Nollywood is an Awesome Phenomenon - Dr. Chika Onu

Dr. Chika Onu at a film festival in Nigeria.

 The road to the phenomenon called Nollywood has been exciting and awesome. 
~ Dr. Chika Christian Onu, famous pioneer of Nollywood. 

Dr. Chika Christian Onu does not need any introduction when we are talking about the history of TV and film in Nigeria, because he is one of the outstanding icons as a multiple award winning producer at the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) headquarters since the 1980s and scripted some of the best of Tales by Moonlight, Kidivision 101, Cock Crow at Dawn, Mirror in the Sun, Cradle and several teleplays and he was also co producer/director of Cock Crow at Dawn, Mirror in the Sun and the teleplays. He excelled both in the studios and the office from the post of a TV producer to a Controller before the advent of Nollywood that was actually boosted by the professional expertise of proven TV producers and directors from the NTA, including Chris Obi Rapu, the director of the phenomenal Nollywood thriller Living in Bondage of 1992 for Kenneth Nnebue's NEK Video Links. And Chika Onu directed the sequel, Living in Bondage 2 and the Nollywood blockbuster Glamour Girls in 1994 for the same Kenneth Nnebue's NEK Video Links and is celebrating 20 years of his remarkable achievements in Nollywood from 1994 to 2014.

 “The road to the phenomenon called Nollywood has been exciting and awesome. As a debutant in the video film world of Nollywood I treaded with caution as I embarked on the shooting of Living in Bondage Part 2. This chart bursting video piece brought a new sense of direction into the video film culture and has today accorded me an inestimable world recognition as one of the legendary pioneering personalities that rode the triumphant world of make belief, and Eldorado to a city of full realization and unending opportunities.”

Some of the guests at the Nollywood Igbo Forum (NIF) Awards on November 30th, 2014, at the Hotel Presidential in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

A cross section of the audience at the Saban Theater, Beverly Hills, California for the NAFCA Awards. 

Dr. Chika Onu with Prof. Njemanze of the University of Houston, Texas. 

Dr. Chika Onu with Chima and a friend at the reception in Beverly Hills. 

Chika Onu transcended from the theater graduate at UNN to a renown personality on TV. He then moved into the world of film production/directing on locations before venturing into the theoretical practices of film studies in the class rooms. He is back into the streets exploring the practical realities of film making after his several film courses and conferences here in Nigeria, in the United States, South Africa and beyond. Acting just like directing is also a futuristic attribute of Dr. Chika Christian Onu. His writings are not forgotten as the screenplay, Naked Beauty, jointly executed by Chika Onu and Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima still holds nostalgic dreams in the recesses of the former’s memory and he prays such dreams are soon realized, acknowledged and eulogized to continue the phenomenal metamorphosis of Nollywood in the world of motion picture.

Dr. Chika Onu with his double awards, NAFCA and LANFA. 

Chika Onu has always been an outstanding achiever with numerous awards since he won the first prize in the J. F. Kennedy International Essay Competition in 1973 and went on to excel as President of the Oak Theatre during his undergraduate years at the famous University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) where he was also the Associate Editor of  “The Muse” Departmental Magazine. In 1979 he won the British Council Award for the Best Creative Writer (University Press); Prime Director Award by Video/Film marketers in 2002; Member, Movie Makers Hall of Fame, Abuja in 2006; Pioneer Director Award Best of the Best (BOBTV) Expo, Abuja in 2008 and many other accolades of which the most recent are the 2014 TV and Film Achievement Award by Los Angeles Nollywood Film Association (LANFA) in August and Life Time Achievement Award in Cinema by Nollywood Africa Film Critics Awards (NAFCA), Los Angeles in September. He is also a scholar with a PhD in Film Studies from the University of Port Harcourt where he is a lecturer and recently spent a month at the highly esteemed Colorado Film School in Denver for proficiency in directing.  The film school is rated by the authoritative Hollywood Reporter as one the top 25 film schools in the world.

