Happy World Television Day

In 1996, the United Nations general assembly declared November 21 World Television Day. The UN recognized television as having an increased impact on decision making as well as being an ambassador for the entertainment industry. Television is a symbol of communication and globalization that educates, informs, entertains and influences our decisions and opinions.

The first terrestrial television broadcast signals in West Africa occurred on Saturday October 31, 1959 and belonged to the Western Nigeria Television Service (WNTS). This was a critical milestone in Television history and today Africa boasts of over 600 television stations (excluding repeater stations.)

The launching of the TV in the Western Region of Nigeria made the Yorubas, the most educated people in Nigeria led by the most visionary African political leader in the 20th century, the great sage, Chief Ọbáfẹ́mi Awólọ́wọ̀, GCFR (6 March 1909 – 9 May 1987), Nigerian nationalist; one of the founding fathers of modern Nigeria and first Premier of the Western Region.

Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) began broadcasting on 31 October 1959 under the name Western Nigerian Government Broadcasting Corporation (WNTV), with Olapade Obisesan as its first Chairman. It was based in Ibadan and was the first television station in tropical Africa."

The First TV Image
The city of Tashkent is home to the first image patent in television history. In 1926, scientists N.G. Piskunov, V.I. Popov and B.G. Grabovsky, on the recommendation of the famous professor of St. Petersburg University B.L. Rosing, managed to get a patent for their technological development, which was carried out based on the faculty of physics of the Central Asian State University (now NUUz).

On July 26, 1928, B.P. Grobovsky presented to the commission a non-audio tele-image transmitted from the territory of modern Amir Timur Square. It was a huge contribution to the development of television as a unique channel of mass information and communication.

Today, in Central Asia countries, television is the most accessible media channel for all segments of the population. The countries of the region are actively developing the private television sector, as well as cable, satellite and digital television.

To celebrate the World Television Day, I have started the script development of my "Black, Bold & Beautiful' reality TV series that will be ready for broadcast locally and globally in 2024.

"Black, Bold & Beautiful" is the celebration of black, bold and beautiful go-getter women in Nigeria, the rest of Africa and the Diaspora.

Happy World Television Day!

Cheers!

- Ekenyerengozi MichaeI Chima,

Publisher/Editor,

NOLLYWOOD MIRROR® Series

Screen Naija YouTube Channel

MultiChoice Shares Insights to Content Success at MIP Africa

PRESS RELEASE

MultiChoice Shares Insights to Content Success at MIP Africa

MIP Africa forms part of Fame Week Africa, a week-long festival focusing on African television, music, and film

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, September 6, 2023/ -- Authenticity, hyperlocal stories, and a visceral understanding of the audience are pivotal indicators for success in the African television and film landscape.

While various insights, overwhelmingly practical and actionable, were shared during a MultiChoice panel discussion at MIP Africa this week, these three indicators served as a throughline for how content creators could successfully pitch to become part of MultiChoice’s creative ecosystem.

The panel discussion, Unlocking Opportunities: MultiChoice and the African Film & TV Industry, took place at MIP Africa, an annual opportunity for African content creators, producers, and sellers to present their work to a global array of buyers, investors, and potential co-production partners. MIP Africa forms part of Fame Week Africa, a week-long festival focusing on African television, music, and film. MultiChoice plays a key role as a sponsor of both events.

According to Waldimar Pelser, Channel Director: Premium Channels at MultiChoice, their most valuable content creators understand their market. “The most productive conversations we have are with producers that consume our content and on a visceral level know who our audience is. (Our partners) have to understand who they’re making content for.”

In terms of what that content looks like, Pelser shared that content that can only be made locally, and that viewers would not be able to find elsewhere, reap the most success.

Popular genres include drama and unscripted reality, with the consensus being that while successful themes are universal, viewers want something “uniquely South African,” with the setting being locally specific and the story and storytelling showcasing an understanding of who the audience is. 

Viewers also tend to gravitate toward dramas with authenticity, warmth, and optimism, while there is generally a low tolerance for gimmicks – in any genre. In unscripted reality, shows where the audience can see themselves on screen generally enjoy success. “For unscripted it’s a mirror,” said Pelser. “We want to see ourselves on screen. (Shows) that remind us who we are – those tend to work.”

