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Alex Berger of “The Bureau” producer Top (The Oligarchs Productions), prolific Nigerian filmmaker Kunle Afolayan (“Aníkúlápó”) and Sydney Gallonde of Paris-based outfit Make it Happens Studios are among the headliners of the Salon International du Contenu Audiovisuel d’Abidjan (Sica), a three-day industry event that takes place Nov. 5 – 7 in Ivory Coast.

Now in its second year, Sica is an initiative of the Ivorian Ministry of Communication that looks to position Abidjan — the cultural and economic capital of the West African nation — as the hub of the film and TV industries in French-speaking Africa.

Organizers say the event also aims to open a “new era of innovative and diversified content” for local creators while establishing the host country as a “central platform for the promotion, development and distribution of African and international audiovisual content.”

More than 250 industry professionals are slated to attend this year’s edition, including producers, distributors, broadcasters and investors from 15 countries.

The Middleburg Film Festival is tucked in the Blue Ridge Mountains above Washington, D.C., but that didn’t stop it from engaging in a little diplomacy of its own. A delegation of filmmakers from Nigeria and Kenya, Acting Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy Lee Satterfield, and the department’s director of film, TV and digital programs, Catherine Collins, attended the festival.

It’s always important to have the old Kurt Vonnegut quote in mind and not mistake artistic expression for political capital, but the hope was that by having the delegation at Middleburg, it would offer greater visibility for the filmmakers and foster connections between the resources and innovation of Hollywood and the exciting emerging voices coming out of Africa.

Filmmakers Kunle Afolayan (“Phone Swap”), Kenneth Ambani (“A Better Life”), Philip Karanja (“Click Click Bang”), and Bolanle Austen Peters (“House of Ga’a”) spoke about the challenges they’ve overcome and still face,...

Exclusive: Idris Elba has signed on to headline the National Film Authority of Ghana’s second annual Africa Cinema Summit, set to run from October 7 to 10 in Accra.

Elba, a Golden Globe winner and chairman of the IE7 and The Akuna Group, is joined on the top billing by former Netflix exec and co-founder of Juno Studios, Fiona Lamptey, and Andrew Kofi Egyapa Mercer, Ghana’s Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture. Scroll down for the full speaker lineup.

The summit will once again take place at the Movenpick Ambassador Hotel in Accra. The theme will be “The Relevance of Cinema in African Communities.” Organizers have said speakers will debate the current surge in local content production and consumption, ways of advocating for cinema investment, and how to reimagine the cinema experiences for Africa’s underserved lower-income audiences.

Representatives from African countries including Morocco, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, and Angola are...

Virginia’s Middleburg Film Festival, now in its 12th year, is set to open this October with the Apple Original film “Blitz” starring Saoirse Ronan. Director Steve McQueen will be honored with the festival’s Visionary Director award.

Set during World War II, “Blitz” follows the journey of George (Elliott Heffernan), a 9-year-old boy whose mother Rita (Ronan) sends him to safety in the English countryside. George, defiant and determined to return home to Rita and his grandfather Gerald (Paul Weller) in East London, embarks on an adventure, only to find himself in peril, as a distraught Rita searches for her missing son.

Jacques Audiard’s “Emilia Perez” will be the festival’s Friday Spotlight film. Karla Sofía Gascón stars as a fearsome drug lord who embraces her true self as a woman. The Spanish-language film earned one of Cannes’ longest standing ovations and went on to win the Jury Prize,...

Steve McQueen’s filmography will be feted at the 2024 Middleburg Film Festival.

The annual festival, which will take place from October 17 through 20, will honor Academy Award winner McQueen with the Visionary Director Award. McQueen’s latest film “Blitz” will open the festival, and the auteur will participate in a post-screening conversation.

“Blitz” follows the “epic journey of George (Elliott Heffernan), a 9-year-old boy whose mother Rita (Saoirse Ronan) sends him to safety in the English countryside. George, defiant and determined to return home to Rita and his grandfather Gerald (Paul Weller) in East London, embarks on an adventure, only to find himself in immense peril, while a distraught Rita searches for her missing son,” per the official synopsis.

“Blitz” will screen at Middleburg as a co-presentation with the British Embassy. British Ambassador to the United States Dame Karen Pierce will introduce the feature, and also receive the Festival’s inaugural Film Diplomacy Award.

