Changing Faces set for the Christmas and New Year Holidays

The much awaited Nigerian film at the cinemas Changing Faces will open to the public at the Silverbird Cinemas and other cinemas in Nigeria and Ghana from December 23, 2011. It is the Silverbird Cinemas Nigerian Movie for the Christmas and New Year holidays. It is the first Nigerian movie on the supernatural experience of the transference of evil spirits through sex. Changing Faces is the first major Nigerian movie to be dubbed in French for commercial distribution in France and francophone countries.

The gripping romantic thriller has an international cast of Nigerian and British stars led by Marc Baylis, Keppy Ekpenyong-Bassey, Alex Lopez, Rachael Young, Ayo Mogaji and Adebowale Adesanya.

Marc Baylis


Keppy Ekpenyong

The young filmmaker Faruk Lasaki is an international award winning director and one of the best graduates of the famous New York Film Academy (NYFA) where his short film Six Feet Below won the best short film prize for graduating students.

See "Not a normal Nigerian movie industry product!" Interview with Faruk Afolabi Lasaki on Changing Faces by Olivier Barlet on http://www.africultures.com/php/index.php?nav=article&no=7694 and http://www.changingfacesmovie.com/interview.htm.

Changing Faces is a 92 minutes metaphysical romantic thriller on the transference of evil spirits through sex as ‘Two unlikely bedfellows share a night of passion’ and their lives were never the same again.

Changing Faces was premiered at the Pavilion les Cinema Du Sud of the 61st Cannes Film Festival, Black Diaspora International Film Festival of New York in 2008, featured in competition at the Panafrican Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou (FESPACO) in 2009, Cairo International Film Festival in 2009, and a Special Official Selection and opening film of the 2011 Eko International Film Festival in Lagos, Nigeria. And it is the first Nigerian film to be dubbed into French and screened at FESPACO and Ecrans Noirs in 2009. And on the 3rd and 6th of August 2009, Canal France International (CFI) presented it as the first Nigerian feature film on its network and interviewed the director Faruk Lasaki.

Alex Lopez


Rachael Young

SYNOPSIS:
Young reporter, Lola and Architecture whiz kid Dale, are the antithesis of each other; she is fun loving, free spirited and lively while Dale is conservative and a reserved workaholic. However, their paths still manage to cross at an Architectural conference in a beautiful hill top hotel. From the minute the bored Lola sets her eyes on him, she decides she's going to have him, and she goes to all lengths to get him into her bed. Dale doesn't make this easy for her at all as he is not only married but a born again Christian who holds a high premium on fidelity. But Lola is determined and after a lot of scheming and manipulations, she finally gets Dale into her bed on the last night of the conference. The next morning they both return to their normal lives, only to discover that things have changed and they have exchanged personalities. Lola finds herself saddled with scruples and morals... Written by Becky Muikia.

CAST:
Marc Baylis as Dale
Alex Lopez as Franca
Rachael Young as Lola
Keppy Ekpenyong-Bassey as Bade Cole
Adebowale Adesanya as Dale's Androgynous Man Black
Ngozi Elumelu as Kaisha
Victor Eze as Shaman
Emmanuel Fagbure as Lola's Androgynous Man Black
Izebuno as Devil / Androgynous Female Angel
Elizabeth Rainbow as Penny

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World Premiere of fastest Nollywood film at 2011 EKOIFF

The world premiere of Abba Makama's "Direc-Toh" the fastest Nigerian movie shot in one day comes up onTuesday July 12, the third day of the 2nd Eko International Film Festival (EKOIFF) at the Silverbird Galleria on Victoria Island, Lagos. The film will be screened at 10.30 am. The young Nigerian director is a graduate of New York University film school.

African Premiere of The Invocation now on Thursday July 14, in Lagos

Due to the heavy rainfall and flooded roads on Victoria Island on Sunday, the African premiere of Emmanuel Itier's multiple award winning spiritual documentary "The Invocation" will now formally take place on the closing day of the 2nd Eko International Film Festival on Thursday July 14, 2011, at 10 am at the Silverbird Galleria, Victoria Island, Lagos.



There is no gate fee throughout the film festival. So, it is open to the public gratis.

Emmanuel Itier has sent the following message:

Dear Friends, Brothers and Sisters:

I'm sorry I cannot be with you during the Festival and the screening of our film THE INVOCATION due to the filming of our new documentary: "FEMME: Women healing the World".
But I'm with you in spirit and love. And more than anything we need Love, Spirit to forget and forgive about Hate, War and Death.
I wish the Festival the Best of Luck and great Success. I know this amazing and daring Film Festival will be around for a long long time.
I encourage you as Gandhi said to understand that "There is no way to Peace, Peace is The Way". Together We ARE, We ARE ONE.

With Warm Hugs of Peace!

In Oneness,

Emmanuel ITIER
Director/Producer
Www.wonderlandentgroup.com
Email: WL1@cox.net

2nd Eko International Film Festival opens in Lagos

The 2nd Eko International Film Festival (EKOIFF) opened Saturday morning in Lagos with the Nigerian premiere of Faruk Lasaki's romantic thriller Changing Faces at the Silverbird Galleria on Victoria Island. The feature of 92 minutes is on the psychological trauma of an illicit affair caused by the transference of spirits through sex.

Many people came for the opening day graced by top Nigerian entertainment journalists including Shaibu Husseini of The Guardian who was later joined by his boss Jahman Anikulapo, the Editor of The Guardian on Sunday, Victor Akande of The Nation, Wale Idowu Shadrach, the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Movietainment, the leading magazine on Nollywood and other sectors of the Nigerian entertainment industry; and notable stakeholders present were Femi Odugbemi, the multiple award winning Nigerian filmmaker and head of DVWORX, who is also the Founder/Festival director the iRepresent International Documentary Film Festival, Mrs. Duro Oni representing the Nigerian Film Corporation (NFC), famous Nollywood director Fidelis Duker who is the Founder/Festival Director of Abuja International Film Festival, Alex Onyogho, President of the Association of Nollywood Core Producers (ANCOP), Mrs. Busola Solanke, Chikezie Nkemdirim Donatus of Independent Field Advertisers Limited, Chris Nwankpa, the CEO of Fintel and an executive producer of the action movie Dangerous Men accompanied by the leading actress Onyekachi Anyajike with Kiki Deo, international award winning filmmaker Chike Ibekwe, and Bic Leu, a Fulbright Fellow at the University of Lagos, author of Finding Nollywood, who is in Nigeria to analyze Nollywood’s social impact through the Social Return on Investment (SROI). She has been liaising with Professor Duro Oni, Dean of the Faculty of Arts at the University of Lagos, who has agreed to support and supervise her project and having access to Professor Oni’s ongoing project with the Open University in the United Kingdom to build a multimedia archive of all Nollywood films and related literary materials.