Tebogo Matlawa, Head of Scripted Content: Middle & Mass: South Africa at MultiChoice, echoed Pelser and said that while the audience wants to see themselves on screen, producers should also “look outside the bubble of their own existence” when working on content.

“Our audience likes to be involved and go on the journey” and for that reason, they’ve found that very family-orientated shows, with a female point of view, and generally not risqué, do well. While action and dramas have seen success, there isn’t much of an appetite for violence. “Always think, would you watch this with your grandmother?” he advised when considering pitches for scripted content for middle and mass markets.

Victor Sanchez Aghahowa, Head of Production, West Africa for MultiChoice Africa, as well as Nicola van Niekerk, Head of Content for Premium Channels and co-productions, reiterated MultiChoice’s success with hyperlocal content. “We need the connection; people need to feel. If not, what are you doing?” said Aghahowa. “Compelling characters in compelling situations that anybody can relate to – that’s what we’re looking for. Anything inauthentic will immediately be sniffed out by our younger audience.”

According to Van Niekerk, Showmax, specifically, has seen significant success with documentaries as well as dramas.

In terms of co-productions, Van Niekerk pointed to the necessity for producers to have an in-depth understanding of both the local and the international audience before pitching a project. “As a producer, you need to assess your story and say, ‘Where will this story work?’ Will it work in a very specific demographic hyper locally in South Africa, but where else will it work? Which other broadcaster will like that? And to know that you need to understand all of the broadcaster's strategies (on a global level).”

She warns against assuming that what works locally will work elsewhere. This helps to secure funding if the appetite and interest have already been assessed.

Van Niekerk said popular co-productions generally have three things in common: “It’s crime, it’s English and it’s in a beautiful setting. We can tell that those work the best.”

Lerato Moruti, Senior Manager: Reality and Entertainment for Middle & Mass: M-Net, said that successful reality shows provide a sense of tabloid voyeurism, with family-based reality shows that rate high with viewers. But, said Moruti, South Africans look for meaning in content, and respond well to “help TV”, specifically referring to the popular Mzansi Magic reality show Abandoned about orphaned children that seek out family members later in life.

For more on MultiChoice at MIP Africa visit: https://www.MultiChoice.com/Fame-Week.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of MultiChoice Group.

SOURCE

MultiChoice Group

Women Are the New Game Changers in Nollywood

Yesterday I was at the Glover Memorial Hall on the Lagos Island, Lagos, Nigeria on Wednesday afternoon,  JULY 19, 2023.

I met with some of the leading key members of the Women in Film and Television International (WIFTI) in Nigeria who are major stakeholders in Nollywood and the Nigerian film industry who have been committed in the overall capacity development of the film and TV industry since the 1980s to date.

We discussed the Big Picture of the future of the Nigerian film industry in view of the great prospects.

The female filmmakers in Nigeria have produced the most highest grossing movies in Nollywood since 2010 to date. The most recent movies include the following:

Battle on Buka Street (2022): (₦668,423,056) by Funke Akindele.

Omo Ghetto: The Saga (2020): ₦636,129,120 by Funke Akindele.

The Wedding Party (2016): ₦452,288,605 by Kemi Adetiba.

Ijakumo (2022) ₦278,496,384 by Toyin Abraham

King of Boys (2018): be  ₦244,775,758 by Kemi Adetiba

View the complete list of the highest-grossing Nigerian films  on Wikipedia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_highest-grossing_Nigerian_films

The highest grossing movies have been acquired by Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and other top OTT streaming services in the world.

These leading women making fantastic movies also have some of the best film and TV studios and film schools in Nigeria.

These outstanding women are changing the narratives of stereotypical views of women in Nollywood in the sociocultural, socioeconomic and sociopolitical perspectives on the Nigerian society.

More details will be published in the third edition of the NOLLYWOOD MIRROR® Series focusing on the notable Nigerian female filmmakers in Nigeria and the Diaspora and the most powerful women in Nollywood and the Nigerian film industry.

- By Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima,

Publisher/Editor,

NOLLYWOOD MIRRORED® Series

Happy Birthday To Prince Nduka Obaigbena, A Great Achiever and Outstanding Leader

Happy Birthday Prince, Nduka Obaigbena; CON; Duke of Owa Kingdom. 