Netflix’s director of content for Africa Dorothy Ghettuba laid out the streamer’s strategy for the continent this week at the Durban FilmMart, telling a standing-room-only session that the key to launching the next global sensation is to first capture the hearts of local audiences.

“We want to entertain the world. We want to tell them African stories,” said Ghettuba. “But our focus first has got to be local, and then it goes global. We don’t aim for global hits. Shows like ‘Casa de Papel,’ ‘Burning Body,’ ‘Squid Game’ — those are local shows.”

The Netflix exec appeared in conversation in Durban with South African producers Jayan Moodley (“Keeping Up With the Kandasamys”) and Katleho Ramaphakela (“How to Ruin Christmas”), who used their personal experience as case studies for how to launch a hit on the global streaming giant.

Ghettuba pointed to titles like “Kandasamys,” a comedy franchise set...

For many who fell under the spell of Anikulapo’s captivating story, the question of what happened next lingered in their minds. With Aníkúlápó: Rise of the Spectre, director Kunle Afolayan provides an answer by expanding the tale into a six-part miniseries. We rejoin the intriguing character of Saro, who was last seen facing grave consequences for his actions. Now in the afterlife, new dilemmas arise as he discovers the full price of defying the spiritual order.

The film left Saro’s fate ambiguous, so viewers were eager to see where his journey might lead. Through the sequel series, we learn he must repay past debts before continuing on his path. But as always, Saro seeks an easier way and bargains for a chance to delay his fate. This sets the stage for even greater intrigue as he returns to the land of the living under impossible conditions.

With the...

The anticipated goldrush for African creators sparked by Netflix’s 2016 entry into the market hasn’t entirely come to fruition, though the influx of investment from local and global streaming platforms has nevertheless been transformative for Africa’s screen industries. Budgets, production values and outputs are rising, and breakout hits — such as Netflix’s Nigerian thriller “The Black Book” and South African teen drama “Blood & Water” — highlight the power of global streaming services to deliver African stories to audiences around the world.

Yet as evidenced by Amazon Prime Video’s abrupt pullout from the African market in January, when the streaming giant announced it was shifting course to focus on “emerging” markets in Europe, a continent that was gearing up for the windfalls of blockbuster deals with deep-pocketed platforms also finds itself at the mercy of those companies’ sometimes fickle streaming strategies. “It feels much more like a studio system,...

Anikulapo: Rise of the Spectre, a Nigerian Netflix drama, is the continuation of the 2022 film of the same name, directed by Kunle Afolayan. The series follows the aftermath of Saro’s failure to resurrect a dead man, which got him killed. After Queen Arolake gave him the power of resurrection, Saro became so consumed by pride and hubris that he began to overlook his wife’s contribution to his life. He began to marry a lot of women, which broke Arolake’s heart, prompting her to leave him. In this recently released Netflix series, Saro woke up in the realm of the dead and found that he would have to pay off his debts to the Akala bird in order to become a human once again and live on earth. The series has introduced a lot of characters who weren’t part of the film, so let’s take a...

Aníkúlápó: El ascenso del espectro es una película dirigida por Kunle Afolayan.

Saro, un viajero, se apresura a regresar a Ojumo con una misión de enormes proporciones para escapar de un desafortunado desenlace. La tarea que se le asigna se considera casi irrealizable y debe completarla antes de que sea demasiado tarde.

Dónde ver «Aníkúlápó: El ascenso del espectro»

Netflix

The post «Aníkúlápó: El ascenso del espectro» (2024) Serie en Netflix appeared first on Martin Cid Magazine.

Aníkúlápó: Rise of the Spectre is a movie directed by Kunle Afolayan.

Saro, a traveler, rushes back to Ojumo with a daunting mission in order to escape an unfortunate outcome. The task assigned to him is deemed almost unachievable and he must complete it before it’s too late.

Where to Watch “Aníkúlápó: Rise of the Spectre”

Netflix

The post “Aníkúlápó: Rise of the Spectre” (2024) Series on Netflix appeared first on Martin Cid Magazine.

Netflix has unveiled a swathe of South African content including the first feature from Mandla Dube’s high-profile talent deal and a rom-com titled Soweto Love Story.