Faruk Lasaki spoke on the making of Changing Faces after the screening. The film critics praised the exceptional quality of his movie which they rated above the other movies in Nollywood. They wanted the movie to be shown at the various cinemas in Nigeria.

Hope Obioma Opara, President of the film festival and the Founder/Festival Director Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima were happy with the impressive turn out and agreed that with more sponsors the EKOIFF will attract more international filmmakers and tourists to Lagos for the benefit of the Nigerian film industry and boost tourism.

The five days film festival continues tomorrow Sunday with the African premiere of Emmanuel Itier's multiple award winning spiritual documenatary "The Invocation" narrated by Sharon Stone, the famous Hollywood actress of the Basic Instinct fame.


~ By Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima

Faruk Lasaki’s Nigerian premiere of Changing Faces at 2011 EKOIFF

Faruk Lasaki’s Nigerian premiere of Changing Faces at 2011 EKOIFF

The Nigerian premiere of Faruk Lasaki’s spiritual thriller "Changing Faces" will definitely thrill the audience at the second Eko International Film Festival at the Silverbird Galleria from July 9-14, 2011.

Faruk Lasaki is one of the ambitious filmmakers who are making Nigeria proud in the international arena by making movies that are quite different from the common Nollywood flicks. He is also an accomplished producer of award winning commercials and documentaries who got his first break with his 15 minutes short documentary "Scars" (CICATRIZES) that won him $20,000 at the É Tudo Verdade - Festival Internacional de Documentários in Brazil in 1998.

"Changing Faces" is a 92 minutes metaphysical romantic thriller on the transference of spirits through sex as ‘Two unlikely bedfellows share a night of passion’ and their lives were never the same again. The film parades an international cast of professional British and notable Nigerian actors and actresses Alex Lopez, Keppy Ekpeyong Bassey and Ayo Mogaji.

"Changing Faces" was premiered at the Pavillion les Cinema Du Sud of the 61st Cannes Film Festival., featured in competition at the Panafrican Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou (FESPACO) in 2009, Cairo International Film Festival in 2009. Black Diaspora International Film Festival of New York in 2008.

“Changing Faces” was the first Nigerian film to be dubbed into French and screened at FESPACO and Ecrans Noirs in 2009. And on the 3rd and 6th of August 2009, Canal France International (CFI) presented it as the first Nigerian feature film on it’s network and interviewed the director Faruk Lasaki.

Lilies of the Ghetto selected for Eko International Film Festival

Ubaka Joseph Ugochukwu


The Nigerian Nouvelle Vague Cinema is the Cinema of the moment…says Ubaka Joseph Ugochukwu, whose award winning feature Lilies of the Ghetto is one of the notable Nigerian films expected to draw crowds at the second Eko International Film Festival (EKOIFF) opening on Saturday July 9, at the prestigious Silverbird Galleria on Victoria Island, Lagos.



Scenes from "Lilies of the Ghetto"


Lilies of the Ghetto represents a new tendency among the Nigerian film industry and film directors who apart from Nollywood begun to develop a high quality cinema, accessible to a worldwide audience..

Now film professionals are gradually producing quality movies, despite the the financial challenges that are obstacle to certain projects and its bringing about the long expected change from what has been termed low quality movies to a cinema that will acceptance in the global film market.

The synopsis


Ijaloko and Johnnie from "Lilies of the Ghetto"


IJALOKO an ex-convict and a ghetto monster, abducts five kids from his neighborhood, JOHNNIE, SMALL, KONKOLO, FRYO and BOBO, he brainwash them in view of giving them a good life.

IJALOKO introduces them into using of hard-drugs thereby destroying their human conscience and making them menace to the society in order for him to achieve his selfish desires.


Johnnie from "Lilies of the Ghetto"

Five of these kids die one after the other at different occasion in a miserable ways except JOHNNIE the luckiest of them all.
Through LILY, Madam JET’S Daughter whom JOHNNIE is dating, JOHNNIE realizes the importance of education and good life.

JOHNNIE makes up his mind to quit gangsterism and return to school, but IJALOKO being the obstacle because of the vow that they’ve taken until death does them part.
JOHNNIE had no option but to kill IJALOKO in order for him to get a better life.

The director Ubaka Joseph Ugochukwu was born Born in Enugu, Nigeria. He studied political science at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. After his graduation he moved to Lagos – the heart of home video production in Nigeria. In 1999 he and another young Pan African filmmaker in Dakar, Senegal, created a legal film association called Filmi Gët, and they started to produce films.

Lara Lee and other top filmmakers set for 2nd Eko International Film Festival

Korean-Brazilian filmmaker Iara Lee [Photo: Michael (Yeong-ung) Yang, The Korea Central Daily News]


International award winning Korean Brazilian film producer and director Lara Lee is among the leading filmmakers who have already submitted films for the 2nd Eko International Film Festival coming up from Saturday July 9 to Thursday July 14, at the Silverbird Galleria in Lagos, Nigeria. The popular filmmaker who is based in New York City celebrated 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.

Lee was the producer of the São Paulo International Film Festival.
"Synthetic Pleasures", which deals with the impact of high technology on mass culture was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize for Documentary at the Sundance Film Festival, and won the Jury Award for Best Documentary at the Ft. Lauderdale International Film Festival.

In 1998, she released the multimedia project "Modulations", which traces the evolution of electronic music. Her most recent film was "Beneath the Borqa", a 2000 short documentary film about the lives of women and children under the Taliban regime in Afghanistan.
Her Cultures of Resistance, which celebrates creative acts of political struggle is a special selection of the Eko International Film Festival.

Other notable filmmakers are Gugu Michaels, a Nigerian American director who is an accomplished filmmaker who has worked as a director and producer on a number of commercial and independent projects including the feature films "Thugz", "Repentance" and "Dangerous County". He has also helmed a number of campaigns for retailers like Cadillac, Lamborghini and Porche. Prior to co-founding New Era Pictures, Michaels served as president of Dallas based Redrumm Records and worked with such artists as hip hop giants UGK; Alix François Meier from Essen / Germany. An editor for documentaries at SPIEGEL TV, and since 1992, a director for documentaries and commissioned producer for public television and private broadcaster. He has a natural fondness for France and Spain: from the culinary bon-vivant image down to the catacombs in Paris, the half-Frenchman loves anything and everything to do with the two countries. But he particularly likes widening his horizons. This is what has already taken him half way round the world to meet protagonists in unusual situations and get them to tell their story. Meier's "The King of Palma – Life according to Bruno“ is one of the top documentaries to be screened at the festival; and another notable filmmaker is the international award winning Nigerian director Chike Ibekwe, whose feature "Eternal" shared the Golden Screen best film award with “An Unusual Woman” by Burkinabe director Abdoulaye Dao.at the 14th annual “Ecrans noirs” Film Festival in Yaounde (Cameroon) in 2010.