Chairman & Editor-in-Chief of the THISDAY Media Group and ARISE News Channel.

I wish you many happier returns for the blessed day with all the thanksgivings to Almighty God for beautiful long life and more prosperity.
Cheers Sir!

Faithfully,
Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima,
Publisher/Editor,
NOLLYWOOD MIRROR® Series
Nigeria Daily Twitter

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New Nigeria on Pinterest

www.pinterest.com/nigeriansreport

https://www.amazon.com/author/ekenyerengozimichaelchima

https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelchimaeyerengozi

From the British Cinematographer Magazine

British Cinematographer Magazine · Premier House · 13 St Pauls Square · Birmingham, West Midlands B3 1RB · United Kingdom

https://www.instagram.com/p/CmJiUCHtpF1/?igshid=MDJmNzVkMjY=

Introduction of Drylab's ROUGH CUTS Featuring Comet

 

Rough Cuts

A view of Rough Cuts featuring The Comet

A revolutionary new extension tool within Drylab Viewer, Rough Cuts enables you to easily edit your rushes in a dailies platform. It is simplistically and intuitively designed to allow for effortless and immediate edits, giving you instant visibility of whether your takes will play out as intended.

While we are constantly refining and updating our platform, Drylab's latest Rough Cuts development is a ground-breaking technical transformation; not only within Drylab, but within the global production software industry

See all on https://www.drylab.io/products/creator

Public and Private TV Stations in Nigeria are Grossly Underfunded

Both the public and private TV stations in Nigeria are grossly underfunded.

I am speaking from professional experience since I started my career in the largest TV network in Africa, the  Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) as the youngest professional scriptwriter for TV in Africa at 18 and from the 1980s and in 1998 worked as an Independent Production Manager of "Money Wise" on  the private DBN TV for two years when I was 35. 

When I look at both the public and private TV stations in Nigeria, I shake my head is disappointment. The underdevelopment of NTA in programmes is embarrassing when compared to the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC).

The federal government gives peanuts to the NTA and expect the NTA network of over 36 TV stations to produce world class programmes, because they are clueless about the economics of the TV industry which can be learned from the more advanced TV industry of South Africa. 

If the public and private TV stations in Nigeria are producing great content for entertainment and enlightenment of the best standards, they will be highly profitable to compete with MultiChoice, the South African company that operates DStv, the leading satellite television service in Sub-Saharan Africa and GOtv operating in several countries and has the popular streaming service, Showmax. 

The NTA network and private TV stations in Nigeria have channels on DStv and GOtv instead of competing with MultiChoice. But how can they compete without the required infrastructure for a world class international TV industry with the budgets for the best TV productions and for the premium content that will increase their revenues from TV commercials and international distribution of their content. 

- By Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima,
Publisher/Editor,
NOLLYWOOOD MIRROR® Series.

The Best Headshot for Success from Casting Calls to Auditions

https://www.nollycasting.com

 The focus needs to stay on your face and not your clothes or accessories!

Your headshot is your marketing tool! Your headshot is not just a picture; it represents your professional image and brand. It’s a professional photo of the talent where the focus of the photograph is the person’s face.

It is utilized to identify you as well as distinguish you from the crowd. It is the first impression you make to the public before they meet you in person. Therefore, the photo must look like you and represent you well!

Be seen as a professional, not as an amateur, so the way you present yourself in your photo is very important.

You must have a good, high quality, professional headshot if you want to be taken seriously by industry professionals!

We require all talents to upload a professional headshot within 30 days from today, and if you fail to do so, we will remove your profile from our database! But don’t worry, we are here to help you!

Below, we share some tips with you on how to acquire a good headshot!

Here are some tips for a good headshot to prepare for your auditions!

1. PROFESSIONAL

Go to your local professional photographer to book your photo session! Don’t settle for a photo taken by your phone because the low quality will show! Hire a professional who will know how to capture you well in the most professional way possible. It is worth the investment!

2. SHOW YOUR ESSENCE…SMILE!

Don’t forget to smile and engage with the camera! This is the best way to showcase your personality is through the expression on your face. Ladies, please avoid wearing heavy make-up and extravagant hairstyles. Wear just enough make-up that enhances your natural beauty and hair that shows your face!

