INSIDE NOLLYWOOD: Who is She?

INSIDE NOLLYWOOD: Who is She?

My first attraction to the unique beauty of Ikom were the ancient Ikom monoliths (Akwanshi) when they were kept in the National Museum in Lagos before the relocation to their state of origin, Cross River State in the south-south region of Nigeria.

The mysterious phallic-shaped volcanic stones were created between 200 and 1000 AD by the Bakor people carved with unique, intricate human-like features and undeciphered Nsibidi-like symbols discovered in the Ikom area of Cross River State.

My second attraction to the unique beauty of Ikom was when I met Nunnsi Ojong at the premiere of "Stigma" on Saturday, April 25, 2015 at the Old Film Unit, Nigerian Film Corporation, Ikoyi, Lagos.

The beautiful tall actress and model from Ikom sashayed to where I was standing with my female friend, light skinned Kimberly, very young beauty pageant queen and model. 

Nunnsi wanted me to comment on the HIV/AIDS movie directed by Diminas Dagogo and starring the famous Ghanaian black and beautiful actress, Jackie Appiah, Nollywood diva, Hilda Dokubo and popular actor, Emeka Ike.

We spoke briefly and exchanged contact details before Kimberly and I left for an important appointment at the Four Points by Sheraton in Lekki. 

Nunnsi and I communicated afterwards and I got her a small job for a red carpet event in Ikeja on the mainland of Lagos.

She flew in from Calabar and did the job perfectly.

I was impressed by her punctuality which I consider a top priority for professional appointments. So, I invited her to feature in my first documentary film, "Lagos in Motion" in 2016.

The film production is now in post production in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State where I have been staying and working on new creative projects that I would not have thought of if I didn't come to this land of beautiful and wonderful well endowed women.

One of the mothers here calls me In-law.

"The film is beautiful!"

"She is very beautiful and the other one with her."

The women viewing the clips of the footage on the laptop said with glints of excitement in their eyes.

Nunnsi and Celina Ideh, another fast rising Nollywood actress, model and International beauty pageant queen were at the Elegushi beach in Lekki during the first phase of the principal photography in the spring of 2016.

View the clip on Facebook.

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/19pAzbynZN/

Or on my Screen Naija YouTube channel.

"She is from Ikom in Cross River State and the other one is from Akwa Ibom," I said.

They raised their eyebrows in surprise.

I nodded affirmatively.

"The picture quality is very good," said Matthew, the owner of the office and screener.

"The film market valuation of "Lagos in Motion" is more than US$1,200, 000. The sights and sounds of Lagos in 2016 are not the same today," I said.

"This documentary on people on streets of Lagos is a time capsule of the largest megacity in Africa."

"These are the most beautiful pictures of Nunnsi in any Nigerian film and TV production. I have shown her unique beauty with close up shots of such clarity of her aesthetics not seen in the  different roles she has played in Nollywood."

Any filmmaker anywhere in the world who sees her in "Lagos in Motion" will want to have her in a unique role in film and TV productions.

I direct as an artist and a poet using the camera to capture the essence of the appearance of the face in unique facial expressions and body postures. 

You will see it in the aesthetics of the unique Ikom beauty of Nunnsi Ojong in "Lagos in Motion" documentary film.

- By EKENYERENGOZI Michael Chima,

The Founder and Publisher/Editor,

NOLLYWOOD MIRROR® Series,

The first book series on Nollywood and the Nigerian film industry.

Screen Outdoor Open Air Cinema (SOOAC)

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

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

New Nigeria

www.pinterest.com/nigeriansreport

#Ikom

#Ikommonoliths

#monoliths

#art

#beauty

#nunnsiojong

#crossriver

#lagos

#nigeria

#nollywood

#actress

#actor

#model

#filmmaker

#documentary

#photography

#motionpicture

#sony

#film

#tv

#youtube

#facebook

LINDA IKEJI: 50 Most Outstanding Women in Nollywood and the Nigerian Film Industry

LINDA IKEJI: 50 Most Outstanding Women in Nollywood and the Nigerian Film Industry.

