigeria and Africa at large,which is commendably portrayed in Tunde Kelani’s films.
Tunde Kelani, a celebrated advocate of Yoruba culture, has long been considered to be one of Nigeria’s most accomplished filmmakers. His four-decade-long career started in the early 1970s as a television cameraman. When the devaluation of the Naira decreased filmmakers’ purchasing power, Kelani ceased his work as a cinematographer to direct and produce his own films on video format with the establishment of Mainframe Television and Movie Productions in 1992 – producing such beloved classics as “Saworoide” (1999) and “Thunderbolt: Magun” (2001).
In Kelani’s words: “The list of nine films selected for the Ffilm festival are important, because the films are valuable not only to the Yorubas in the homeland, but especially to Yorubas in the Diaspora, who despite 200 years to 300 years of slave-trade and how they got to that side of the world, they have remained true and close to the culture.”
According to the 2011 World Bank report, “The Untold Story of Growth & Employment Potential in Nigeria’s Entertainment Industry,” Nollywood has already demonstrated significant impact on poverty alleviation through the creation of jobs especially for the youth. However, one challenge to its continued growth is that the industry lacks a branding strategy to compete with other well-established industries on a global scale. As such, the “Bem-vindo a Nollywood” Film Festival will formally introduce Nigerian films to Brazilian audiences and contribute to establishing the industry on the international stage, thus growing Nollywood’s export potential and multiplying its ability to create employment.
Russian Alexander Sokurov’s “Faust” a free cinematic interpretation of the Faust legend from the adaptations by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe and Thomas Mann won the Golden Lion at the 68th Venice International Film Festival.
The film cost €8 million.
Aleksandr Sokurov with the Golden Lion
Official Result of the Winners of the 68th Venice Film Festival
Hanna Schygulla in “Faust”
Golden Lion for Best Film Faust by Aleksander Sokurov (Russia)
Silver Lion for Best Director
Shangjun CAI for the film Ren Shan Ren Hai (People Mountain People Sea) (China – Hong Kong)
Special Jury Prize Terraferma by Emanuele Crialese (Italy)
Coppa Volpi for Best Actor
Michael Fassbender in the film Shame by Steve McQueen (United Kingdom)
Coppa Volpi for Best Actress Deanie Yip in the film Tao jie (A Simple Life) by Ann Hui (China – Hong Kong)
Marcello Mastroianni Award for Best New Young Actor or Actress
Shôta Sometani and Fumi Nikaidô in the film Himizu by Sion Sono (Japan)
Osella for the Best Cinematography
Robbie Ryan for the film Wuthering Heights by Andrea Arnold (United Kingdom)
Osella for Best Screenplay
Yorgos Lanthimos and Efthimis Filippou for the film Alpis (Alps) by Yorgos Lanthimos (Grecia)
Lion of the Future – “Luigi De Laurentiis”Venice Award for a Debut Film Là-bas by Guido Lombardi (Italy) – International Critics’ Week
and a prize of 100,000 USD, donated by Filmauro di Aurelio e Luigi De Laurentiis, to be divided equally between the director and the producer
ORIZZONTI
Orizzonti Award (full-length films): Kotoko by Shinya Tsukamoto (Japan)
Special Orizzonti Jury Prize (full-length films): Whores’ Glory di Michael Glawogger (Austria, Germania)
Orizzonti Award: Accidentes Gloriosos (medium-length films) by Mauro Andrizzi and Marcus Lindeen (Sweden, Denmark, Germany)
Orizzonti Award (short films): In attesa dell’avvento by Felice D’Agostino and Arturo Lavorato (Italia)
Special Mentions: O Le Tulafale (The Orator) by Tusi Tamasese (New Zealand, Samoa) All The Lines Flow Out by Charles LIM Yi Yong (Singapore)
CONTROCAMPO ITALIANO
Controcampo Award (for narrative feature-length films) Scialla! by Francesco Bruni
Controcampo Award (for short films) A Chjàna by Jonas Carpignano
Controcampo Doc Award (for documentaries) Pugni chiusi by Fiorella Infascelli
Special Mentions:
to the documentary Black Block by Carlo Augusto Bachschmidt
to Francesco Di Giacomo for the cinematography of Pugni chiusi
Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement Marco Bellocchio