3. WARDROBE

Choose wardrobe that complements your skin tone. Bright, solid, colors are best. Avoid heavy patterns and prints as they can become distracting. We also want to see your eyes so please stay away from sunglasses and hats. Please do not use any props!

4. LIGHTING, BACKGROUND & ANGLE

Please stay away from busy, distracting backgrounds and make sure that you have great lighting — whether it is shot indoors or outdoors!

See the professional headshot photos of the actors and models registered on Nollycasting.

https://www.nollycasting.com

DISCOVER MIP AFRICA 2022

DISCOVER MIP AFRICA

MIP Africa is a B2B market for film, television, and digital content distribution and co-production business in Africa. Whether you are involved in producing, distributing, financing or buying film and TV content for African audiences, MIP Africa is the Content Market that will put you face-to-face with the people, content and ideas to give your business a new doorway to huge opportunity.

Blood & Water's Ama Qamata

"As a female filmmaker, one of the key things you hope and dream for is to have your story represented on a global stage, and adds, “It’s amazing to see so many creative Africans, experienced and up-coming, coupled in one space, on one platform telling stories for our people and being the ones in charge of everything, from creating the stories to how we tell them- it’s incredibly special.’’
- Nosipho Dumisa, South African creative, writer, director and producer for Netflix's Blood & Water

https://www.fameweekafrica.com/en-gb/mip-africa.html

#film #netflix #television # #business #opportunity #digital #people #content #creative #b2b #africa #water #stage #writer #filmmarket #filmmaking #filmmakers #acquisition #distribution #africa

Top 20 Emerging Filmmakers Shortlisted For Netflix & UNESCO’s African Folktales, Reimagined Competition

PRESS RELEASE

Top 20 Emerging Filmmakers Shortlisted For Netflix & UNESCO’s African Folktales, Reimagined Competition

The shortlist contains a dynamic group of African creatives from across 13 countries in the region

Access Multimedia Content

https://www.africa-newsroom.com/press/media/top-20-emerging-filmmakers-shortlisted-for-netflix-and-unescos-african-folktales-reimagined-competition

LAGOS, Nigeria, February 2, 2022/ -- Shortlisted candidates from 13 countries across Sub-Saharan Africa; six winners will create short films that will premiere on Netflix (www.Netflix.com).

Netflix and UNESCO are excited to announce the 20 shortlisted candidates who will go forward in the exciting short film competition ‘African Folktales, Reimagined’. What’s more - the quality of submissions received resulted in one extra candidate being added to the list, making it 21 filmmakers on the shortlist! The candidates were selected following a rigorous evaluation process by a wide-range of industry professionals from across the continent who assessed over 2080 applications from across the continent in multiple languages. The shortlist contains a dynamic group of African creatives from across 13 countries in the region.

The  shortlisted filmmakers include (in no particular order): Nosa Igbinedion (Nigeria); Ebot Tanyi (Cameroon); Loukman Ali (Uganda); Tongryang Pantu (Nigeria); Walt Mzengi (Tanzania); Venance Soro (Côte d'Ivoire);Mark Wambui(Kenya); Volana Razafimanantsoa (Madagascar); Mohamed Echkouna (Mauritania); Nader Fakhry (Côte d'Ivoire); Anne Catherine Tchokonté (Cameroon); Mphonyana Mokokwe (Botswana); Anita Abada (Nigeria); Samuel Kanyama (Zambia); Machérie Ekwa-Bahango (Democratic Republic of Congo); Oprah Oyugi (Kenya); Ndiyathemba Modibedi (South Africa); Gcobisa Yako (South Africa); Akorede Azeez (Nigeria); Katya Aragão (São Tomé and Príncipe) and Voline Ogutu (Kenya). 

The 21 emerging filmmakers will go on to the next phase of the competition where they will be required to pitch their stories to a judging panel comprising of the mentors; Nigeria’s Femi Odugbemi, South Africa’s Bongiwe Selane, Leila Afua Djansi from Ghana, David Tosh Gitonga from Kenya, and Jean Luc Herbulot from Congo as well as representatives from Netflix and UNESCO who will act as guides in the process. The panel will select the final six filmmakers who will receive a production grant of US$75,000 (through a local production company) to develop, shoot and post-produce their films under the guidance of Netflix and industry mentors to ensure everyone involved in the production is fairly compensated. Each of the 6 winners will also receive $25,000.

