News

Film Congress Marketplace to take place in Los Angeles, USA | Berlin, Germany | Lagos, Nigeria | Teheran, Iran | Cannes, France

Ocean, Life, Water: The 9th Green Me Global Festival for Sustainability is rolling out the red green carpet in Los Angeles, CA October 17th to 23 at the Landmark Regent Theater in Westwood.

An expert jury under the patronage of Ralf Möller will award the greenest movies around the topic Ocean/Life/Water.- More than 20 Films will be screened, 10 green presentations, 5 panel discussions, a Film Workshop for Film Schools and an Award Gala will shine in a green light.

An impressive number of films have been submitted for the Green Me Award 2016.

Under the patronage of Dr. Auma Obama, President Barack Obama’s half-sister, and in cooperation with the actor Ralf Möller, a selected expert jury will award the greenest movies 2016.

The question of how we, humanity, will survive the coming years...

Veteran Nigerian Filmmaker, Tunde Kelani, has launched the Mainframe Film and Media Institute (Mfmi), a training facility in Nigeria whose stated mission is to contribute to the country’s national development by training talented young filmmakers and media professionals, drawing from the extensive… Continue Reading →...

Veteran Nigerian filmmaker, Tunde Kelani has long been a vocal opponent of piracy (specifically of Nigerian films), which continue to eat into his (and other Nigerian filmmakers') profits - a problem I've highlighted in past posts, which is major problem for Nollywood movies, especially when they leave Nigeria and travel the international marketplace, where the filmmakers lose control, and thus income.  To that end, he has seized control of his library of work, and launched what he calls an online TV network where all his past (and future) films and TV work (and the work of others who want to join in his efforts) will reside for fans, or any interested parties, to...

"Nollywood," a new documentary that premiered on Al Jazeera English yesterday, July 28, 2015, is now available to watch in full online. It provides an insider look at Nigeria’s prolific film industry, which makes more films than Hollywood – 50 a week. Only India’s Bollywood makes more. Contributing to the documentary are leading Nollywood directors like James Omokwe, Kunle Afolayan, Mildred Okwo, Obi Emelonye, Stanlee Ohikhuare, Tunde Kelani, and Udoka Oyeka, as well as acclaimed actors Bimbo Manuel, Genevieve Nnaji, Joke Silva, Kiki Omeili, Mercy Johnson, Olu Jacobs and Ramsey Nouah. The documentary is embedded at the bottom of this post. I don't know if you have read...

Earlier in June, Afrinolly opened a call to film makers to pitch for the Cinema4Change films. Films which were a product of a screen writers workshop held in April where over 20 top notch screen writers in Nigeria were expose to research works that would guide in the development of screenplays that would not only highlight social change issues but would also entertain and educate the public. After five days of pitch sessions for the over 150 film makers who applied and pruning by the panel of Judges; Tunde Kelani, Femi Odugbemi and Jane Maduegbuna, Afrinolly is excited to announce the selected film makers who would directing the first set of Cinema4Change short films. Over the next few...

Nigerian filmmaker Tunde Kelani has released another trailer for his upcoming feature film - an adaptation of author Olayinka Abimbola Egbokhare's novel "Dazzling Mirage." The story revolves around a talented, beautiful young sickle-cell sufferer who overcomes social stigma, prejudice and her own low self-esteem, to achieve career success, marriage and motherhood. Further... Betrayal, loyalty, love, travails, and triumphs against the physical pains, emotional trauma are experienced in the life of the sufferer as she forges ahead in the quest to be self fulfilled. It also unveils and challenges certain myths around about sickle cell sufferers. Director...

Nigerian filmmaker Tunde Kelani has released a second trailer for his latest work, an adaptation of author Olayinka Abimbola Egbokhare's Dazzling Mirage. The novel's story revolves around a female sickle cell carrier and the seemingly endless flow of problems that complicate her life as a result. Further... Betrayal, loyalty, love, travails, and triumphs against the physical pains, emotional trauma are experienced in the life of the sufferer as she forges ahead in the quest to be self fulfilled. It also unveils and challenges certain myths around about sickle cell sufferers. Director Kelani added this in a statement: ‘’Even then it is an...