During a See What’s Next panel at Mip Africa today, the streamer reiterated a commitment to the nation and talked up a wealth of recently-struck partnerships, with Netflix Middle East and Africa content boss Ben Amadasun saying the investments will “enable us to uncover unique perspectives and diverse stories from South Africa to entertain our more than 238 million members [subscribers] around the world.”

Leading the slate is Heart of the Hunter, the first fruits of Netflix’s three-picture deal with South African Silverton Siege filmmaker Dube, which will launch next year. The feature is described as a twisty spy thriller based on the novel by Deon Meyer. Netflix revealed its Dube tie-up last year at an event in Johannesburg, while it also has...

Amazon Prime Video launched the latest chapter in its global expansion Thursday night in Nigeria with the flashy premiere of its first African Original, “Gangs of Lagos,” a gritty crime thriller from celebrated multi-hyphenate Jade Osiberu.

At a packed house on Lagos’ ritzy Victoria Island, luminaries from the Nigerian film and fashion industries turned out to toast a movie that electrified the boisterous homegrown crowd ahead of its global release.

“I’m overwhelmed,” said Osiberu after a rousing ovation. “It’s a dream come true.”

“Gangs of Lagos,” which drops globally on Prime Video on Friday, is the first film to come out of the streamer’s three-year overall deal with Osiberu, the creator of domestic box-office sensations “Sugar Rush” and “Isoken” — one of a host of recent pacts with Nigerian creators from the U.S. tech giant as it tries to outflank Netflix in Africa’s biggest market.

Ned Mitchell,...

The Nigerian director explains how his film has become a huge Netflix hit and why he doesn’t care it’s been overlooked for an Oscar

On a recent rainy Thursday afternoon, Kunle Afolayan is reminiscing about the carnivalesque nature of the Nigerian film industry in the 1980s and the travelling cinemas that brought their productions to audiences across west Africa. “It was a labour of love because the reward then wasn’t what it is now,” he says, sitting in his office at the Kap Film Academy, a creative enclave in Ikeja, Lagos. “I witnessed the days when Nigerian film-makers used to film on celluloid. I also saw how detailed they were about the production process; there used to be about 200-500 people on set for a period of two months or more.”

Already a part of the film industry by the age of 14, Afolayan is the seventh child...

What do Idris Elba, Lupin superstar Omar Sy and emerging French-Vietnamese writer Quoc Dang Tran have in common? Other than their obvious creative skills, they are among a growing number of stars born outside the U.S. who have signed talent deals in the last year. Deadline estimates as many as 20 first-look or multi-title deals have been struck by global streamers or LA-based studios since the beginning of 2021.

Back in May, HBO Max announced it had locked in Sy into a first-look deal to make international shows for the streamer, with the actor-producer developing and producing content out of his native France. It’s perhaps no coincidence that France was one of only two European countries that will still develop its HBO Max originals, following Warner Bros. Discovery’s decision to halt production in most of the continent.

The deal was among the clearest indicators that creative partnerships with non-u.

Good afternoon Insiders. We have truly entered holiday season but in TV and film land things simply don’t slow down. I’m Max Goldbart and here’s your list of the week’s biggest headlines.

Streamers Turn To Africa And Asia

Teething problem solutions: It’s no secret that some of the legacy players of the streaming world have been experiencing teething problems of late, with Netflix especially struggling with subs growth and commissioning shows that really cut through. One solution: Africa and Asia. This week saw a wealth of talent deals and new programs unveiled across both continents, led by Netflix’s See What’s Next Africa 2022/23 showcase in Johannesburg. Both continents have populations into the billions and huge growing middle class demographics that are ripe for additional subs growth. And the announcements came as UK ratings agency Barb showed that in the UK, for example, both Netflix...

Creative partnership signals streamer’s growing presence in Africa.

Netflix has forged a multi-project creative partnership with South African filmmaker Mandlakayise Walter Dube as part of further investment into the continent.

Under the deal, Dube will direct a variety of Netflix-owned projects, to be announced in due course.

The pact adds to similar partnerships established with African talent including Nigerian media mogul Mo Abudu and her EbonyLife Studios label, and Nigerian multi-hyphenate Kunle Afolayan and his Kap Film and Television Academy.

The relationships underscore the slate of African content commissioned by Netflix of late.

During the first half of 2022, the...