“Congratulations to those who have been shortlisted! They should all be proud of the quality of their work. This competition showcases the extraordinary cultural richness that Africa has to offer that we want to share with people all over the world, as Africa is a priority for UNESCO.” - Ernesto Ottone R., UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Culture. 

Adding to UNESCO’s congratulatory message, Ben Amadasun, Netflix Director of Content in Africa siad, “We also want to thank our panel of independent industry professionals who undertook the mammoth task to read over 2080 applications until they found 21 strong submissions! The response from all the aspiring filmmakers who took time to submit their application also proves that there's a wealth of storytelling potential and talent in Africa and we at Netflix are excited to be part of this journey for more talented new voices to share their stories with the world.”

For more information about the competition, please visit www.netflix-growcreative.com/unesco.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Netflix.

About UNESCO:

We are the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. In 2021, UNESCO published The African Film Industry: Trends, Challenges and Opportunities for Growth the first complete mapping of Africa’s film and audiovisual industries. In 2022 UNESCO will convene the Global Mondiacult Conference on Cultural Policies and Development, in Mexico.

About Netflix:

Netflix is the world's leading streaming entertainment service with 222 million paid memberships in over 190 countries enjoying TV series, documentaries, feature films and mobile games across a wide variety of genres and languages. Members can watch as much as they want, anytime, anywhere, on any internet-connected screen. Members can play, pause and resume watching, all without commercials or commitments.

SOURCE

Netflix

Film, Television Industry Booming in Xiamen

PRESS RELEASE

Film, Television Industry Thrives in Xiamen

Statistics show that in 2020, the operating revenue of Xiamen’s cultural industry totaled 116.36 billion yuan ($18.26 billion), growing by 7.3 percent year on year

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XIAMEN, China, December 29, 2021/ -- The three-day 34th China Film Golden Rooster Awards is being held in Xiamen, East China's Fujian province from Dec 28 to 30, drawing a number of A-list stars and industry insiders. The Golden Rooster Awards, which was launched in 1981 (the Year of the Rooster), is a national film awards event sponsored by the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles and the China Film Association. It has developed into China's most prestigious film awards event and has contributed significantly to the development of China's film industry. As the host city of the Golden Rooster Awards, Xiamen has seen rapid development in the film and TV industry in recent years. Statistics show that in 2020, the operating revenue of Xiamen’s cultural industry totaled 116.36 billion yuan ($18.26 billion), growing by 7.3 percent year on year. Xiamen, a coastal city with enchanting natural scenery and a pleasant climate, has been hailed as "a garden on the ocean,” and it also bears elements of Minnan (southern Fujian province) and Western cultures, both of which help the city win the reputation of "a natural studio" and is favored by many filmmakers and directors. The city’s government has designated the film and TV industry as one of the engines to promote economic growth and has aimed to turn the city into a “film and TV capital” in China. The city’s continuous efforts have proved successful. Official data show that as of the end of November, Xiamen had gathered 2,046 film and TV enterprises, of which 350 were newly established this year. More and more industry leaders are choosing Xiamen as their investment destination due to its healthy business environment for the film and TV industry. Xiamen has become a hotbed for film and TV production such as the hit TV series “Minning Town,” which was released earlier this year. At the same time, the rapid development of the film and TV industry has in turn helped enhance the city’s cultural soft power and urban competitiveness, and the beautiful garden city continues to create perfect harmony between man and nature and has become a calling card for both tourists and investors. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of 34th China Film Golden Rooster Awards.   Contact: Lorraine Yuan Email: lorraine@hehutech.cn Tel: +86139 1113 0781 SOURCE 34th China Film Golden Rooster Awards

Sound and Screenwriting in Nollywood and Kannywood

Sound and Screenwriting in 

Nollywood and Kannywood

Majority of screenwriters in #Nollywood and #Kannywood need to learn how to include sound cues during screenwriting and not during post production.

If we ask even those who claim to know a simple question about sound in screenwriting, they may not know, because they have not shown that they know in several of their film and TV productions.

Seeing is believing.

