Around And About Nollywood

Taiwo Ajai-Lycett of the Nigerian film industry known as Nollywood. There are numerous films released annually inside the West African state., a photo by Pan-African News Wire File Photos on Flickr.

AROUND AND ABOUT NOLLYWOOD

SUNDAY, 24 MARCH 2013 00:00
BY SHAIBU HUSSEINI LIFE MAGAZINE - MOVIEDOM

PEFTI celebrates veteran actress Taiwo Ajai-Lycett

INTERNATIONAL actress, broadcaster and social commentator Taiwo Ajai-Lycett, OON, was honoured at the Pencils Film and Television Institute (PEFTI) during its recent Back In The Dayz stage presentation, which sought to evoke nostalgic feelings and showcase the creativity of its students.

According to Biola Adenuga, managing director of the institute, “Taiwo Ajai-Lycett, has made immense contributions to TV and stage productions, education, journalism and several other areas, and for that, we are delighted to present to her the Recognition of Excellence in Arts and Entertainment award to show our acknowledgement of her contributions to the arts and showbiz since 1960s.” The thespian promised to continue to contribute her own quota to the development of the arts and the performing arts in particular. The institute was established in 2004 by Wale Adenuga, MFR.

Adenuga is known for creating and producing the award-winning TV programmes Superstory, ThisLife, Papa Ajasco & Co. and Nnena & Friends. Chief Adenuga is also chairman of the family entertainment channel wapTV on StarTimes Channel 222. PEFTI offers various professional courses in film and television production, acting, editing, music, still photography, bead making and choreography. It is accredited by the Federal Ministry of Education through the National Board for Technical Education (N.B.T.E) and also recognised by notable organisations such as Goethe Institute, French Cultural Centre and others.

Silverbird Cinema screens Contract

THE Silverbird Cinema, Alausa Ikeja, recently witnessed a large gathering of movie stars and journalists, who came for the press screening of the much-awaited flick Contract.

The comedy flick from the stable of Sparrow Productions and DesAmour, and directed by the multiple award-winning director Shirley Frimpong Manso stars South African actor Homla Dandala (Lead actor in TV series Jacob’s Cross), Ghanaian star actress Yvonne Okoro (who is also credited as producer) and Nigeria's Benjamin Joseph.

Speaking on the movie, Yvonne Okoro, said, “this is one of the best movies I have produced, and so much went into its production to give the audience the value for their money when they go to watch the movie at the cinemas.”

Set in metropolitan Accra, Contract tells the story of a 40-year-old successful businessman, Peter Popolampo, ((Homla Dandala) the rich bachelor. Despite his mother’s persistent attempt to find him a woman, Peter sticks to his rule of non-committal dates, freedom and controlling his life until a yearning to have a child arises. In quest for the woman to have his child, Peter meets Abena Boateng, a crude but clever local girl, who is impressed with Peter’s affluence. With a definitive contract, outlining the dos and don’ts, the woman becomes pregnant for Popolampo; then controversy ensues — these two must exercise every ounce of will power not to kill each other until the child is born.

Yvonne Okoro, the producer, is an award-winning Ghanaian actress. She won the Ghana Movie Award for Best Actress in 2010 and was nominated for African Movie Academy Awards Best Actress twice in 2011 and 2012 for her movies Pool Party and Single Six.

She was honoured with a Distinguished Achievement Award in 2012 at Nigeria Excellence Awards. She is among the top best actresses in Ghana and known for her remarkable performances. Popular actress Oge Okoye and Lilian Amah were some of the industry celebrities spotted at the press screening. The movie will begin its cinema run in Nigeria and Ghana after the premiere this weekend.

Nse, Clifford Sule and Kalu Ikeagwu star in Broken

IN recent times Nse Ikpe Etim has been in the news for good reasons. She headlined the romantic comedy Mr. and Mrs., dazzled in Phone Swap and got married to her heartthrob, Mr. Clifford Sule.

The notable actress is again in the news as the lead act in new emotive movie, Broken. In the movie, Nse plays the role of a woman who tries to bury her past, moves on in life and pretends that the past never exists.