Click here to read the full article.

Netflix on Tuesday unveiled its slate of African originals, presenting a showcase of local-language series, feature films and non-fiction projects produced in Africa that will roll out across the streamer’s global service later this year and in early 2023.

Highlights include The King’s Horseman, the hotly awaited film adaptation of Noble Prize-winning writer Wole Soyinka’s acclaimed anti-colonial play Death and the King’s Horseman. Adapted and directed by Half of a Yellow Sun helmer Biyi Bandele, the Yoruba-language drama will have its world premiere at the Toronto Film Festival in September.

On the series side, Netflix will premiere its first-ever Afrikaans-language drama, Ludik, on Aug. 26. The six-part actioner stars South African-born Arnold Vosloo (The Mummy) in the title role as Daan Ludik. Rob Van Vuuren, Diaan Lawrenson and Zane Meas co-star.

Nigerian actor/director Akin Omotoso will launch The Brave Ones,...

Netflix has struck a multi-project partnership with South African filmmaker Mandlakayise (Mandla) Walter Dube and unveiled its latest film with Nigerian director Kunle Afolayan, as the streamer trumpeted its investment in Africa today in Johannesburg.

Under terms of the pact, Dube — who directed Netflix’s first commissioned African film Silverton Siege — will direct a variety of Netflix projects, details of which haven’t yet been received.

This marks Netflix’s third creative partnership with African creatives, coming after deals with Mo Abudu and her Ebonylife Studios and director Afolayan.

The pact was unveiled at Netflix’s See What’s Next Africa 2022/23 content showcase today, which brought together talent, filmmakers and press from South Africa and Nigeria.

The event was designed to spotlight the streamer’s investment in African storytelling and also included glimpses of progress of various projects from emerging filmmakers working initiatives such as the Unesco & Netflix ‘African Folktales,...

All three titles will be set in Nigeria.

Nigerian filmmaker Kunle Afolayan has signed a deal with Netflix to make three new films set in his home country.

The first title will be an adaptation of Nigerian-American writer Sefi Atta’s 2010 novel Swallow, about a naïve secretary who, after a series of career woes, considers her roommate’s offer to work as a drug mule in mid-1980s Lagos.

Afolayan described another title as “a story of folklore and fantasy”; and a third that deals with dementia, but with an African spiritual influence.

Swallow is “95% filmed” according to Afolayan, with post-production underway.

Boosting one of the key upcoming titles coming out of Latin America, renowned Haitian-American actor-producer Jimmy Jean-Louis, also an increasing driving force on the Latin American and African production scene, is coming on board to executive produce director José María Cabral’s historic drama “Parsley” (“Perejil”).

In parallel news, New York-based Visit Films is handling world sales rights on the feature, which is set during the 1937 Parsley Massacre, when Dominican dictator Rafael Trujillo ordered the execution of Haitian families and Dominicans of Haitian descent on the country’s frontier with Haiti.

With Cabral in post-production on his next film, the Latido-sold “Hotel Coppelia,” again for Lantica Media, Visit Films will initiate a fall festival campaign for “Parsley.”

“Parsley’s” true-event background is shocking, and little known. “ ‘Parsley’ is a story about human tragedy where race takes the center stage and represents a part of history that needs to be told,...

Netflix is doubling down on Nigerian content by extending its partnership with local filmmaker Kunle Afolayan.

The streamer has showcased his previous films including The CEO, October 1, The Figurine and most recently Citation, and will now commission three new movies from the filmmaker: a historical drama, a folklore fantasy and a character drama.

All three of the pics will be set in Nigeria. The first will be an adaptation of Nigerian-American novelist Sefi Atta’s third novel, Swallow, about a naive secretary whom, after a series of career woes, considers her roommate’s offer to work as a drug mule in mid-1980s Lagos. The movies will also debut exclusively on Netflix globally.

Ben Amadasun, Netflix’s director of content for Africa, struck the deal. The streamer has now been in Nigeria for five years.

“There’s never been a greater time for us, where you have so many Nigerian...