Another special selection is the award winning short documentary Dream for Nigeria produced by McNally Temple Associates, Inc. It is based on the challenges and achievements of seven female members of Nigeria’s House of Representatives, and the role they play in their country’s political, social and economic development.

The final list of the selected films will be announced on June 25, 2011.


~ By Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima

Viva Riva, Beyond the Nollywood Fever and Palaver

Viva Riva, Beyond the Nollywood Fever and Palaver


This weekend as the Congolese gangster thriller Viva Riva opens in theatres in Los Angeles, U.S.A, it should be a wakeup call to Nollywood that what matters most is not the quantity of your movies, but the quality in Art and craft of filmmaking beyond the get-rich-quick syndrome of churning out cheap home videos of Nigerian comedies and tragedies from Idumota to Onitsha.

When Djo Tunda Wa Munga’s "Viva Riva" beat the best Nollywood movies at the 2011 African Movie Academy Awards (AMAA), many of the Nigerian filmmakers were humbled. But how many of them learnt the real lessons of the event? They preferred to rush back to their business as usual in Nollywood and having premieres of their amateurish flicks at the Silverbird Cinemas where their posing and posturing on the local red carpet is the best they have been able to achieve so far, while the man from the war torn Democratic Republic of the Congo has gone ahead of them to make history with his "Viva Riva" as the first Congolese feature to find distribution in the U.S. I wonder if any Nollywood flick has achieved that. And Congo where French is the main official language, plus four official indigenous languages: Kikongo, Lingala, Swahili and Tshiluba from “400 different tribes with 400 different ways of thinking. And, there are more than 200 ‘living’ languages,” according to Munga, with no acting schools and no "Congowood". In fact for most members of the cast, it was their first film credit.


Chineze Anyaene

Is it not amazing that the best film from Nollywood is "IJÉ the Journey", a New York Film Academy thesis feature film by Chineze Anyaene who has won 12 awards, including the Golden Ace Award at Las Vegas International Film Festival and the Melvin Van Peeples Award at the San Francisco Black Film Festival. In fact she even claimed that "IJÉ the Journey is the first standard Nigerian made Hollywood film" and do you blame her when like most people Nollywood is being mistaken as the best we can boast of from the Nigerian film industry since majority of our youths and even journalists are ignorant of the history of filmmaking in Nigeria and never knew that "Palaver" was the first Nigerian film shot in Jos, Plateau State, in 1904. But "IJÉ the Journey" is just one of the best Hollywood standard features done by Nigerian filmmakers who were making fantastic world class films for the cinema in the 1970s and 1980s. From Dr. Ola Balogun to Afolabi Adesanya and other notable veterans of the Nigerian cinema now mistakenly erroneously and ambiguously dubbed “Nollywood”. And I have already addressed this in my previous articles on Nollywood, so there is no need to over flog it again.

The once popular cinema culture is gradually being revived by Ben Murray-Bruce through his expanding Silverbird Cinemas and others building new cinemas all over Nigeria. And the real filmmakers are now redefining Nollywood by taking up the challenge of making features that can compete with the best in the world.
Majority of them have gone through the New York Film Academy. Faruk Lasaki, Kunle Afolayan, Stephanie Okereke, Chineze Anyaene, Chika Anadu and others who are going to take Nigerian films to compete with the best at the Cannes, Oscars and other major centres of the film world. But we need to address the problem of intellectual ignorance and professional arrogance plaguing Nollywood.



Many of the stakeholders are doing more harm than good to Nollywood by engaging in activities questioning the dignity and leadership of the Nigerian film industry.
They have also dragged their associations into partisan politics and promoting cash-for-vote and cash-for-news coverage sharp practices with many of them rubbishing and tarnishing the public image of the Nigerian film industry.

Piracy is still rampant and counterfeiting is being practiced by notable Nollywood stars who have been accused of copyright infringements like the desperate but futile attempts by a faction of Nollywood producers to hijack the duly registered Eko International Film Festival with the unethical support of their accomplices in public office.

My personal experience is quite revealing in the case of the counterfeiting of Eko International Film Festival by the mercenaries in Nollywood who have been abusing and misusing their professional associations for their greed and ego trips. But I have dismissed them since they have been found wanting in facing the real business of filmmaking and raking up ethnic differences and tribalism in their primordial divide and rule tactics to cause north-south dichotomy and east-west dichotomy in Nollywood when what matters most is promoting what is best for the Nigerian film industry and giving the necessary cooperation and support to those with the best intentions for the advancement of Nollywood, no matter your state of origin, in fact no matter where the person comes from, even from the moon or mars.

Only backward and narrow-minded people would be banging their office desk and going round the bend over why an Igbo should be the owner of a film festival in Lagos with the Yoruba name of "Eko"?
Would they also go bananas that my popular pen name "Orikinla" is Yoruba, because I am Igbo or question why I created "Òmó Iya Osùn" the mystical girl in "Boy Adam Floats Headless In The Thames"? Of course they are ignorant of the fact that my father grew up among the Yoruba Ijebus of Ogun State in the western region of Nigeria, became a Babalawo versed in Ifa Divination, was also an Ogun priest with an Ogun shrine in Obalende on the Lagos Island and was a prominent member of the Ogboni society. And he brought me up with deep knowledge of the mythology and mysticism of the Yoruba culture and religion until he passed on. I knew enough to be the first Nigerian artist to mount an installation of Ogun shrine and Opon Ifa in an Art exhibition hosted by the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung on the campus of the University of Lagos in 1992, based on my late father’s paraphernalia of Ogun worship and Prof. Wande Abimbola’s book on Ifa Divination.

The search for knowledge knows no boundaries.
Before Oduduwa there was Ifa. And before Adam, our lord Jesus Christ existed and still existing as explained in the book of John 1:1 of the Holy Bible.

Only ignorant, uneducated and uninformed people will question why two Igbo men should be the founder and owner of Eko International Film Festival in Lagos or anywhere else in the world. Anyone could have been the founder, owner or whatever. What matters is not who discovered or founded a property, but how beneficial it is to you and me, regardless of class, colour, creed, tribe or race.