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Enugu Among Winners of 2014's "100 Resilient Cities Challenge"

Enugu (Énugwú) the capital city of Enugu State in eastern Nigeria is among the 2014 winners of the "100 Resilient Cities Challenge" of the 100 Resilient Cities (100RC) network pioneered by the Rockefeller Foundation.

"Each city is unique, and through the 100RC network, cities are building on each other's experiences, and learning the best resilience-building techniques," said Michael Berkowitz, President of 100 Resilient Cities. "By connecting cities with each other and to resilience-building experts, we are aiming to create a global practice of scalable resilience solutions, so that cities can respond to the challenges of this urban century more effectively and efficiently." 

 Rockefeller Foundation President Judith Rodin And 100 Resilient Cities President Michael Berkowitz Announce Winners Of 2014's "100 Resilient Cities Challenge" 35 Cities from around the World Join a Growing Network of Urban Centers Better Preparing to Respond to 21st Century Challenges Announcement Made at The Rockefeller Foundation's Urban Resilience Summit in Singapore NEW YORK, Dec. 3, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- 100 Resilient Cities (100RC), pioneered by The Rockefeller Foundation, announced today that 35 cities from around the world have been invited to join the 100 Resilient Cities network. The announcement was made during The Rockefeller Foundation's Urban Resilience Summit in Singapore.

These cities are: 

Accra, Ghana Amman, Jordan Arusha, Tanzania Athens, Greece Barcelona, Spain Belgrade, Serbia Bangalore, India Boston, Massachusetts, USA Cali, Colombia Chennai, India Chicago, Illinois, USA Dallas, Texas, USA

Deyang, China Enugu, Nigeria Huangshi, China Juarez, Mexico Kigali, Rwanda Lisbon, Portugal London, England Milan, Italy Montreal, Canada Paris, France Phnom Penh, Cambodia Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA

San Juan, Puerto Rico, USA Santa Fe, Argentina Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic Santiago, Chile Singapore, Singapore St. Louis, Missouri, USA Sydney, Australia Thessaloniki, Greece Toyama, Japan Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA Wellington City, New Zealand

This second wave of cities will join 32 cities that won last year's 100 Resilient Cities Challenge, forming a growing network of urban centers around the world that are ready to respond to the social, economic and physical shocks and stresses that are a growing part of the 21^st century. 100 Resilient Cites was created by an initial $100 million commitment by The Rockefeller Foundation as part of its Centennial last year, recognizing the trends of urbanization and globalization that characterize this century.

"Members of the 100 Resilient Cities network are leading the world in showing that not only is it possible to build urban resilience in every kind of city, but it's an imperative," said Dr. Judith Rodin, President of The Rockefeller Foundation. "Cities are learning that by building resilience, not only will they be better prepared for the bad times, but also life becomes better in the good times, especially for the poor and vulnerable. It's smart investment, and yields a resilience dividend that is a win for everyone."

Why Resilient Cities?
As the number of people living in urban areas grows from 50% of the world's population to an estimated 70% in 2050, cities around the world must cope with effects of rapid urbanization, globalization, climate change, and natural and man-made disasters.

Urban resilience is the capacity of individuals, communities, institutions, businesses and systems to survive, adapt and grow no matter what kinds of chronic stresses and acute shocks they experience. From the impact of super-typhoons, to growing socio-economic inequality or the ability of city systems to respond to booming populations and waning food supplies, 100 Resilient Cities aims to equip urban areas with the tools and support network to design, develop and implement holistic solutions.

"Each city is unique, and through the 100RC network, cities are building on each other's experiences, and learning the best resilience-building techniques," said Michael Berkowitz, President of 100 Resilient Cities. "By connecting cities with each other and to resilience-building experts, we are aiming to create a global practice of scalable resilience solutions, so that cities can respond to the challenges of this urban century more effectively and efficiently."

Building a Global Network of Resilient Cities
The diverse list reflects the need to learn from cities of all sizes across the globe in order to adapt and innovate. The cities in the 100 Resilient Cities network face myriad sets of environmental and social challenges – ranging from rising threats of flooding and extreme weather, to intensifying strains on infrastructure and health systems, and deepening economic stresses –  and are on different points of their journey towards building a more resilient metropolis.