Nigerian filmmaker Tunde Kelani has released the first trailer for his latest work, an adaptation of author Olayinka Abimbola Egbokhare's Dazzling Mirage. The novel's story revolves around a female sickle cell carrier and the seemingly endless flow of problems that complicate her life as a result. Further... Betrayal, loyalty, love, travails, and triumphs against the physical pains, emotional trauma are experienced in the life of the sufferer as she forges ahead in the quest to be self fulfilled. It also unveils and challenges certain myths around about sickle cell sufferers. Director Kelani added this in a statement: ‘’Even then it is an...

Nigerian director Tunde Kelani has launched an Indiegogo fundraising campaign to raise $20,000 to complete his latest work, an adaptation of author Olayinka Abimbola Egbokhare's Dazzling Mirage. The novel's story revolves around a female sickle cell carrier and the seemingly endless flow of problems that complicate her life as a result.  Further... Betrayal, loyalty, love, travails, and triumphs against the physical pains, emotional trauma are experienced in the life of the sufferer as she forges ahead in the quest to be self fulfilled. It also unveils and challenges certain myths around about sickle cell sufferers. Director Kelani added this in a...

Nigerian director Tunde Kelani has launched an Indiegogo fundraising campaign to raise $20,000 to complete his latest work, an adaptation of author Olayinka Abimbola Egbokhare's Dazzling Mirage. The novel's story revolves around a female sickle cell carrier and the seemingly endless flow of problems that complicate her life as a result.  Further... Betrayal, loyalty, love, travails, and triumphs against the physical pains, emotional trauma are experienced in the life of the sufferer as she forges ahead in the quest to be self fulfilled. It also unveils and challenges certain myths around about sickle cell sufferers. Director Kelani added this in a...

Veteran Nigerian filmmaker, Tunde Kelani is a director I plan to interview eventually, and which I'm looking forward to doing, as soon as he's settled after completing production on his latest effort, an adaptation of Olayinka Abimbola Egbokhare's Dazzling Mirage, which is currently film. His name has been given a lot of ink (or pixels) on this blog, especially over the last year, as one of Nigerian cinema's current elder statesmen, as well as one of a handful of Nigerian filmmakers with international awareness, who boasts over a dozen feature films to his credit, produced over the last 20 years or so. While you wait for my interview, I thought this new video of...

Earlier today, on his Facebook page, Nigerian director Tunde Kelani revealed the newly-built website for his upcoming adaptation of Olayinka Abimbola Egbokhare's Dazzling Mirage, as well as the film's full starring cast. Joining the aforementioned (and fellow Nigerian filmmaker - and actor) Kunle Afolayan, in the Dazzling Mirage starring cast will be Kemi Lala Akindoju, Taiwo Ajai Lycett, Yomi Fash Lanso, Bimbo Manuel, Ayo Badmus, and Tosin Bucknor. The novel's story revolves around a female sickle cell carrier and the seemingly endless flow of problems that enter into her life as a result of her genes. Betrayal, loyalty, love, travails, and...

It was in November that veteran Nigerian director Tunde Kelani revealed that, for his next film, he would continue his streak of adapting novels by Nigerian authors, and was considering Olayinka Abimbola Egbokhare's Dazzling Mirage, as his next work. Confirmed about 3 months ago, it most definitely will be his next film. Unfortunately, for those of us here in the USA, the book isn't readily available for purchase. I couldn't even find a copy on eBay, although something tells me that will probably change soon, since Kelani has given the novel some exposure with the announcement of his planned adaptation. But what I did find out, thanks to a Google search,...

It was in November that veteran Nigerian director Tunde Kelani revealed that, for his next film, he would continue his streak of adapting novels by Nigerian authors, and was considering of Olayinka Abimbola Egbokhare's Dazzling Mirage, as his next work. Confirmed about 3 months ago, it most definitely will be his next film. Unfortunately, for those of us here in the USA, the book isn't readily available for purchase. I couldn't even find a copy on eBay, although something tells me that will probably change soon, since Kelani has given the novel some exposure with the announcement of his planned adaptation. But what I did find out, thanks to a Google...