In conclusion, may I advise all the stakeholders, aficionados and well wishers of the Nigerian film industry to look beyond their local competition in Nollywood, put aside their evil greed and foolish pride and let us do our best to support whatever will benefit Nigeria and the rest of the world.


~ By Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima

Eko International Film Festival gets underway

Eko Int’l. filmfest gets underway

~ By Iyabo AINA

President of the Eko International Film Festival, Mr. Hope Opara has announced a new date for the hosting of this year’s edition of the epoch-making festival.

The festival, which will open the floodgate of events for this new season, is coming up between July between 9th and 14th of July, 2011, in Lagos.

Mr. Opara, who is also the Managing Director/CEO of Flonnal Limited and Supple Communications Limited said, this year’s festival will witness a huge participation from film makers from across the world, including Albania , France ,Spain ,Canada ,Algeria ,Germany ,U.K.,Kenya and Nigeria.



Mr. Hope Obioma Opara


He also noted that unlike other film festivals organised in the country, the Eko Film festival promises to be different in terms of organisation, participation and content.

According to him, Eko filmfest. is yearly organised to appreciate as well promote the nation’s motion picture industry and also the tourism in Lagos State.

As the President of the film festival, Mr. Opara reiterated his commitment towards promoting the sustainable development and advancement of the motion picture industry in Nigeria and the rest of the world.

“I want Nigerian film makers to improve the quality of their movies to world class standards.


Click here to read the full report

Re: Shaibu Husseini of The Guardian Versus Publisher of Nigerians Report and the award of CNN/MULTICHOICE BROWN ENVELOPE...

Re: Sunday, August 8, 2010 Shaibu Husseini of The Guardian Versus Publisher of Nigerians Report and the award of CNN/MULTICHOICE BROWN ENVELOPE JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR

'Sorry, there is no CNN/MULTICHOICE BROWN ENVELOPE JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR.......'

Dear All

First let me tender my unreserved apologies to the publisher of Nigerian Report over the harsh tone of my text-repost to him. I have never been this insulted since i started writing like he did with his text opener which i qouted above. I pray you all, what does that first line mean or suggest? especially from somone i dont know, have never met and who didnt even introduce himself before barging into my inbox..

But i am honestly sorry and apologise if i insulted a senior colleague..... but i must confess that i was enranged by the fact that Mr. Publisher reached a conclusion without seeking clarification from a junior colleague. I dont know how he got my number but if he could go the whole hug to source my number, i thought he could have called me up as a senior colleague and would have drawn my attention to what he observed as 'a lie'.

This is not a defence at all.....i was taught to allow the reader write in a rejoinder or to honour the right of reply if anyone feels indiferent about a report i have written. And i stressed that in all my text-repost. But i need to correct some impression, basically because My senior colleague has CC'ed some of my seniors in the profession and teachers who i am sure would be wondering if it was the same Husseini they know that is being talked about here.

First i dont blog...i repeat, i dont. i know what it is and i know how to do it, but i dont have the time and have never posted any material i have written in the Guardian to the web. But i do know that most materials published in the Guardian are linked to certain blogs created by people. i have on so many occasion read my articles on people's blog. The report in question was published in the Wednesday Guardian of August 4, 2011 and had a web version...so it is possible that it was linked to the blog where my senior colleague read the piece which was purely and simply a report of an event i was duly invited covered.

Again, i would have wished that Oga Chima culled the full text of the report and not just that section he qouted so that his readers and all those he copied will be well informed about the context in which the report or the section he qouted was based.

But quite honestly, i recieved an invitation signed by Mr. Paul Obazele, President of the Association of Movie Producers (AMP) to cover the unveiling ceremony of the AMP/EKO International Film Festival logo. I was told in the letter to be at the venue at 3.30pm because the Governor of Lagos State Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN was to perform the unveiling ceremony and so the security details had asked that everyone be seated before the governor arrives.

But the governor didnt show up eventually. We were told that he sent a commissioner (Home affairs and Culture) Alhaji Tunde Balogun to represent him and even the commissioner confirmed this when shortly before his adress and shortly before he performed the unveiling ceremony on behalf of the Governor, he told the audience that the Governor would have been around, but he asked him a few hours ago to represent him and to qoute him:'because of how dear the festival is to him (the governor)''. Oga chima, read the full report published in the Guardian where two expressive photographs of the event were used---there was no where i said the Governor attended the event. Rather i noted from the start of the article that he was represented and because he was represented and the person representing him said he was delievering the message of the Governor, i merely reported the governors message to the people. I think where the confusion came was when in trying to continue with the governors charge to filmmakers and in trying to affirm that the unveiling was done, i used the 'governor who performed'...... But pray, check the context in which that sentence was used. I cannot say he was represented in the start of the story, use pictures showing the commisiioner and representative of the Minister of Information performing the unveiling and then lie that the Governor performed the unveiling! Haba!

Again, Oga Chima said i reported that Lagos State Government endorsed the festival and that i should have verified from the Lagos State government before going to press. First, what was reported on Wednesday August 4 was a straight report of an event....i wasnt treating any issue that required my verification. What verification do i even require about lagos state government endorsing the event when the man that spoke at the event and performed the unveiling on behalf of the Governor is a senior member of government and long standing commissioner? I have him on tape and even spoke to him after the event and plan to use part of his comments in an issue based article i am working on, on the matter over trade mark infringement between AMP and the publisher of Supple magazine.

As for the matter between Oga hope and AMP. I was following the trade mark theft scandal since 2009 but i dropped anchor same year for reasons that i will explain to you after now. But i picked it up now again because i sense some foul play soon after the unveiling ceremony. Ask Oga Hope, shortly after the unveiling ceremony, I buzzed him and requested for an interview which we did the following day so that i could get his views to balance the report i had proposed that i will do as a follow up to the straight report on the unveiling. He honoured the interview request but even after transcription, certain issues came up and i thought it was neccessary to do some findings. Only this evening i got an advice from the Corporate affairs commission and the ministry of trade following an enquiry i made and i have equally sought clarification and am waiting for an advice from the Lagos State Film Office and the Commissioner which should make me have a balanced report by the time i run Hope's interview. so sir, do i appear like someone who is biased or who has been bribed so much that it merited a CNN AWARD?

Now to the issue of AMP .......MAIDEN EDITION OF EKOIFFAND NIGERIAN JOURNALIST......Let me clarify that i dont belong to any clique in the industry. i dont even have the time. Ask people who know me, i dont go to events that i am not duly invited to attend. I was never invited to Eko International Film festival which i was told (Hope Opara himself told me a few days back) held this July in Lagos and i didnt get to hear about it even though Oga Hope and I, met for a few days in May at the Cannes Film Festival and in February at the berlinale. He has my email and phone number.....he didnt contact me or even send me materials which i would have gladly used because if you check we dedicate a strip every sunday for publicising festivals and movie events. I was not invited and I didnt know about it and i am suppose to be covering that beat. anyway....