Nse is not the only act with haunting past in the movie. Bimbo Manuel, who plays the role of Nse’s husband, is the father of the house girl, a secret he desperately wants to keep away from Nse. Meanwhile Kalu Ikeagwu, the philandering Corper has a ‘bush meat’ in the village girl that proves too strong to devour. One way or the other, the lives of the three crossed and the long kept secrets were broken.

Speaking on the experience, Kalu Ikeagwu, said, “the storyline is touching, I’ve never worked on movie like this.” The producer and Director, Bright Wonder said: “I learnt a lot from my first movie, I learnt from my past works and also from others to do this one.

This is a product of an improved me,” he said. “Broken is a movie that addresses the menace of child abuse, neglect, trafficking and the repercussions on the Nigerian child and the Society.”

It is a project that seeks to use motion pictures to reaffirm the family as the bedrock of the society and raise awareness against the dreadful menace of child abuse.” Broken would be premiered on Thursday, March 28 at Silverbird Cinema, Abuja.

Flower Girl is set to premiere in Ghana

DAMILOLA Adegbite, lead act in the romantic comedy, Flower Girl, is living in the seventh heaven as her profile keeps rising for putting up a good performance in Flower Girl, a movie that has become one of the most watched and talked about since its premiere last month at the Silverbird Galleria, Lagos.

The romantic comedy flick that features Damilola Adegbite, Eku Edewor, Chris Attoh and others is directed by Michelle Bello (Small Boy) and co-produced by Michelle Dede (Big Brother Nigeria). Having enjoyed overwhelming acceptance in Nigeria, Flower Girl, is set to premiere in Ghana on April 5 at the Silverbird Galleria, Accra.

Bimbo Manuel takes his turn at Ojez forum

TODAY in Lagos, friends, colleagues, family members and well wishers of the actor and broadcaster, Bimbo Manuel, will converge at the celebrity restaurant, O’jez, inside National Stadium premises, Surulere, Lagos to celebrate the actor who turned 56 last week.

Organised by Ojez Entertainment Forum, the event will see the actor receive the O’jez Entertainment award. “Chief Joseph Odobeatu, CEO of O’jez Entertainment Limited and organiser of the monthly O’jez Entertainment Awards, in a statement signed by his media Company, Media Image Managers, MIM, said, “we are celebrating an icon; we are celebrating one that has done so much for the nation with his exploits in the nation’s film industry — Nollywood.

Now, he’s turned 56 with so much achievement that we are proud of. That is why we at O’jez have decided to celebrate him.” The O’jez band with octogenarian highlife great Fatai Rolling Dollars will thrill the crowd. Also upcoming comedians, Elenu, MC Shakara and Elder O. Awilo the dancer with Zee Boy and Zee Girl will spice up the evening. The event starts at 7pm.

iREP docufest ends today

THE 2013 edition of the iREP Documentary Film Festival with the theme Reconnections ends today at Freedom Park, Hospital Road, Victoria Island, Lagos. The festival opened on Thursday at the same venue, featured documentary film showcases (Over 30 popular and award-winning documentaries sourced from notable and new filmmakers around Africa and the Diaspora, Europe and the USA), panel discussions and networking sessions.

There was also a reflection on the state of African films in the global cinema circuit as encapsulated in the keynote address by Professor Awam Amkpa, a filmmaker and teacher of Africana studies at the New York University.

Also, there was a formal presentation of three books published by the Nigeria Film Corporation (NFC) on the story of, and developments in the Nigeria film Industry and the presentation of awards to deserving individuals, who have served the local industry diligently.

However, the screens inside the Kongi Harvest auditorium at Freedom Park will come alive today as from 12pm. Frank Dorren’s Far Away Future will be screened.

It will be followed by Hilary Pierce, Nick Gooler and Peter Carolla’s documentary titled, The One Who Builds and Claudio Von Planta’s Healing A Nation.

There will be a break at 2pm and when activities at the festival ground resumes, it will be time for a discussion on Nigerian films and challenges of corporate funding and partnerships. The discussion session will be hosted by the Committee for Relevant Arts (CORA), under their CORA Arts Stampede platform. The stampede will break at 5pm for a special screening of Tunde Kelani’s groundbreaking documentary titled Ifa Of The Yoruba People Of Nigeria.

There will be a question and answer session with Kelani after the screening. Soon as the question and answer session is over, Segun Adefila will lead the spectacular Crown Troupe of Africa to close the four-day festival.