Netflix’s latest Nigerian Original, “Citation,” is a sobering drama about sexual assault on college campuses, allegedly based on true events. Though hardly the first missive against this widespread problem, it provides a west African angle rarely seen by the rest of the world, told in stark, compelling terms. By depicting an environment where rape culture has been normalized due to oppressive assumptions related gender and sexuality, director Kunle Afolayan delivers

The story centers on smart and determined college student Moremi (Temi Otedola), who accuses celebrated professor Lucien N’Dyare (a charismatic Jimmy Jean-Louis) of sexual assault. Much of the ensuing drama unfolds as an unnerving tribunal, as university authorities listen to testimony from Moremi, N’Dyare, and other witnesses and advocates.

Moremi’s allegations aren’t exactly taken as gospel from the start, as the trial quickly devolves into a he-said-she-said dynamic. Flashbacks reveal Moremi’s life and community,...

In today’s Global Bulletin, Netflix picks up four originals in Nigeria, Amazon Prime Video gets Noggin in several major European markets, Walter Presents buys three Polish series, and Iwc Schaffhausen and the BFI announce finalists and jury for this year’s Filmmaker Bursary Award.

Streaming

Netflix has announced a slate of new original series and films from Nigeria, doubling down on its commitment to finding and promoting talent on the African continent.

One new series and three Nigerian films were secured by Netflix in various stages of production, with some ready to debut immediately.

“Far From Home” is a six-part series created by Chinaza Onuzo and Dami Elebe, who double as executive producer and writer. Produced by Inkblot Productions, It follows Ishaya, a teenage artist who wins a scholarship that launches her from her humble surroundings into the world of Nigeria’s 1%. Actor-producer Funke Akindele is confirmed for a lead role.

Durban–A young boy from a middle-class home gets an unconventional schooling in the ways of the world when he’s forced to apprentice at a mechanic’s workshop in a rough-and-tumble section of Lagos. “Mokalik” is the latest feature from Kunle Afolayan, a leading figure in the wave of filmmakers revitalizing the Nigerian film industry. The film is screening this week at the Durban Intl. Film Festival.

Afolayan spoke with Variety about the chancing face of Nigerian cinema, the impact of Netflix on African filmmaking, and why more international players need to come to the table to recognize the continent’s untapped potential.

You’ve experimented with a range of genres and themes across your career, from the supernatural drama “The Figurine” to the romantic comedy “Phone Swap” to the historical thriller “October 1.” “Mokalik,” on the other hand, was inspired by an actual day in your life. What made...

Nigerian director Kunle Afolayan is one of a handful of internationally-known Nollywood filmmakers, whom we could say is pushing for a new brand of Nollywood cinema – specifically, a Nollywood cinema that can compete in the international film marketplace; and as we… Continue Reading →...

Programmers at the Toronto International Film Festival (Tiff) announced that Isabelle Huppert, Kunle Afolayan and Genevieve Nnaji and Mark Wahlberg will be among the eight participants in the In Conversation With… series.

Moonlight, festival closing night screening The Edge Of Seventeen, Noces and Handsome Devil take their place in the youth-oriented Next Wave strand, while Discovery selections include The Empty Box, Godless, Hunting Flies and The Red Turtle.

A five-strong roster of virtual reality work brings new work from Canadian superstars Felix & Paul as well as Memesys Culture Lab in India.

Overall 397 films will play at the festival from September 8-18, comprising 296 features and 101 shorts, compared to 287 and 110 last year.

Festival organisers received 6,933 submissions (6,118 in 2015), of which 1,240 came from Canada (1,225) and the 5,693 balance from the rest of the world (4,893).

Festival Street

For the third consecutive year, King Street will close to traffic between Peter and University Streets over opening weekend from September 8-11.

“Festival Street brings great value...

Programmers at the Toronto International Film Festival (Tiff) announced that Isabelle Huppert, Kunle Afolayan and Genevieve Nnaji and Mark Wahlberg will be among the eight participants in the In Conversation With… series.

Moonlight, festival closing night screening The Edge Of Seventeen, Noces and Handsome Devil take their place in the youth-oriented Next Wave strand, while Discovery selections include The Empty Box, Godless, Hunting Flies and The Red Turtle.

A five-strong roster of virtual reality work brings new work from Canadian superstars Felix & Paul as well as Memesys Culture Lab in India.

Overall 397 films will play at the festival from September 8-18, comprising 296 features and 101 shorts, compared to 287 and 110 last year.