Jaeger-LeCoultre Glory to the Filmmaker Award 2011 Al Pacino
Persol 3D Award for the Most Creative Stereoscopic Film of the Year Zapruder Filmmakers Group (David Zamagni, Nadia Ranocchi, and Monaldo Moretti)
L’Oréal Paris Award for Cinema
Nicole Grimaudo
Countries of the filmmakers whose films were screened at the 68th Venice International Film Festival
ARGENTINA
Edgardo COZARINSKY, Nocturnos (Orizzonti)
AUSTRALIA
Amiel COURTIN-WILSON, Hail (Orizzonti)
AUSTRIA
Josef DABERNIG, Hypercrisis (Orizzonti medium-length and short films)
Michael GLAWOGGER, Whores’ Glory (Orizzonti)
Norbert PFAFFENBICHLER, Conference (Orizzonti medium-length and short films)
BELGIUM
Chantal AKERMAN, La Folie Almayer(Out Of Competition)
Nicolas PROVOST, The Invader (Orizzonti)
Nicolas PROVOST, Moving Stories (Orizzonti medium-length and short films)
‘Sinking Sands’ opens in Nigerian Cinemas from October 14
Leila Djansi’s award-winning film about domestic violence, ‘Sinking Sands,’ will finally get its Nigerian showing in cinemas across Nigeria, in Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt from October 14.
The movie starring Jimmy Jean-Louis, Yemi Blaq, Akosua Agyepong, Doris Sakitey, introducing Ama K. Abebrese is a psycho-drama that tells the story of a couple, Jimah and Pabi in a loving marriage which turns into one of violence and abuse when Jimah becomes disfigured in a domestic accident.
Nigerian actor , Yemi Blaq who just finished shooting ‘When Love Dies’ with Earnest Obi is yet to see his portrayal of Dr Zach in ‘Sinking Sands’ but says he expects it to be nothing short of the great reviews that it has been receiving from critics all over the world.
“ I had no doubt the movie was going to be a success, the script had me wowed, the directing ability of Leila Djansi is nothing to suck your teeth at and the professionalism of the crew in Ghana was exceptional. All these ingredients are nothing if not the recipe for success,” comments Yemi.
He also added that his schedule at the moment is quite tight but he would make sure that he creates space to attend one of the screenings in Nigeria.
Writer/director/producer of ‘Sinking Sands’, Leila Djansi expects a successful showing in Nigeria. She comments: “I love Nigerians, because I’ve come to know they are a people who are very supportive of anything good so I am confident ‘Sinking Sands’ will find a home in Nigeria and help the cause of saying NO to violence against women.”
‘Sinking Sands’ will show in the following cinemas from October 14:
Vincent Opurum: We Can Compete With the Best in the World
Vincent Opurum is one of the new heartthrobs in Nollyood with his good looks and fun loving swagger. He has played prominent roles in TV soap operas and in Nigerian home videos. His outstanding acting skills have been proved over 12 movies so far. His lover boy role in BlackBerry Babes increased his thousands of fans, especially his female admirers who see him as a sex symbol and he has been romantically linked with the pretty and sexy, but controversial actress Tonto Dike. Vincent has also attracted public attention for his roles in My Love My Sorrow, Heavy Battle, Desert Storm, One Last Feeling, Stolen Desire, Breath Of Love, Empty Coffin, Forget Heaven, Unending Love, Kingdom Of Men, The King and The Medians, Royal Ammargidom , Mission To No Where, Fake Prophet, Holy Prostitutes, Looking For Husband and Mother’s Love.
“I am decent but controversial and I love to put smile on people faces.I love what I do and most people don’t know that I’m a good footballer as well,” said Vincent when we met after the Nigerian premiere of Djo Munga’s Congolese gangster thriller Viva Riva at the Lagos office of the Nigerian Film Corporation last month.
He is from the Igbo region, but grew up among Hausas in kaduna state, before he found his way to Lagos to become an actor and he is really happy that he has become notable within a short time.
“We have all it takes to compete with the best in the world, from Bollywood to Hollywood,” he said.
Vincent loves good music and appreciates the beauty of nature.
“The road to success is a lonely path, yet with God and strong belief with determination, success is sure,” he concluded.