Linda Ikeji is a prominent Nigerian blogger, writer, and entrepreneur, widely recognized as a pioneer of the digital media landscape in Nigeria. She is best known for her highly influential and popular platform, Linda Ikeji's Blog, which focuses on Nigerian news, entertainment, lifestyle, and gossip. 

Career Overview

Early Career: 

Ikeji started writing at the age of 10 and began her career as a model and waitress to support herself through the University of Lagos, where she earned a degree in English language.
Blogging Pioneer: She started blogging as a hobby in 2006, using cybercafés due to limited internet access in Nigeria at the time. Her blog gained significant popularity around 2011 and became one of the most visited sites in Nigeria, reshaping how the country consumes entertainment news.

Media Mogul: 

Ikeji expanded her brand into a media empire, launching ventures such as Linda Ikeji TV (LITV), an online radio station (Linda Ikeji Radio), and a social networking site (Linda Ikeji Social).

Filmmaking: 

She has also ventured into film production, with recent projects including the movie Dark October (2023) and Reverse (2025), with the latter inspired by her personal experience of being denied hospital treatment. 

Influence and Recognition
Impact: 

Her success has been cited as a case study for the business of blogging in Africa by Forbes Africa. She is recognized for demonstrating the potential of new media as a viable business.

Philanthropy: 

Through her project "I'd rather be self-made; No thanks," she supports young women aged 16-25 with entrepreneurial aspirations, having disbursed millions of naira to help them start their businesses. 

Linda Ikeji is considered an integral part of the Nigerian digital age, a figure who evokes both praise as a hardworking pioneer and criticism for her controversial publications. 

PS;

The 50 Most Outstanding Women in Nollywood and the Nigerian Film Industry is a special feature in the third edition is the NOLLYWOOD MIRROR® Series to be printed in Raleigh, North Carolina, USA and will be distributed by Amazon, Barnes and Noble and other booksellers.

The "NOLLYWOOD MIRROR® Series" is a book series by Michael Chima Ekenyerengozi that provides a comprehensive overview of Nollywood, Nigeria's film industry. Published in both print and digital formats, the series aims to capture the "big picture" of the industry and is targeted at a global audience interested in Nigerian cinema.  

Focus: The series is a celebration and documentation of the Nigerian film industry, covering current affairs and notable aspects of Nollywood. 

Formats: It is available in multiple formats, including paperback, hard-cover, and e-copy versions. 

Distribution: The books are distributed in Nigeria, the U.S., the UK, Canada, the Caribbean, and other parts of the world to reach its target audience.

 

Author: Michael Chima Ekenyerengozi is credited as the author of the series.

#nollywood 

#chima

#books 

#series 

#mirror 

#movies 

#filmmarket 

#filmstudies 

#filmmaking

#education

#information

#nigeria

#canada

#uk

#unitedstates

#america

#caribbean

I Can Win the Oscar for The Best Picture

 

I see a Big Picture of myself winning the Oscar for the Best Picture, widely considered as the most prestigious honor of the annual Academy Awards of AMPAS.

Yes, I can win the Best Picture Oscar with my my first feature.
The original screenplay has been cowritten by me and by the accomplished multiple award winning filmmaker, Dr. Chika Christian Onu, director of "Living in Bondage" 2 and famous for directing "Glamour Girls", in 1994, the first romantic comedy in the history of the phenomenon of Nollywood.

I have shortlisted two cinematographers I believe have the experience and expertise for the cinematography. My preferred director remains classified.
Locations are in Port Harcourt and Bonny Island in Rivers State.
The research for the screenplay took four years, including the time that Dr. Chika Christian Onu came to the Nigeria LNG RA 1 on Bonny Island where I was staying from 2004 to 2008.
I published the screenplay as a book in Raleigh, North Carolina, USA.