Festival organisers received 6,933 submissions (6,118 in 2015), of which 1,240 came from Canada (1,225) and the 5,693 balance from the rest of the world (4,893).

Festival Street

For the third consecutive year, King Street will close to traffic between Peter and University Streets over opening weekend from September 8-11.

“Festival Street brings great value...

Next month’s Toronto International Film Festival has nearly completed its lineup announcements, and each one is more impressive than the last. Today’s Tiff picks feature a number of slate additions for sections as varied as the forward-focused Discovery, their burgeoning Pop Vr section and even a handful of last minute additions to the Tiff Docs list. New titles of note that have just been announced include the Cannes hit “The Red Turtle,” Wayne Roberts’ “Katie Says Goodbye” and the well-regarded “Sand Storm,” all of which will screen as part of Discovery.

Read More: Tiff Lineup: 5 Reasons to Get Excited About the 2016 Program

Both the Next Wave and Tiff Kids section pull titles from other, previously announced sections to create an appealing lineup for the next generation of cinephiles. Standout titles include “Moonlight,” “My Entire High School Sinking Into the Sea” and “The Eagle Huntress.”

Additionally, the festival has...

Nigerian metropolis Lagos is the focus of the eighth City To City showcase at the Toronto International Film Festival (Tiff) as top brass anoint two international Rising Stars.

Tiff’s latest line-up announcement also featured extra selections in Galas and Special Presentations, among them Walter Hill’s (Re)Assignment, Philippe Falardeau’s The Bleeder, David Leveaux’ The Exception (pictured), Ken Loach’s Palme d’Or winner I, Daniel Blake and Terry George’s drama The Promise.

A vibrant crop of Contemporary World Cinema entries includes Kleber Mendonça Filho’s Aquarius, Danis Tanović’s Death In Sarajevo, Marie Noëlle’s Marie Curie, The Courage Of Knowledge and Akin Omotoso’s Vaya.

Hirokazu Kore-eda brings After The Storm to the Masters showcase, alongside Marco Bellocchio’s Sweet Dreams, Pedro Almodóvar’s Julieta, Cristian Mungiu’s Graduation, Gianfranco Rosi’s Berlin Golden Bear winner Fire At Sea and Adoor Gopalakrishnan’s Once Again.

Rounding out the...

Nigerian capital Lagos is the focus of the eighth City To City showcase at the Toronto International Film Festival (Tiff) as top brass anoint two international Rising Stars.

Tiff’s latest line-up announcement also featured extra selections in Galas and Special Presentations, among them Walter Hill’s (Re)Assignment, Philippe Falardeau’s The Bleeder, David Leveaux’ The Exception (pictured), Ken Loach’s Palme d’Or winner I, Daniel Blake and Terry George’s drama The Promise.

A vibrant crop of Contemporary World Cinema entries includes Kleber Mendonça Filho’s Aquarius, Danis Tanović’s Death In Sarajevo, Marie Noëlle’s Marie Curie, The Courage Of Knowledge and Akin Omotoso’s Vaya.

Hirokazu Kore-eda brings After The Storm to the Masters showcase, alongside Marco Bellocchio’s Sweet Dreams, Pedro Almodóvar’s Julieta, Cristian Mungiu’s Graduation, Gianfranco Rosi’s Berlin Golden Bear winner Fire At Sea and Adoor Gopalakrishnan’s Once Again.

Rounding out the...

The world’s most prolific film industry may be beset by problems, but director Kunle Afolayan is hoping to help it take off

Nollywood’s arrival has been delayed. Our black Peugeot tries to muscle its way into the three gridlocked lanes of tetchy Lagos traffic leading to the airport terminal. It has taken us nearly two hours to travel 3km to the venue for the premiere of The CEO, the new Nigerian blockbuster by the country’s hottest director, Kunle Afolayan. A muggy June night closes in; I’m sweating off the sharpener I had back at the hotel. We’re very late. “Maybe we should walk it,” I say to Aurélie Eliam, the film’s Ivorian co-star. Or possibly not, says the look she gives me.

Related: Out of Africa: Kunle Afolayan bids to bring Nollywood cinema to the world

Continue reading...