Each city on the network is eligible to receive grant funding to hire a Chief Resilience Officer, who will lead the analysis, planning and implementation of the city's resilience strategy, working with different government agencies and across sectors of society. They will also receive technical support and services they need as they work towards implementing that strategy, as well as access a variety of platform partners in the private, public, and nonprofit sectors. These partners will offer tools in areas such as innovative finance, technology, infrastructure, land use, and community and social resilience.

Selection Process
Momentum from last year's inaugural challenge made this year highly competitive, spanning more than 90 countries across six continents. This year's cities were chosen from nearly 350 applicants on the basis of their ability to demonstrate a unique vision for resilience, a long-term commitment to cutting across silos of government and sectors of society, and a special attention to the needs of the poor and vulnerable. Network cities serve as a model for other global cities that seek to build their own resilience.

Member cities were selected upon the recommendation of an international panel of distinguished judges, including former president José María Figueres Olsen of Costa Rica; Dr. Donald Kaberuka, President of the African Development Bank; Dr. Isher Ahluwali, Chairperson for the Board of Governors on the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations; and President and CEO of the Asia Society, Josette Sheeran.
The 100 Resilient Cities Challenge will open for its next round of city applications in mid-2015.

About 100 Resilient Cities:
100 Resilient Cities—Pioneered by The Rockefeller Foundation—is financially supported by The Rockefeller Foundation and managed as a sponsored project by Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors (RPA), an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides governance and operational infrastructure to its sponsored projects. Learn more about 100RC at www.100resilientcities.org, RPA at www.rockpa.org, and The Rockefeller Foundation at www.rockefellerfoundation.org.
CONTACT: Maxwell Young, MYoung@100RC.org, +1-646-612-7142

About the Rockefeller Foundation:
For more than 100 years, The Rockefeller Foundation's mission has been to promote the well-being of humanity throughout the world. Today, The Rockefeller Foundation pursues this mission through dual goals: advancing inclusive economies that expand opportunities for more broadly shared prosperity, and building resilience by helping people, communities and institutions prepare for, withstand, and emerge stronger from acute shocks and chronic stresses. To achieve these goals, The Rockefeller Foundation works at the intersection of four focus areas—advance health, revalue ecosystems, secure livelihoods, and transform cities—to address the root causes of emerging challenges and create systemic change. Together with partners and grantees, The Rockefeller Foundation strives to catalyze and scale transformative innovations, create unlikely partnerships that span sectors, and take risks others cannot—or will not. For more information, please visit www.rockefellerfoundation.org.

Contact:
media@100resilientcities.org
Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20141202/162029LOGO
SOURCE 100 Resilient Cities



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WE THE ECONOMY 20 Short Films You Can't Afford to Miss

Paul G. Allen's Vulcan Productions and Morgan Spurlock's Cinelan Launch National Education Initiative Around WE THE ECONOMY 20 Short Films You Can't Afford to Miss.  

Leading educational distributor Films Media Group to provide instant streaming access to films and support materials; Los Angeles Unified School District brings WE THE ECONOMY directly to educators through interactive workshops.  

SEATTLE and NEW YORK, Dec. 2, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Paul G. Allen's Vulcan Productions and Morgan Spurlock's Cinelan today announced the launch of educational companion materials for the newly released short film series WE THE ECONOMY 20 Short Films You Can't Afford to Miss. The curricular materials include a robust discussion guide around the series and individual lesson plans for specific economic questions addressed in each film.  These educational resources will leverage innovative storytelling and technology to help educators, parents and students deepen learning about the economy. Streaming access to the films and companion educational materials are now available to middle schools, high schools, colleges and public libraries across the U.S, and are also downloadable at no charge via the WE THE ECONOMY website and the iPhone and Android mobile apps.