#BestPicture
#Oscars
#academyawards
#nigeria
#experience
#research
#cinematography

https://www.instagram.com/p/CtKE98NtWdr/?igshid=NjZiM2M3MzIxNA==

What Matters Most in Filmmaking?

"What matters most in filmmaking is not the size of your camera, but the size of your imagination."

- Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima,
Publisher/Editor,
NOLLYWOOD MIRROR® Series,
The first book series on Nollywood and the Nigerian film industry since 2013.

Case study: Mami Wata: Directed by C.J. 'Fiery' Obasi.

Winner of the World Cinema Dramatic Special Jury Award for Cinematography at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival, USA.

Mami Wata won the PRIX DE LA CRITIQUE Pauline S. Vieyra (African Critics Award) at the Special Awards Gala.Next, the drama received the MEILLEUR IMAGE (Cinematography Award) and finally the MEILLEUR DÉCOR (Set Design Award) at the Closing Awards Ceremony of the 2023 Panafrican Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou (Festival panafricain du cinéma et de la télévision de Ouagadougou or FESPACO) on March 4, 2023, in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.

Complete list of winners of the 28the FESPACO
 
FICTION FEATURE FILM
– Golden Stallion of Yennenga: “Ashkal” by Youssef Chebbi (Tunisia)
– Silver Stallion: “Sira”, by Apolline Traoré (Burkina Faso)
– Bronze Stallion: “Shimoni” by Angela Wamai (Kenya)
– Best Performance by an actor: the whole cast of “Sous les figues” by Erige Sehiri (Tunisia)
– Best Actress: All the actresses of “Sous les figues” by Erige Sehiri (Tunisia)
– Best set design: “Mami Wata” by Fiery Obasi (Nigeria)
– Best editing: “Abu Saddam” by Nadine Khan (Egypt)
– Best Screenplay: “Le Bleu du caftan” by Maryam Touzani (Morocco)
– Image Award: “Mami Wata” by Fiery Obasi (Nigeria)
– Sound Award: “Ashkal” by Youssef Chebbi (Tunisia)
– Best Music: “Our Lady of the Chinese Shop” by Ery Claver (Angola)
– Special Mention of the Jury: “Regarde les étoiles” by David Constantin (Mauritius)
FICTION SHORT FILM
– Golden Foal Short Fiction: “Will my parents come to see me” by Mo Harawe (Somalia)
– Silver foal short fiction : ” A doll ” by Andriaminosa Hary and Joel Rakotovelo (Madagascar)
– Bronze foal short fiction: “Tsutsue” by Amartei Armar (Ghana)
DOCUMENTARIES
– Golden Stallion feature documentary: “Omi Nobu/L’Homme nouveau” by Carlos Yuri Ceuninck (Cape Verde)
– Silver Stallion feature documentary: “Nous, étudiants” by Rafiki Fariala (Central African Republic)
– Bronze Stallion feature-length documentary: “Guardian of the Worlds” by Leïla Chaïbi (Algeria)

– Golden Foal short documentary: “Angle mort” by Lofti Achour (Tunisia)
– Silver foal short documentary: “Katanga nation” by Beza Hailu Lemma (Ethiopia)
– Bronze Foal short documentary: “Kelasi” by Fransix Tenda Lomba (DRC)
– Special Mention of the Jury: “L’Envoyée de Dieu” by Amina Mamani (Niger) and “Cuba en Afrique” by Negash Abdurahman (Ethiopia)
PERSPECTIVES SECTION
– Paul Robeson Award to the feature documentary “The Spectre of Boko Haram” by Cyrielle Raingou (Cameroon)
BURKINA FASO SECTION
– Best Burkinabe film: “Laabli l’insaisissable” by Luc Youlouka Damiba.
– Best Burkinabe hopeful: “Le Botaniste” by Floriane Zoundi

 

Poetry in Motion Picture

One of the best scenes from my documentary film, "Lagos in Motion".