This is the kind of thing I'd love to do more of, if I had the resources. A series of profiles/interviews by Afrinolly (of the Afrinolly Short Film Competition which we covered earlier this year) of contemporary Nigerian filmmakers, including names that I hope you'll recognized, since we've written about them several times in the past, like Obi Emelonye (Last Flight To Abuja), Tunde Kelani (Dazzling Mirage), Kunle Afolayan (The Figurine), and others.In the individual profiles, each filmmaker talks about a number of items, including their latest projects, their processes, being Nigerian filmmakers in a global marketplace, the journeys they are on, where they're going/want to go,...

Dear Friends, in the spirit of Valentine and due to popular demand, I have finally decided to upload the part 2 to our timeless love classic O Le Ku on our YouTube Channel. You will be able to watch freely from Thursday 14th February 2013 - Valentines Day on our YouTube channel. http://www.youtube.com/tkelani So why not sit back and relax with loved ones and invoke classic nostalgic memories of love and friendship. Also make sure you subscribe to our channel to enjoy more freebies coming soon. Happy Valentines! Tk Words from the Facebook page of veteran Nigerian director Tunde Kelani, embracing social media - specifically, video sharing site YouTube - to inform, excite and enthrall...

Check out this Yoruba musical short film directed by Tunde Kelani (a name that has come up a lot on this blog lately, in part because he's developing his next feature - an adaptation of a novel titled Dazzling Mirage). It's an adaptation of late Nigerian playwright Hubert Ogunde’s Yoruba E Ronu (aka Yorubas, Think!). Said to be Ogunde’s most famous play, Yoruba E Ronu, was first performed in 1964 (a few years after the country gained its independence from colonial rule), according to what my research tells me, and was considered a scathing political attack against the then premier of Nigeria’s Western region, Chief Samuel Akintola, so...

This is great! Veteran Nigerian director Tunde Kelani embracing social media - specifically, video sharing site YouTube - to inform, excite and enthrall fans as development of his latest feature film officially begins.  Not that he's a luddite. He's on Twitter and is active there. But this was particularly pleasing to see. The film is still in the screenwriting stage, but he's already taking to YouTube, launching a video series that will allow fans to follow the progress of the making of the film, via regular updates. It was in November that Kelani revealed that, for his next film, he would continue his streak of adapting novels by Nigerian authors, and...

It was in November that veteran award-winning Nigerian filmmaker, Tunde Kelani, revealed in an interview that, for his next film, he would continue his streak of adapting novels by Nigerian authors to film, and was considering three books, but wasn't certain which he would attack first, which depended on whether he could raise the necessary funds. Skip ahead to this weekend, when I learned that he is now definitely developing his next feature, which, as I discovered, will be an adaptation of Olayinka Abimbola's Dazzling Mirage - a novel I can't claim to be familiar with, and so can't offer much commentary on. But what I did find out, thanks...

Freida Pinto

Actress Freida Pinto is part of the Muhr Emirati & Shorts Jury for the upcoming ninth edition of Dubai film festival (December 9-16). The Jury president for this section of short films is Mark Adams, chief film critic for Screen International. The Jury also comprises of Nayla Al Khaja, UAE’s first female producer and director.

The Muhr Arab Feature Jury will be presided by Brazilian director Bruno Barreto. The Jury comprises Egyptian actor Aser Yassin, CEO of the Austrian Film Commission Martin Schweighofer, Tunisian director Moufida Tlatli and filmmaker Adnan Madanat.

The Muhr Arab Documentary, presided by English director Michael Apted will comprise documentary filmmaker Azza El-Hassan and Artistic Director of the Edinburgh International Film Festival since January 2012, Chris Fujiwara. Apted is also the recipient of the 2012 Diff Lifetime Achievement Award.