Let me end by once again tendering my unreserved apologies for my harsh text repost..... i was terribly vexed that you could consider me fit for the award of cnn/multichoice brown envelope journalist of the year without asking me to send in entries for the competition. I tried to call back to know who sent the text but the number was disconnecting and that added to the anger.

Thank you for finding time to read from me.

~ Shaibu Husseini

Shaibu Husseini of The Guardian Versus Publisher of Nigerians Report

Shaibu Husseini of The Guardian Versus Publisher of Nigerians Report

The controversy over the trademark piracy of Eko International Film Festival has exposed the bad manners and personal bias of Shaibu Husseini, a senior Arts writer of The Guardian newspaper of Nigeria.

The Publisher of Nigerians Report sent a text message to question the unverified report of Shaibu Husseini on Film as purveyor of pristine cultural values and Mr. Husseini got all riled up and replied in a gutter language that would rubbish and tarnish his public image as a professional journalist. Nobody accused him of collecting any brown envelope as he simply jumped to that conclusion and resorted to insulting the Publisher of Nigerians Report from his own erroneous deductions based on his assumptions of the publisher.


Mr. Husseini lied that Lagos State Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola unveiled the logo when Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, never even attended the event held on July 29, 2010, at the National Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos. It was the Commissioner for Home Affairs and Culture, Honourable Tunde Balogun who came to the event to represent the Lagos state government.

The governor, who performed the unveiling ceremony of the new AMP/EKO International Film Festival logo - a logo which the president of AMP Paul Obazele explained, was redesigned to reflect the collaborative agreement the AMP, under his leadership, had entered with the Lagos State Government over the staging of the annual festival.
http://www.guardiannewsngr.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=18930:film-as-purveyor-of-pristine-cultural-values&catid=74:arts&Itemid=683

The following is the exchange between the Publisher of Nigerians Report and Shaibu Husseini.

Publisher of Nigerians Report: Sorry, there is no CNN/MULTICHOICE Brown Envelope Journalist of the Year Award.
When did the Governor of Lagos state endorse the trademark piracy of Eko International Film Festival by the Association of Movie Producers (AMP)? That was a false report on your blog.

Shaibu Husseini: Are u sick! U think u are talking to your child? U know what to do if you feel indifferent about a report. I was at an event where the governor sent a rep and I reported what transpired and ur talking rubbish. Why dint u say no event held and I just reported from my imagination. U think I started writing today? Pls go away and don’t disgrace urself. See who is talking about brown envelope. I know the quarter dis is coming from and I will address it squarely. Opportunist! Write a rejoinder if u feel strongly that I over reported instead of trying to intimidate urself with the title ‘publisher’! U think I will cringe abi?


Nigerians Report: Go to the library of The Guardian as far back as 1988 and check The Guardian Literary Series for Chima Eke, Member of ANA.


Shaibu Husseini: And so what? Is that why u will cast aspersion at me. What has CNN brown envelope got to do with your feeling indifferent about a report when there are avenues for seeking clarification. U tink everybody is like u. ‘As far back’ my foot. Do you know what u have just done with ur very first line and am going to take u up on that. Haba, bicos u are supporting a position (which I know about) and because the piece ran contrary that is why you think I got brown envelope abi? I won’t take this lying low. Sebi, u say u are in ANA..,- I must follow up this matter. U must prove award me that CNN prize at all cost. I know what to do.


Nigerians Report: With all pleasure.

Mr. Husseini’s reported that the Lagos state government has endorsed the illegal AMP-Eko International Film Festival and it’s a lie, because the Lagos state government cannot endorse any illegality and in fact never endorsed the trademark piracy of Eko International Film Festival by the Association of Movie Producers (AMP) of Nigeria. I wonder how the representative of the Governor of Lagos state will endorse such an illegality.

The Lagos Film Office had a meeting with Mr. Hope Obioma Opara, the President/Co-founder of Eko International Film Festival where the neutral position of the Lagos state government was clearly stated and the Lagos state government will soon make its official position known.

Shaibu Husseini should have verified from the Lagos state government before misinforming the public and he has to report the fact no matter what the rep said at the event. The Hon. Minister of Information and Communications, Prof. Dora Akunyili recently sacked his senior aide for misrepresenting her. So, may I advise Shaibu Husseini to contact the Lagos Film Office for the true position of the Lagos State Government.

Hope Obioma Opara, President/Co-founder of Eko International Film Festival and Publisher of the Supple magazine has all the documents to prove the ownership of EKOIFF and nobody has challenged or contested it until AMP tried to hijack it.


The Nollywood gang of the Association of Movie Producers (AMP) has been using their clique among Nigerian journalists to compromise professional ethics and they deliberately did not report the inaugural Eko International Film Festival held earlier in July 2010, at the Genesis Deluxe Cinemas, The Palms in Lekki, Lagos, but rushed to report the so called unveiling of the logo of the illegal AMP-Eko International Film Festival held on July 29, 2010, at the National Theatre in Lagos, Nigeria.

Mr. Husseini is obviously mistaking the Publisher of Nigerians Report for someone he assumes he knows. And he said he does not blog! Then what is he doing on blogger blogging for The Guardian Life magazine? So, a seasoned journalist for a major Nigerian news daily does not know what is a blog?


~ By Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima

About the Author:
Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima is the most prolific African blogger and a prize winning writer and author of four books and many other publications. He directed the first docudrama "Sleepless Night" on the June 12 Crisis in 2002 and in 2007 he published "The Mandate of M.K.O Abiola" written by Adeleke Adeyemi. His next book is on President Barack Obama. More.

Eko International Film Festival on STV

World Première of GuGu E. Michaels' Unge’s War Thriller at the Eko International Film Festival

World Première of GuGu E. Michaels' Unge’s War Thriller at the Eko International Film Festival

The world première of GuGu E. Michaels' Unge’s War thriller will be at the Eko International Film Festival (EKOIFF) tomorrow July 8, 2010, at the Genesis Deluxe Cinemas, The Palms, Lekki, Lagos, Nigeria.