Featuring two of the most beautiful actresses in #Nollywood, international beauty pageant queen @celinaideh and @nunuojong at the Elegushi beach in #Lekki during the first phase of the principal photography in 2016.

I call my style of filmmaking, "Poetry in Motion Picture".

Filmmaking is the art of storytelling in motion picture.
The Art of filmmaking is the horse pulling the cart which is the craft of filmmaking.
Not every filmmaker is an artist.
The greatest filmmakers are artists.
Ask James Cameron.
Ask Steven Spielberg.
Ask Spike Lee.
Ask Francis Ford Coppola
Ask Quentin Tarantino
Ask Woody Allen
Ask Oliver Stone
Ask Clint Eastwood
Ask Martin Scorsese
Ask Sofia Coppola
Ask Sir Steve Rodney McQueen and coming home to Nigeria:
Ask Dr. Ola Balogun
Ask Femi Odugbemi
Ask CJ "Fiery" Obasi.

#filmmakers
#Filmmaking
#art
#poetry
#horse
#cart
#motionpicture
#Lagos
#Lekki
#elegushibeach
#documentaryfilm
#documentary
#photography
#cinematography
#Nollywood
#spielberg
#coppola
#tarantino
#scorsese
#spikelee
#jamescameron
#clinteastwood
#stevemcqueen
#woodyallen
#sofiacoppola

- Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima,
Publisher/Editor,
NOLLYWOOD MIRROR® Series,
The first book series on Nollywood and the Nigerian film industry published since 2013.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Co14SjNo5EY/?igshid=MDJmNzVkMjY=

The Legacy of Peace Anyiam-Osigwe

 

The Legacy of Peace Anyiam-Osigwe 

Africa has beautiful stories to tell, says Peace Anyiam-Osigwe. At 16 years old, the Nigerian published her own magazine. She later continued bringing a “voice to voiceless issues” as a talk show host and film producer. Founder of the African Movie Academy Awards, Peace now dedicates her time to building cinemas in rural Africa, and helping other Africans tell the untold stories of their homeland.

Among other accomplishments, you’re a published poet, a TV/film director and producer, and creator of the African Movie Academy Awards. Of all that you do, what are you most proud of?

#Peace #Peaceanyiamosigwe
#Nollywood #Nigeria #Africa #movies #cinema #TV #series #filmmaking #filmmaker #legacy
#film #building

Source
https://blog.ted.com/fellows-friday-with-peace-anyiam-osigwe/

Video: Nightfall in Lagos

Nightfall in Lagos

Jibowu on the Lagos Mainland in Nigeria on Tuesday night of November 22, 2022.

- By Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima, author of "Lagos in Motion: Sights and Sounds of Africa"s Largest Megacity" distributed by Amazon and producer/director of the documentary film in progress since 2016 with more than 40 hours of footage so far. Final principal photography to start before Christmas.

#Lagos

#Mainland

#Nigeria

#Jibowu

#Africa

#Megacity

#documentary

#film

#photography

#Amazon

#publish

#producer

#director

#nightfall

#November

#Tuesday

#Christmas

Branwen Okpako, One of the Best NIgerian Filmmakers Outside Nollywood

Prof. Branwen Kiemute Okpako ,  Nigerian born Welsh German filmmaker and scholar, a Chancellor’s Fellow is one of the most accomplished NIgerian filmmakers profiled in the third edition of my NOLLYWOO MIRROR® Series, the first book series on Nollywood and the Nigerian film industry.

Branwen Okpako was born in Lagos/Nigeria. She received a BSC in political sciences from Bristol University, England in 1991, followed by MFA equivalent in film directing from the German Film & Television Academy, Berlin (dffb) in 1999. Her graduation film Dreckfresser (Dirt For Dinner 2000) won several international awards including First Steps: The German Newcomer Award for Documentary film 2000, IG Media Award (DOK-Leipzig) 2000, Distributions prize from sales 2000, The 24th Duisburg Film Week Award of the city of Duisburg for the best newcomer film Award, Bavarian State Government Documentary Award “The Young Lion” 2001, Best graduation film at the See Docs Dubrovnik festival 2001.