Many people listen, but only few learn in Nigeria. That's why we hear and see repetitions of the same mistakes in film and TV productions in Africa's largest film industry.

They still don't know how to use sound for characterisation in screenplays before the principal photography.

They just copy and paste soundtracks during post production without creating and composing any original score.  

Sound in a movie includes the music, leitmotifs, dialogues, sound effects, ambient noise, and/or background noise and soundtracks. 

There is what I call the "Ambience of Romance" in filmmaking and it can only be achieved with sound.

And what is the ambience of romance in screenwriting and in the atmosphere of a scene?

I am still waiting for the cinematic experience of Dolby Vision in Nollywood and Kannywood.

To me, any Nigerian filmmaker whose movies have not qualified for the Official Selections of the Cannes Film Festival, Venice Film Festival, Toronto International Film Festival and Berlin Film Festival is not qualified to teach any  Masterclass. 

How can you teach a Masterclass without the proof of being a master of the subject?

How can someone who is still having issues with the nuances of sound in storytelling teach a Masterclass on directing or screenwriting? 

Do you know that majority of the filmmakers in Nollywood and Kannywood are clueless about spherical and anamorphic lenses? And they are teaching Filmmaking in some so called film and TV academies in Lagos, Asaba, Calabar and Kannywood without any certification or accreditation.

- By Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima,

Publisher/Editor,

NOLLYWOOD MIRROR® Series

distributed by Amazon, Barnes and Noble and other booksellers.

Experience Last Night in Soho in Dolby

In acclaimed director Edgar Wright’s psychological thriller, Eloise, an aspiring fashion designer, is mysteriously able to enter the 1960s where she encounters a dazzling wannabe singer, Sandie. But the glamour is not all it appears to be and the dreams of the past start to crack and splinter into something far darker.

 https://www.dolby.com/experience/cinema

FESPACO 2021: The List of the Winners

 27th edition of the biennial Pan-African Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou (FESPACO), the largest African film festival in the world took place from 16 to 23 October 2021 in Burkina Faso

Photo:A host holds the Étalon de Yennenga (Golden Stallion of Yennega) won by Somali director Ahmed Khadar for his film, "The Gravedigger’s Wife" during the Pan-African Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou (FESPACO) closing ceremony at Sports Palace in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso October 23, 2021. REUTERS/Anne Mimault.

"The Gravedigger’s Wife" premiered in #Cannes Critics’ Week in July and has  been selected as Somalia’s  first-ever Oscar submission for the 2022 Academy Awards.

The filmmaking was delayed as Khadar Ahmed wrote the story 10 years ago, but wanted to direct it himself and so took time to learn how to direct movies.

Newton Aduaka is the only Nigerian filmmaker who has won the grand prize, the Golden Stallion of Yennenga for his 2007 film,"Ezra’" on the civil war in Sierra Leone.

The US$36,000 Golden Stallion of Yennenga prize is named after the legendary warrior Princess Yennenga, who is called the mother of the Mossi people of Burkina Faso.

The first Nigerian to win a prize at FESPACO, is Clarion Chukwurah, the  Best Actress prize in 1985 for her role in Dr. Ola Balogun’s film, "Owo L’agba" (Money Power). 

The List of the Winners

– Golden Stallion of Yennenga: “The gravedigger’s wife” by Ahmed Khadar (Somalia)

– Silver Stallion: “Freda” from Gessica Geneus (Haiti)

– Bronze Stallion: “A story of love and desire” by Leyla Bouzid (Tunisia)

– Best Actor Award: Alassane Sy for “Baamum Nafi” (Senegal)

– Best Actress Award: Zainab Jah for “Farewell Amor” by Ekwa Msangi (Tanzania)

– Best decor: “La Nuit des Rois” (Night Of The Kings) by Philippe Lacote (Ivory Coast)

– Best Editing: “Souad” by Amin Ayten (Egypt)

– Prize for the screenplay: “Nameless” Mutiganda Wa Nkunda (Rwanda)

– Image prize: “This is not a burial, it is a resurrection” by Jeremiah Lemohang Mosese (Lesotho)

– Sound Award: “Freda” by Gessica Geneus (Haiti)

– Best Music: “The Gravedigger’s Wife” by Ahmed Khadar (Somalia)