SYNOPSIS

Unge’s war is a story about Ukah (M.J. Mathias) the greatest warrior of his generation who needed his son Unge (Five times world martial arts champion, Leo U’ Che) to carry on his blood line. Unge being a puny man amongst giant warriors, have to prove that it’s not the size of a man that makes a great warrior. When Unge goes to war he’s woman Adani (Matilda Godson) befriends the prince (Eric Anderson) of her villages. Unge leads his army against the most skillful warrior of his time Kwamme (Hoomsuk) Get ready for masterful fight sequences that will leave audiences at the edge of their seats. Directed by international action director GuGu E. Michaels. Unge’s War is an epic-action adventure, that will leave you breathless.


About the Director

GuGu E. Michaels is an International Action Director that has written and directed over 6 feature length pictures. GuGu E. Michaels’ vision is to improve Nigerian movies and their style, to an international standard, in order that Nigeria can truly be recognized for quality international movies. It is his belief that with solid scripts, good directing, professional cinematography, good acting, good audio, good sound design, good editing, professional music score and color grading Nigeria will be able to show the world that Nigeria has truly arrived in the world of international movie making.

GuGu E. Michaels aim to use this picture “Unge’s War” to garner the attention of major global studios into investing in the Nigerian market. That is what prompted him to open a production house “Gu International Pictures (G.I.P)” along with his partner Christian Nwankpa, the due plans to shake the world with Nigerian movies.

Features Directed by GuGu E. Michaels:

Thugz (1998)
Dangerous County (2002)
Urban Killaz (2004)
Repentance (2007)
Best Served Cold (2008)
Pastor’s Wife (2008)
Dangerous Men (2009)
Unge’s War (2010)

Tickets For Ekofest Slashed From N5, 000 To N1, 500

Tickets For Ekofest Slashed From N5, 000 To N1, 500

The organizers of the inaugural Eko International Film Festival (EKOIFF) also called "EKOFEST" have slashed the gate fee from N5, 000 to N1, 500 for three films daily at the GENESIS DELUXE CINEMAS, THE PALMS, LEKKI, LAGOS, NIGERIA. From 4.30 pm.

Inaugural Eko International Film Festival Opens Wednesday July 7 in Lagos

A scene from Glamrock City, the Opening Film of EKOIFF

Inaugural Eko International Film Festival Opens Wednesday July 7 in Lagos

The inaugural Eko International Film Festival (EKOIF) opens Wednesday July 7 at the prestigious Genesis Deluxe Cinemas at The Palms in Lekki, Lagos.

Award winning filmmakers from Germany, UK, Spain, France, Albania, Kenya and Nigeria are participating in the film fiesta with over 25 films including the thrilling Glamrock City and the King of Palma.

The thrilling tale of the femme fatale, "ART ET DECES aka Glamrock City," written and directed by Christophe Kourdouly and Stéphane Jauny, opens the film festival and to be followed by the screening of other films from Wednesday to the closing day at the weekend.


The following is the list of the selected films.


1. The Man in the Ground
Director:Jesus Risueno
Duration:19minutesSynopsis:winter,every nigh in the city streets, on unknown person is brutally murdered. There is no relation between the victims, no purpose no evidence.
Year:2010
Country: Spain

2. El Forjador De Historias(The Storymaker)
Director: Jose Gomez Gaugo
Duration:15 minutes
Synopsis: For better or worse, Nothing escapes my will.
Year 2009
Country: Spain

3. The Cortege(Elr Cortejo)
Director ;: Marina Sereseky
Duration: 14 minutes
Synopsis:
Cap is the oldest to grave digger in the cemetery. Used to working amidst the suffering of others and the jokes of his colleagues there is only one person capable of taking him out of his daily routine. Every month for the last couple of years he has waited for months to take flowers to the groove of her husband. She is his last hope.
Year:2009
Country :Spain

4.Thunderbolt And The Mermaid
Director: Diego Sanchidrian Rubio
DURATION:11minutes
Synopsis: It is said that dreams are unreachable for they are far away,hiding beyond the stars. But in order to make them come true you do not have to know where they hide, you just do not have to be bold enough to

5. Balcony Boy
Director: Pilar Palomero
Duration: 10 minutes
Synopsis: Balcony Boy, poor balcony boy. His fault?
Having big ears. His bad habit? Putting his head where he shouldn’t have.
Year: 2005
Country: Spain

6. Fearful John (Juan Con Miedo)
Director: Daniel Romero
Duration: 11 minutes
Synopsis: During the holidays at his grandparents village, John meets Mary, a mysterious girl who tells the terrifying legend surrounding the peasant’s old house. John, unlike the character in the tale is fearful, Mary is not.
Year: 2010
Country: Spain

7. Antena
Director: Geatian Rexhep Koci
Duration: 19 minutes
Year: 2010
Country: Albania

8. Jinx in a Jiffy
Director: Geatian Rexhep Koci
Duration: 18 minutes
Year: 2010
Country: Albania

9. Trope Zones
Director: David Macian And Eduardo Molinari
Duration: 6 minutes
Synopsis: He’s crazy about food; she’ll do anything to please him. A perfect romance as long as something is in the fridge.
Year : 2010
Country: Spain

10. La Union
Director: Carlos A. Sambricio
Duration: 18 minutes
Synopsis: Sara encounters her boyfriend Fran, who died in a car crash six months earlier. A mysterious and breathtaking develops as Fran employs a hypnotic seduction game in order to convince Sara that he is real and that they can be together again.
Year: 2008
Country: Spain

11. Out Of Here
Director: Chino Moya
Duration: 8 minutes
Synopsis: After a dispute, a young woman leaves her older boyfriend’s comfortable apartment.
She has nowhere to go, so she wanders the streets aimlessly, eventually ending up in a café where she has a random encounter.
Year: 2010
Country: Spain/UK

12. Weightless
Director: Oliver Krafcht
Duration: 10 minutes
Synopsis: 18th Century: Five children spend the day outside in a mysterious garden. When they try to fly a kite, they discover a tree full of red berries. The oldest girl Elsie warns that these fruits are poisonous, but the children don’t listen and try them. They are sweet, but soon the poison begins to work…
Year: 2010
Country: Germany


13. Dolls
Director: Rosa Marquez
Duration: 14 minutes
Synopsis: Ana wakes up in an old abandoned stable; next to her, there is a mysterious girl who seems to have been there for a long time, but the only thing she can find out about her is her name: Irina. Ana will try desperately to get Irina’s help to escape from their captor.
Year: 2009
Country: Spain

14. Ansiedad (Anxiety)
Director: Eduardo Casanova
Duration: 25 minutes
Synopsis: Violeta Largertija is a great prima donna with social phobia. Violeta can neither speak nor relate by anybody that knows her, with her lovesick character, she survives feeding on tranquillizers.
Bertlo is crazy in love with Violeta, but he knows her problem and has a plan to know her.
Anxiety is a story about tranquillizers, an eccentric story, egocentric, excessive, melodramatic, dark, but especially anxious.
Year:2009
Country: Spain