The fiction feature Valley of the Innocent (Tal der Ahnungslosen, 2004) had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film festival in 2003 and went on to compete in the feature film competition at FESPACO in 2005. For her documentary film The Education of Auma Obama, Okpako received the 2012 African Movie Academy Award for Best Diaspora Documentary, the Festival Founders Award for Best Documentary at the Pan African Film Festival in Los Angeles (both in 2012), and the Viewers Choice Award at the Africa International Film Festival (2011). Her documentary-drama, The Curse of Medea (Fluch der Medea 2014), about the life of the late German writer Christa Wolf, premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival in 2014.

Branwen Okpako is Associate Professor at UC Davis in the Department of Cinema and Digital Media and is currently completing her sixth feature film entitled "Chibok Girls" based on the 2016 book of the same title by Helon Habila.

"ENOUGH! Lebanon’s Darkest Hour" Wins the Audience Choice Award at 2021 Arlington International Film Festival

Arlington International Film Festival | Nov 4-14, 2021 | Streaming

https://aiffest.org/
        
 

A WRAP-UP of AIFF 2021

The Power of Coming Together
AUDIENCE CHOICE FILM AWARD

The act of creating an AUDIENCE CHOICE AWARD is by nature creating a network of people from around the globe and giving them a voice. We have awards chosen by our jury but AIFF wanted to hear the audience’s voice.

Regardless of distance, you have had the opportunity of viewing
this year’s film program virtually
and casting YOUR vote for your favorite FILM

The Audience Choice Award that YOU voted for is…
ENOUGH! Lebanon’s Darkest Hour
Congratulations to filmmaker Daizy Gedeon!

2021 FILM AWARDS

• Best of Festival: I’M AN ELECTRIC LAMPSHADE, John Clayton Doyle, U.S.A.

• Best Narrative Feature: JACK LONDON’S MARTIN EDEN, Jay Craven, U.S.A. 

• Best Documentary Feature: LOS HERMANOS: The Brothers, Marcia Jarmel & Ken Schneider, U.S.A.

• Best Narrative Short: THE LAST JAM JAR, Arpan Bahl, India 

• Best Documentary Short: HUNGER WARD, Skye Fitzgerald, U.S.A./Yemen

• Best Animation Short: TIMES OF PLENTY, Claudio Costa, Italy

• Best Experimental Short: WOMAN, Lillian Carter, U.S.A.

High School Student Filmmakers

• Best of Festival: THE WALTZ OF TIME, Mario Martínez Sáenz, Spain

• Best Narrative: BRO, CRITICS, Nigeria

• Best Documentary: EVERY BODY’S BUSINESS, Amilieyon Pridgen, Jessica Torres, NY/U.S.A.

• Best Historical Documentary: TAKING A SEAT FOR JUSTICE: The 504 Sit-in, Thomas Huang, Allen Tang, Andrew Wang, Andrew Yu, Rohin Garg, MD/U.S.A.

• Best Animation: CLOUDY DREAM, Rayhaneh Einollahi and Bahareh Einollahi, Iran

• Best Experimental: ELYSIUM, Ariana Jones, Georgia/U.S.A. 

• Best Musical: SINCE THEN, BRJDC Residents, VA/U.S.A.

• Best Cinematography: KEEP YOUR HEAD UP, SWEET PEA, Sophie Meissner, U.S.A./Germany

• Best Editing: I AM KEREN, Keren Chen, Canada 

• Best Lighting: FROM WHAT YOU LEFT BEHIND, Jodhi Ramsden-Mavric, Australia

• Best Audio: COMA, Ruby Kim, CA/U.S.A.

• Honorable Mention: BEYOND THE MODEL, Jessica Lin, CA/U.S.A.