– Gold standard documentary feature film: “Garderie Nocturne” by Moumouni Sanou (Burkina Faso)

– Silver standard documentary feature film: “Marcher sur l’eau” by Aissa Maiga (Senegal-Mali)

– Bronze standard documentary feature film: “Makongo” by Elvis Sabin Ngaibino (Central African Republic)

– Poulain d’or short film: “Serbi” (Les Tissus blancs) by Moly Kane (Senegal)

– Silver foal fiction short film: “Amani” by Alliah Fafin (Rwanda)

– Short film fiction bronze foal: “Zalissa” by Carine Bado (Burkina Faso)

– Poulain d’Or documentary short film: “Ethereality” by Kantarama Gahigiri (Rwanda)

– Silver foal short film: “I bit my tongue” by Nina Khada (Algeria)

– Bronze foal short film: “Nuit Debout” by Nelson Makengo (DRCongo)

SPECIAL MENTIONS

– Special mention to “Tabaski” by Laurence Attali (Senegal)

– Special mention from the jury: “La traversée” by Irène Tassembedo (Burkina Faso)

OUTLOOK SECTION

– Paul Robson Prize: “Traverser” by Joël Akafou (Ivory Coast)

– Oumarou Ganda Prize: “Tug of War” Amil Shivji (Tanzania)

BURKINA FASO SECTION

– Best Burkinabè film: “In the footsteps of a migrant” by Delphine Yerbanga

– Best Burkinabè hope: “After your revolt, your vote” by Kiswendsida Parfait Kaboré

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Teens and the Media: Television is Dead and Facebook is Irresistible

YORK, Pa., May 13, 2011

YORK, Pa., May 13, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The "media" is an undeniably powerful entity in our daily lives. It's even more invasive for teens and college students, a generation growing up with more forms of media choices than any other generation before them.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20100929/DC73342LOGO)

StageofLife.com, a blogging resource for high school students, Baby Boomers, and every life stage in between, wanted to know how teens felt about the media, so they asked its teen and college visitors, "What form of media impacts your life the most, and why?" as part of its national monthly writing contest series for students.

Over 5,190 students from all 50 U.S. states and 69 countries visited the teen writing contest page. From the scores of submitted blogs to StageofLife.com, four trends/ themes emerged about teens' attitudes towards the media:

1. Internet: Nearly a quarter of the student writers said that Internet was the media that affected them the most, citing that it's the perfect place to research, and to keep in touch with friends and family.

One contest finalist, Jenny Zhang, of Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School from Middle Village, NY, wrote, in her essay entitled, Media: Are we really using the internet, or is it vice versa, "Our fast-paced society demands technology to be always moving at its fastest speed and to the best of it's ability with little to no errors. But has anyone considered the toll the internet has taken on our lives? Technology is frightening. The utmost terrifying development ever created by man. I won't deny that I am a victim of the internet because I find myself drawn to these technologies in ways I never thought I would be."

2. Television: While some students get their information from television, many wrote about the "mind numbing" effects of this medium. It received the most negative responses; students feel television is "distracting."

Essay finalist, Justina Tran of Garden Grove High School, Garden Grove, CA, wrote, "In essence, the news media presents us with what it thinks we should know, but it's ultimately our responsibility to use that knowledge to make a difference and thus spread hope to those who need it most. As a wise mentor advised me, two types of people dwell in this world: talkers and do-ers. The news media are fundamentally the talkers and it's up to us to be the do-ers," in her essay Media: The Difference Between Newscasters and Whom They Inform .

3. Facebook: It's no surprise that a large percentage of teenagers cited Facebook as their most influential form of media in their lives, since it connects the students to friends, family, and gossip. Several students raised privacy concerns about using Facebook in their essays, as well as larger issues like cyber-bullying.

Finalist Riley Brewer, of Rhea County High School from Cookeville, TN, wrote, "The power of Facebook isn't easily defined...I am aware of the most intimate details of my high school classmates' lives; I know who is getting divorced at 22, who is preparing to graduate summa cum laude, who has moved to Vegas to pole dance, and who has traded in football practice for burger flipping. True, I could choose not to read friends' status updates, but I must admit the temptation is too much for a mere mortal to resist," in the essay Media: The Facebook Juggernaut.