WE THE ECONOMY is partnering with Films Media Group, the premier provider of on-demand educational video for schools, colleges and public libraries, to bring the films and companion materials to subscribing institutions for free. The multimedia resources will offer educators new ways to engage middle school through college-level students in learning and discussion about economic issues. Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), an official education partner of the series, will embark on a pilot project for its teachers to incorporate WE THE ECONOMY across multiple subject areas for 8^th to 12^th grade students.

Carole Tomko, General Manager and Creative Director of Vulcan Productions states, "The educational component of the series is key to our mission of cultivating and expanding public understanding of the core principles that drive our economy.  If we can empower the next generation of young adults who will be shaping the U.S. economy by giving them both deeper understanding and practical knowledge about the subject, we'll be providing an enormous public service, and that's our hope."  She continues, "The curriculum around the series is designed to partner educators and students in a conversation that extends far beyond the classroom and has functional, lifelong impact."

WE THE ECONOMY pairs world-renowned filmmakers with leading economic advisors to spark a more informed public understanding of the U.S. economy through innovative storytelling. Directors include Jon M. Chu (G.I. Joe Retaliation), Adrian Grenier (Entourage), Catherine Hardwicke (Twilight), Albert Hughes (The Book of Eli), Barbara Kopple (Harlan County USA), Adam McKay (Anchorman) and Morgan Spurlock (Super Size Me). Economic advisors including Adam Davidson, founder of NPR's "Planet Money," and Greg Ip of The Economist, provided editorial guidance to the filmmakers on 20 essential economic questions, which are the focus of these five- to eight-minute films. See below for a full list of directors, economic advisors and participants in the series.

Morgan Spurlock, executive producer of the series and co-founder of Cinelan, states, "Learning about the economy doesn't need to be boring. WE THE ECONOMY uses the power of film and storytelling to make a dense topic more entertaining and understandable, and packages it up into a short format that's easy for any of us to consume." He continues, "It's important that educators have access to materials to assist their teaching of a subject that affects almost every aspect of our lives and is crucial to being an informed citizen of the world, no matter your age."

Education Resources & WE THE ECONOMY Mobile Apps WE THE ECONOMY was conceived to use inspiring and entertaining short films to inform the public on major economic topics that impact their daily lives, from the cost of healthcare to the value of currency to the connection between workers' rights and global trade. Teachers can now access multimedia tools provided by the WE THE ECONOMY series to enhance education in the classroom by sparking informed discussion of economics among students, while fostering a more economically empowered youth population.
Available for download online are a selection of companion materials to facilitate dynamic discussions around the short films:

• Program Discussion Guide that includes an introduction to the series; guidelines for informal screenings and group activities such as those for museums, libraries, workshops, or college classrooms where a facilitator screens multiple films; and extension activities, including a series of assignments and educational prompts to help instructors at any level use the films with their students in creative ways.
• Classroom Viewing Guides for each film that serve as a complete lesson plan: curriculum connections and standards alignments; lesson requirements (preparations, time, materials, etc.); key words and phrases; lesson rationale and student objectives; techniques and skills; step-by-step, itemized procedures for classroom implementation; and a homework assignment/extension activity.

The WE THE ECONOMY mobile app for iPhone and Android devices provides a fun, interactive learning experience. Teachers, parents and students can use the free app as a jumping-off point for further discussion about the economy. Upon downloading the app, users can instantly watch any of the films, learn more about the 20 basic economic questions they address, answer trivia questions about what was just watched, and explore additional resources including news articles and fast facts.

Educational materials are authored by Big Picture Instructional Design (BPID), a leading company in creating teachable moments from issue-driven films and television programs. Recent film projects include FURY and LINCOLN. BPID is partnered with The Montlake Group, a boutique firm specializing in outreach and engagement campaigns for films.

Educational Launch Partnerships Secondary social studies, English/ Language Arts, and mathematics teachers from throughout the Los Angeles Unified School District will participate in a pilot professional development workshop highlighting how to best use the WE THE ECONOMY film series and education companion materials in the classroom. They will learn how to integrate the films' themes and topics into their instruction, and will hear directly from filmmakers to learn how they collaborated with economic experts to make the films.