15. Pumzi – The Outside Dead
Director: Wanuri Katchiu
Duration: 20 minutes
Synopsis: Futuristic Africa, 35 years after World War 3, the water war…. Nature is extinct. The outside is dead. Asha lives and works as a museum curator in one of the indoor communities set up by the Maitu Council. When she receives a box in the mail containing soil, she plants an old seed in it and the seed starts to germinate instantly. Asha appeals to the Council to grant her permission to investigate the possibility of life on the outside but the Council denies her exit visa. Asha breaks out of the inside community to go into the dead and derelict outside to plant the growing seedling and possibly find life on the outside.
Year: 2009
Country: Kenya

16. Bonnie and Clyde
Director: Omoyemi Jolaoso
Synopsis:
Bonnie and Clyde is a short film about two young people looking for survival in a harsh terrain of Lagos city. They engage in stealing mobile phones, gadgets and electronics being the most popular survival tools in Lagos.
Year: 2010
Country: Nigeria

17. Made In Japan
Director: Ciro Altabás
Duration: 6 minutes
Synopsis: Pedro J. Marquez and I grabbed and went to Japan late last year to film a documentary about the culture video games.
Year: 2007
Country: Spain



Film Category : Feature Length :-

1. The King Of Palma
Director: Alix Francois Meier
Duration: 80 minutes
Synopsis: The king of Palma moves like Charlie Chaplin, looks like Mr. Bean and seems an aging film star when he walks his best friend Flocky, a little white dog, through the old part of town in a slightly bent position and with a cigarette in his mouth. When he's excited or happy, he rubs his hands together. His black hair is short and parted with great precision. When he talks to you, his kind blue eyes are both curious and penetrating at the same time.
“My name is Monsieur Bruno Regnault de Maulmin. I live in this street. And I am, maybe I am, how could I say, I might be the King of Palma. One could say: The King of Palma. I don't know if everybody knows. I think that I am the King of Palma, because I am sitting in the café and I go for a walk with my dog. But I am not like the King of Spain. I am the King of Palma, because I behave respectably."
Every day the Frenchman roams his kingdom in the heart of Palma de Mallorca. His quarter has the charm of a small Italian village: Sandstone-colored walls line the narrow, winding streets and alleys, sturdy houses with small doors stand next to venerable palaces and convents. This is his exterior world.
Bruno's inner world is the world of a twelve-year-old boy, one that he perceives in a very personal way. Bruno is a diagnosed schizophrenic. What matters to him are the little things in life, and his everyday encounters. What matters is when God talks to him, when he's helpless because his dog Flocky won’t accept his lead, when he's wondering why the police haven’t arrested him on his walk, when his 10-year old niece puts him into fancy dresses, or when a forgotten jar of mayonnaise runs out in his pocket.
Bruno lived in Paris by himself until 1991. He was all on his own, unable to cope with daily life. He would simply spend money until he had nothing left. In order to avoid sending him to a home for the mentally disabled, his French-Majorcan family decided to take him in. With much love and understanding, they help him to lead a relatively normal life. Bruno is very vital and optimistic. He often discovers new things in his life and is amazed at them. He hates maliciousness, violence, injustice and immoral behaviour.
He could be considered a perfect citizen, if it weren’t for his illness with his changing moods and the fact that even small things can completely disconcert him.
The film accompanies Bruno through his daily routine. The deeper we delve, the more we realize that Bruno’s life isn’t always as easy as it looks. And when his best friend Flocky disappears, his life goes completely out of control.
Year: 2010
Country: Germany

2. Glamrock City aka Art et Décès
Director: Christophe kay Kourdouly, Stephanie Jauny
Duration: 90 minutes
Synopsis: A thrilling tale of the femme fatale, "ART ET DECES aka Glamrock City," written and directed by Christophe Kourdouly and Stéphane Jauny, screened at the Marche on May 19th. Produced by Antetime Production, the film is of two girls who in search of inspiration kill men to capture their last breath of life and create Art from Death for their next painting exhibition. The film showed great emotion and an intriguing plot line that keeps your attention. In a twist, the directors listed above, including the third director, Luc Job, casted themselves into the final scene. An emotional and riveting tale, Glamrock City is a story of love taken to the extreme.
Year: 2010
Country: France/ UK


Documentary

1. Paisajes Interiores (Interior Landscapes)
Director: Gabriel Folgado
Duration: 80 minutes
Synopsis: Interior landscapes tells the story of mining industry in El Bierzo an area located in the Spanish province of León. Three generations of miners from the same family unfold the secrets of what it means to be a miner and live in a mining community. Through their memories, experiences and impressions we glimpse the reality of a group of people who share not only a job, but also a special way of life.
Year: 2008
Country: Spain

2. Hobby
Director: Ciro Altabás
Duration: 50 minutes
Synopsis: Hobby was conceived by director Ciro Altabas as a visual document to witness the release of the Nintendo Wii and the video-game culture in Japan. However, it slowly morphed into a showcase of some of the many ways in which the Japanese spend their leisure time. Watch this brilliant and very funny film over Christmas on RENDERYARD.
Year: 2008
Country: Spain


3. Dundun (Talking Drum)
Director: Kayode Ibisankale
Duration:
Synopsis: A documentary on the Yoruba Talking drum called Dundun.
Year: 2010
Country: Nigeria

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5 Jul 2010
20:46
Darfur / UNAMID JSR honoured
13:46
The week ahead at the United Nations: the European perspective (26/10)3-9 July 2010 (and beyond)

Come And See Glamrock City At The Eko International Film Festival On July 7

Glamrock City: A Love Story

A thrilling tale of the femme fatale, "ART ET DECES aka Glamrock City," written and directed by Christophe Kourdouly and Stéphane Jauny, screened at the Marche on May 19th. Produced by Antetime Production, the film is of two girls who in search of inspiration kill men to capture their last breath of life and create Art from Death for their next painting exhibition. The film showed great emotion and an intriguing plot line that keeps your attention. In a twist, the directors listed above, including the third director, Luc Job, casted themselves into the final scene. An emotional and riveting tale, Glamrock City is a story of love taken to the extreme.




DATE: JULY 7, 2010

VENUE: EKO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL, GENESIS DELUXE CINEMAS, THE PALMS, LEKKI, LAGOS, NIGERIA.