4. Overall, Media is Positive: Although there were some dissenters, the majority of student writers felt that media—in all forms and varieties—is an important, powerful, and positive influence on a person's life.

In the essay, Media: Children of the Techno-Revolution, teen blogger Katie Garner, of Vista High school from Oceanside, CA, wrote, "Nearly every aspect of my life, in some way or another, is consumed by the functions of modern technology. But I revel in it, for I am a child of the techno-revolution, an age that has spawned millions of other faithful offspring and captivated our thoughts and imagination. Friends may speak to each other from California to Tokyo without delay. Blogs may swap philosophical concepts or short stories, and people around the planet can share their experiences in a chat room. So, how could only one form of media possibly affect me when so many intertwine to shape the way I live? These innovations are all strands of the same web. They constantly surround us, my fellow children and I, so that we remain entangled together. Some might find this instant gratification distasteful; but quite frankly, I think it is wonderful."

Aside from the themes listed above, the student writing contest took in a wide variety of entries addressing various forms of media / communication that included blogs about social networking, cell phones, the internet, television, blogs, books/print, Facebook, celebrities, music, gossip, YouTube, texting, computers, video games, photo editing, prayer, verbal communication, the news, Skype, and the media in general.

StageofLife.com CEO, Eric Thiegs, stated, "If you get a chance to read these essays, you'll find they are truly amazing when you look at how the students break down and analyze the media. Our winner, Keilah Sullivan, a home schooled student from St. Louis, MO used a tongue and cheek approach to champion her love for print media in her essay, Media: I Like it Black, White, and Read All Over. "

Interested readers can read the summary report and find links to over 140 featured essays about Teens and the Media at http://www.stageoflife.com/TeensandMedia.aspx.

Teens & Media Writing Contest Finalists

• Kaleigh Somers, James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA., from Royersford, PA
• Yipeng Xie, Carlisle School, from Martinsville, VA
• Riley Brewer, Rhea County High School, from Cookeville, TN
• Jenny Zhang, Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School, from Middle Village, NY
• Justina Tran, Garden Grove High School, from Garden Grove, CA
• D.J. Schaefer, Waukesha South High School, from Waukesha, Wisconsin
• Keilah Sullivan, Home schooled, from St. Louis, MO
• Kimmy Tejasindhu, Cajon High School, from San Bernardino, CA
• Felicia Czochanski, Metuchen High School, from Metuchen, NJ
• Jennifer Pasatieri, Wellington C. Mepham High School, from North Merrick, NY
• Andrew Rauh, Divine Child High School, from Dearborn, MI
• Kammy Liu, John T. Hoggard High School, from Wilmington, NC
• Katie Garner, Vista High School, from Oceanside, CA
• Angela N., John F. Kennedy High School and California State University Northridge, from of Los Angeles, CA

May 2011 Writing Contest for High School Students

This month's writing contest for high school students on StageofLife.com asks high school students the question, "What was the most difficult thing you overcame this school year?" From friends to family to graduation to grades to self-esteem, teens go through a lot in the course of nine months. With graduation just around the corner (and already have happened for many college students), this contest writing prompt has already begun to elicit some unique responses. Entries will be accepted up till May 30th at Midnight PDT and the essay winner will receive a gift card/cash prize from sponsors like KodakGallery.com, StageofLife.com SWAG, and featured writing status on the site.

About Stage of Life®: StageofLife.com is a free, non-partisan, grassroots online community that hosts blogs, information, and resources for teens, Millennials/Gen Y, Gen X, and Baby Boomer generations. Its specialized content allows users to share and archive their life stories. StageofLife.com includes free lesson plans and writing prompts for Language Arts teachers, monthly writing contests for high school students and college students, blogging resources, a platform that helps people promote their blogs, teen trends, custom news feeds for each stage of life, and My Life Rewards, an area dedicated to providing relevant coupons and discounts exclusively geared towards each stage of life.

If you'd like more information about StageofLife.com or an interview with CEO/Founder Eric Thiegs, please call (717) 244-0006, or use the Contact Us form on the website. You may also contact PR/Marketing Coordinator Megan Colyer at (717) 654-9554 or megan.colyer(at)stageoflife.com.

SOURCE StageofLife.com

Web Site: http://www.stageoflife.com