NollywoodWeek has announced the official selection of this year’s film festival, which takes place in Paris from June 2-5, 2016 during a private VIP cocktail for Nollywood industry professionals hosted by Mr. Laurent Polonceaux, the General Consul of France in Lagos, at his private residency last Thursday. The event was well attended by top Nollywood actors, directors, producers as well as the press, international investors and French professionals. Directors and actors whose films were selected for this year’s festival as well as veteran festival directors were in attendance including director Kunle Afolayan who is now the ambassador for Peugeot and Air France, and will premiere...

Nigerian director Kunle Afolayan is one of a handful of internationally-known Nollywood filmmakers, whom we could say is pushing for a new brand of Nollywood cinema - specifically, a Nollywood cinema that can compete in the international film marketplace, and as we continue to see more and more cross-continental (we could even say pan-Africanist) collaborations between African American or British actors, and African writer/directors (those in Nigeria/Nollywood especially), that movement continues to bear fruit. But, before Afolayan plants his feet firmly in *new* territory, it was about 6 years ago when his horror/thriller, "Araromire" (aka "The...

"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...

Nigerian producer-director-actor, Kunle Afolayan's latest work, the crime drama "October 1" (also the official date Nigeria declared its independence from the UK in 1960), is set to make its USA premiere at the Cultural Confidence event presented by The Nollywood Diaspora Film Series, which is a platform for Nigerian films to be showcased for international audiences.  Taking place in New York City, at the Nyu Kimmel Center, on 60 Washington Square South, the series will also include screenings of other films covered on this blog including "The Supreme Price," "Mother of George," and "Half of a Yellow Sun," as well as workshops and...

Here's a new Smart Monkey TV interview with Nigerian producer-director-actor, Kunle Afolayan, discussing his release strategy for his upcoming crime drama, currently in post-production, titled October 1 (also the official date Nigeria declared its independence from the UK in 1960). Produced by his Golden Effects production company, the film is set in 1960, against the backdrop of Nigeria's independence, and is said to be of the serial killer genre. Written by Tunde Babalola, here's how it's described: ... a psychological thriller detailing the activities of a northern police detective, Dan Waziri who was posted to the western region to unravel the mystery behind...

Here's a brand new clip from Nigerian producer-director-actor, Kunle Afolayan's upcoming crime drama, currently in post-production, titled October 1 (also the official date Nigeria declared its independence from the UK in 1960). Produced by his Golden Effects production company, the film is set in 1960, against the backdrop of Nigeria's independence, and is said to be of the serial killer genre. Written by Tunde Babalola, here's how it's described: ... a psychological thriller detailing the activities of a northern police detective, Dan Waziri who was posted to the western region to unravel the mystery behind a series of female murders in the community....

Read the first film profiled in this series (Night of the Living Dead) Here, and the second film profiled (Ganja & Hess), Here. Nigerian director Kunle Afolayan is one of a handful of internationally-known Nollywood filmmakers, whom we could say is pushing for a new brand of Nollywood cinema - specifically, a Nollywood cinema that can compete in the international film marketplace, and, as we continue to see more and more of these cross-continental (we could even say pan-Africanist) collaborations, between African American or British actors, and African writer/directors (those in Nigeria/Nollywood especially), that movement continues to bear fruit. But, before...

The Nollywood New York Film Series, organized by the Yoruba Cultural Institute and MediAfritiQ, will host the USA premieres of two recent Nigerian hit movies - Phone Swap (by Kunle Afolayan) and Finding Mercy (by Desmond Elliot).  Included in the series, which celebrates "Nollywood At 20," will be a panel discussion on that subject, featuring actor/producer/activist Gbenga Akinnagbe, veteran Nollywood screen diva and human rights advocate, Stella Damasus; Mojisola Sonoiki, founder and director of Wocaf Festival; Iroko Partners business development officer, Oluchi Enuha; Nyu professor of Drama and...

Here's your first look (via trailer) at Nigerian producer-director-actor, Kunle Afolayan's crime drama, currently in production, titled October 1 (also the official date Nigeria declared its independence from the UK in 1960). Produced by his Golden Effects production company, the film is set in 1960, against the backdrop of Nigeria's independence, and is said to be of the serial killer genre. Written by Tunde Babalola, here's how it's described: ... a psychological thriller detailing the activities of a northern police detective, Dan Waziri who was posted to the western region to unravel the mystery behind a series of female murders in the community. He...