The Muhr AsiaAfrica Feature Jury will be presided by Korean director Chang-dong Lee. It will comprise festival organizer from Istanbul Azize Tan,...

Good interview with veteran Nigerian filmmaker, Tunde Kelani chatting with Smart Monkey TV on a number of issues, including how piracy ate into profits for his last film Maami; on piracy in Nollywood, which, as we've noted in past posts, is major problem for Nollywood movies, especially when they leave Nigeria, and travel the international marketplace, where the filmmakers lose control, and thus profits; the three book adaptions he's currently working on (which I was excited to hear about); why his films feature strong women characters; and the future of Nollywood, as he sees it,  given the pessimism over piracy, international rejection of Nollywood standards of...

News on the march…! Held over the weekend, in Yenegoa, Bayelsa State (Nigeria) on Saturday, March 26, 2011, the celebration announcing the winners of the 2011 African Movie Academy Awards (Amaa) – in just its 7th year.

This year’s nominations list boasted an even longer list of awards, compared to previous years, as the award ceremony continues to grow.

Viva Riva, a film I’ve touted on this website in recent days, after seeing it for the first time last week, rightfully dominated, winning 6 trophies, including Best Film, Best Director, Best Supporting Actress, Best Supporting Actor, Best Cinematography, and Best Production Design.

The rest of the story follows in the table below, lifted from the Amaa’s website Here:

Category

Nominated Films

Winners

Best Short Film Bougfen – Petra Baninla Sunjo (Cameroun)

Weakness – Wanjiru Kairu (Kenya)

No Jersey No Match – Daniel Ademinokan (Nigeria)

Duty – Mak Kusare (Nigeria)

Bomlambo – Zwelesizwe Ntuli (South Africa)

Zebu And...

Over the weekend, as most of us were reveling in Academy Awards thrills and chills, the nominations for another major movie award ceremony were announced, many miles, across the Atlantic Ocean; I’m referring to the 7-year old (this year) Africa Movie Academy Awards (Amaa), which will be held in Yenegoa, Bayelsa State (Nigeria) on Saturday, March 26, 2011.

This year’s nominations list boasts an even longer list of awards, compared to previous years, as the award ceremony continues to grow.

I’ll have to thoroughly scrub this list to highlight as many titles as I can – especially in the feature film categories, and I’ll do that with individual posts over the next week, or so. In the meantime, however, I’ll quickly point out those few titles that we’ve previously given ink to on this website, that are nominated for Amaa awards, including the following: in the Best Diaspora Feature,...

On October 1st, Nigeria will celebrate its 50th year of independence from Britain. During the month, and through the autumn, there will be a sseries of events to mark Nigerian culture, the first being Nollywood Now!

Despite the prolificacy of nollywood, the festival will screen a total of just six films, to be shown one a day from Wednesday 6th to Tuesday 12th October.

For long-term nollywood fans, there’s be nothing new to see but the festival will be a chance for them to get together and celebrate Nigerian film in a public space. For those not so versed in nollywood, the festival will introduce the joy and excitement of Nigerian film to new audiences.

The schedule is as follows:

Wed 6: Nollywood Babylon (Dir: Ben Addelman and Samir Mallal, Canada 2008. 75 minutes)

A documentary feature which captures the Nigerian film industry in its social and political context.

Thu 7:...

This is interesting…

From my Pov, the World Bank has always seemed like something of a nebulous international institution, like the Imf. Even its name is sort of intimidating yet also meaningless, and even amusing. World. Bank. Bank of the world!

Anyway, in short, it offers loans to developing countries, with its stated goal of helping to reduce global poverty. Sounds well and good, on its surface; although, it’s an organization that certainly isn’t without its share of criticisms, especially with regards to how its run. Whose interests exactly do they serve? Are they just perpetuating old-school imperialism, but with a gentler face?

So, in reading the below article (courtesy of the Naija Blog), I wasn’t immediately sure how to react to it; be elated for the Nigerian film industry, or to look upon it with a furrowed brow.

Revealed during a recent conference, the World Bank...