TICKET: N5, 000 ONLY

DBN TV and Supple Communications Sign MoU on Eko International Film Festival

DBN TV AND SUPPLE COMMUNICATIONS SIGN MOU ON EKO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

The first private TV station in Nigeria Degue Broadcasting Network (DBN) Television has signed a four-year MOU with Supple Communications Limited as a major project partner for the organization of Eko International Film Festival (EKOIFF).
The inaugural Eko International Film Festival comes up in the city of Lagos from July 7-12, 2010.

Award winning filmmakers from Germany, UK, Spain, France, Albania, Kenya and Nigeria are participating in the film fiesta with over 25 films including the thrilling Glamrock City and the King of Palma.

Osa Sonny Adun

Mr. Osa Sonny Adun, the Chairman/CEO of DBN TV and Vice-Chairman of the Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BON) believes that the Eko International Film festival is a very ambitious project that will increase the global mileage and patronage of the Nigerian film industry and the multiplier spinoffs will boost the economy.

Hope Obioma Opara


Mr. Hope Obioma Opara, the President/Co-founder of Eko International Film Festival commends the foresight of DBN TV to partner with Supple Communications Limited to bring the film world to the shores of Nigeria.

EKOIFF Unveiled at Cannes, Gets KODAK Support

Hope Obioma Opara, the president and co founder of the forthcoming Eko International Film Festival (EKOIFF), just returned from the recently held 63rd edition of the annual Cannes International Film Festival, France. He shared his experience with us and further spoke on his plans and preparations for EKOIFF, which he also unwrapped at the global film gathering. “I attended this year’s Cannes in my capacities as the president of EKOIFF and also as the publisher of Supple magazine. But unlike last year’s, Nigeria did not have a pavilion and only a few Nigerian journalists were there.





The Lagos state government sent the Permanent Secretary for Tourism and Inter-Governmental Affairs and the Censors Board. Also Mr.
and Mrs. Fashola, the amiable parents of Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola of Lagos State were there. The Lagos state delegation came to Cannes to promote the Lagos Film City project, which is to be located in Badagry.

The Lagos Film City will be the Hollywood of Nigeria when completed. And we met with top executives of KODAK at an exclusive party on a luxury yacht, where the Lagos state delegation publicized the Lagos Film City project and I also informed the international guests about the EKOIFF, coming up in Lagos this July. I had a very important meeting with KODAK executives on how we can improve the quality of Nollywood cinematography.

We also talked about them supporting EKOIFF.” Speaking on the major attractions at Cannes, Opara said Senegal and South Africa competed for the top prizes and one of the most moving and touching films was “Life, Above All", a movie on the stigma and trauma of AIDS in South Africa. “Many of the viewers left the theatre in tears after seeing it. But the big question at the festival was where is Nollywood? We need to work harder to compete with the best in the film world. I am very confident that we have all it takes in terms of ambitious directors, daring producers, outstanding actors and actresses to pitch in every film festival in the world. And that is why we want to use EKOIFF to bring the film world to Lagos every July and attract thousands of tourists to Nigeria.” On the number of films that had been submitted so far for EKOIFF, Opara further disclosed thus: “We have received over 33 films so far and 21 of them are by filmmakers from Europe and other parts of the world, including a Spanish film that has won over 100 awards, and one film called “Made in Japan”. We are excited that many foreign filmmakers are willing to come to Nigeria for EKOIFF.

We are doing our best with able members of the Organizing Committee and our European media partners who have publicized EKOIFF to over 4,000 filmmakers and over 77, 000 film festival media agencies in the world. We need the cooperation and support of the Lagos state government since this is the host state, the federal government, the local and multinational companies and everyone to do their best to join us to make the inaugural outing a success. Nigerian filmmakers and others should go to our website for accreditation details.”

Fashola’s Parents Accompany Lagos State Delegation to 63rd Cannes Film Festival

Fashola’s Parents Accompany Lagos State Delegation to 63rd Cannes Film Festival

The parents of Babatunde Raji Fashola,SAN, the governor of Lagos state accompanied a delegation of top officials of the state government to the 63rd Cannes Film Festival from May 12-23, 2010. The Cannes Film Festival holds annually (usually in May) at the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès, in the resort town of Cannes, in the south of France.

The mission of the delegation is to meet with experts on the development of the proposed Lagos Film City in Bagagry. They met with top executives of KODAK at an exclusive dinner on a luxury yacht last Wednesday. The successful hosting of the 6th ION Film Festival in Port Harcourt by the Rivers state government last September, and to use the global popularity of Nollywood to boost tourism in Lagos motivated the state government to include a Hollywood style film city in the Eko Mega City Project.

There is already an active Lagos International Film Festival founded and organized by Nollywood top player Mr. Madu Chikwendu, Regional Secretary of the Pan-African Federation of Filmmakers (FEPACI), but poor funding and lack of government support have made it unattractive to most people in Nigeria and abroad. The poor management, poor mileage and patronage challenged Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima, a Lagos based publisher and producer to create the new Eko International Film Festival (EKOIFF) last August and he got the support of M21 Entertainment of Italy as the media partner. M21 Entertainment publishes the leading Pro film and festival sites Fest21.com, Filmfestivals.com and the French online community cluster21.com. And Eko International Film Festival has been duly registered by Supple Communications Limited, a Lagos based media company owned by Mr. Hope Obioma Opara, the President/Co-founder of the film festival and Publisher of Supple mamgazine, the first African magazine covering film festivals since 2008 to date.

The Lagos state government can use any of the two film festivals in Lagos for the promotion of tourism and making Lagos the haven of filmmakers and lovers of movies in Africa and the rest of the world.

Wall Street 2: Money Never Sleeps at 63rd Cannes Film Festival

Michael Douglas is back in his Oscar®-winning role as one of the screen’s most notorious villains, Gordon Gekko. Emerging from a lengthy prison stint, Gekko finds himself on the outside of a world he once dominated. Looking to repair his damaged relationship with his daughter Winnie, Gekko forms an alliance with her fiancé Jacob (Shia LaBeouf). But can Jacob and Winnie really trust the ex-financial titan, whose relentless efforts to redefine himself in a different era have unexpected consequences.





One of the most anticipated Out of Competition films at the 63rd Cannes Film Festival is Oliver Stone’s Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps, the sequel to his 1987 Academy Award-winning film Wall Street. Famous actor Michael Douglas returned to reprise his role as Gordon Gekko, but Shia LaBeouf is not actually another Charlie Sheen of the first Wall Street. The film is highly rated as one of the seven films to watch out for at the prestigious film fiesta. Supple magazine will join others at the Cannes on Friday where the Publisher Hope Obioma Opara is already expected to promote our inaugural Eko International Film Festival (EKOIFF) as we prepare to host the film world in the mega city of Lagos this summer.