Nigerian producer-director-actor, Kunle Afolayan is currently in production on his next film, titled October 1. Produced by his Golden Effects production company, on a reported $2 million budget, the film is set in 1960, against the backdrop of Nigeria's independence, and is said to be a serial killer movie.  Written by Tunde Babalola, here's how it's describes it: ... a psychological thriller detailing the activities of a northern police detective, Dan Waziri who was posted to the western region to unravel the mystery behind a series of female murders in the community. He soon discovers that the prime suspect is Aderopo, the prince of the community....

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...

Nigerian producer-director, Kunle Afolayan in currently in production on his next movie, titled October 1. Produced by his Golden Effects production company, on a reported $2 million budget, the film is set in 1960, against the backdrop of Nigeria's independence, and is said to be a serial killer movie.  Written by Tunde Babalola, here's how it's describes it: ... a psychological thriller detailing the activities of a northern police detective, Dan Waziri who was posted to the western region to unravel the mystery behind a series of female murders in the community. He soon discovers that the prime suspect is Aderopo, the prince of the community. Waziri,...

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,...

Forget popcorn, it will be beignets and Naija meat pies all round when the French capital hosts its first Nigerian film week

Even though Nigeria didn't get much love at this year's African film festival, Fespaco, some Parisians believe the francophone world is ready for Naija cinema. Nollywood, the world's second largest film industry, produces more than 2,000 films annually, and now seven of its best will be screened at France's first ever NollywoodWeek Paris. From 30 May to 2 June, the L'Arlequin Theatre in Saint-Germain-des-Prés will host the festival, which is to include a VIP cocktail with the filmmakers, panel discussions and a crafts marketplace.

Nollywood is already popular in France. A new channel, Nollywood TV, has launched. A walk through Barbès and Château Rouge reveals shops full of films from around west Africa. Nollywood still doesn't have much access to mainstream France however, something the organisers of the film festival are hoping to change.

From newly-formed Nigerian production company Cinema Kpatakpata, comes a new dramedy titled Confusion Na Wa, directed by Kenneth Gyang, from a script penned by Tom Rowlands-Rees and Kenneth Gyang. Starring Ramsey Nouah (Kunle Afolayan's The Figurine), Confusion Na Wa traces the lives of a disparate group of individuals as their paths cross over the course of one day, resulting in tales of lust, infidelity, friendship, revenge, heartbreak and, of course, confusion. Ali Nuhu, Oc Ukeje, Ikponmwosa Gold, Tony Goodman, Tunde Aladese and Nat Deme co-star in the social-commentary dramedy that is Cinema Kpatakpata’s first...

Kunle Afolayan is a busy filmmaker! Or maybe we're finally noticing... In addition to his using his name to push the $100,000 Afrinolly Short Film Competition, as well as prepping to direct the $2 million thriller October 1, to shoot in March, the Nigerian film maker has reportedly partnered with subscription-based AfricaMagic Yoruba to launch a new documentary series titled Isedale. According to Nigerian Entertainment Today, the series will comprise of 26 episodes, each focusing on different elements of Yoruba culture. AfricanMagic Yoruba is was launched in March 2010, and is available to DStv subscribers on channel 118 and runs 12 hours daily. While its...

Nigerian Entertainment Today (Net) is reporting that Nollywood producer-director, Kunle Afolayan, will begin production on for his next movie, titled October 1. To be produced by his Golden Effects production on an estimated $2 million budget, the film will reportedly feature UK and Nigerian actors.  As we reported in October, October 1 will be set in 1960, against the backdrop of Nigeria's independence, and is said to be a serial killer movie.  Written by Tunde Babalola, here's how Net describes it: ... a psychological thriller detailing the activities of a northern police detective, Dan Waziri who was posted to the western region to unravel the...

We've given coverage to his latest work, the rom-com titled Phone Swap, as he prepares for his next film, an international collaboration (the first for the filmmaker) titled Dead Alive.  Nigerian director Kunle Afolayan is one of a handful of internationally-known Nollywood filmmakers, pushing for a new kind of Nollywood cinema - specifically, a Nollywood cinema that can compete in the international film marketplace, and  as we continue to see more and more of these cross-continental (we could even say pan-Africanist) collaborations, between African American or British actors, and African writer/directors (those in Nigeria/Nollywood...