Thousands of schools, colleges and libraries across the country already subscribe to Films Media Group's streaming collections for high-quality educational video. WE THE ECONOMY is now part of the company's offerings, allowing educators and researchers free access to the films and companion materials.
Additional WE THE ECONOMY educational partners and distribution outlets will be announced shortly.
Watch the short films online at www.wetheeconomy.com, via the WTE iPhone or Android app, or on one of the over 60 digital distribution partners including Amazon, CNBC, Hulu, iTunes, LinkedIn, Netflix, Pivot TV, Time Warner Cable, Yahoo and YouTube.

For more information on WE THE ECONOMY, including all the films, director and advisor biographies, educational resources and more, visit www.wetheeconomy.com. 
You can also follow WE THE ECONOMY on facebook.com/wetheeconomy, twitter.com/wetheeconomy, and instagram.com/wetheeconomy.

About WE THE ECONOMY Vulcan Productions and Cinelan have partnered to produce 20 short films by award-winning directors — with their own creative vision — to drive awareness and a better understanding of the U.S. economy and reach the broadest possible audience. This short film series, which features animation, comedy, musical, nonfiction and scripted films, seeks to demystify the U.S. economy for audiences while empowering individuals of the next generation to take control of the planet's economic future – and their own economic trajectories. Top economic experts, including distinguished professors, policy analysts, journalists and historians helped identify 20 key topics about the U.S. economy that every citizen will benefit from understanding. The directors then worked closely with select economic advisors who provided editorial guidance for these five to eight-minute films, which have been organized into five chapters: What is the Economy? What is Money? What is the Role of our Government in the Economy? What is Globalization? What Causes Inequality?

The Directors are Ramin Bahrani (99 Homes, Goodbye Solo), Bob Balaban (Gosford Park, The Exonerated), Joe Berlinger (Brother's Keeper, Paradise Lost trilogy), Jon M. Chu (Step Up, G.I. Joe: Retaliation), Marshall Curry (Street Fight, If a Tree Falls), Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady (Jesus Camp, Detropia), Adrian Grenier (Entourage, How To Make Money Selling Drugs), Catherine Hardwicke (Twilight, Thirteen), Mary Harron (American Psycho, I Shot Andy Warhol), Chris Henchy (The Campaign, The Other Guys), Lee Hirsch (Bully, Amandla! A Revolution in Four Part Harmony), Albert Hughes (The Book of Eli, Menace II Society), Steve James (Hoop Dreams, Life Itself), Barbara Kopple (Harlan County USA, American Dream), Shola Lynch (Free Angela and All Political Prisoners, Chisholm '72), Adam McKay (Anchorman, Funny or Die), Jehane Noujaim (The Square, Control Room), James Schamus (Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, Brokeback Mountain), Morgan Spurlock (CNN's Morgan Spurlock: Inside Man, Super Size Me), Miao Wang (Beijing Taxi, Yellow Ox Mountain) and Jessica Yu (Last Call at the Oasis, In the Realms of the Unreal).
The Economic Advisors are Dean Baker (co-director, Center for Economic and Policy Research), Yoram Bauman (economist and author, The Cartoon Book of Macroeconomics), Jodi Beggs (educator and economics professor, Northeastern University), Adam Davidson (co-founder and host, NPR's "Planet Money"), John Steele Gordon (author, An Empire of Wealth), Greg Ip (U.S. economics editor, The Economist and author, The Little Book of Economics), Neil Irwin (senior economic correspondent, New York Times and author, The Alchemists: Three Central Bankers and a World on Fire), Markus Koch (financial journalist, N-TV), Annalyn Kurtz (business and economics reporter) and Diane Lim (chief economist, Pew Charitable Trusts).

About VULCAN PRODUCTIONS Founded by philanthropist and Microsoft co-founder Paul G. Allen and Jody Allen, Vulcan Productions produces compelling series, specials, features and digital content and creates outreach initiatives designed to explore critical issues and inspire people to take action. Vulcan Productions is committed to projects of significance that ignite progress and motivate audiences to have measurable impact on the world. Its projects have won numerous awards, including the George Foster Peabody Award, the Emmy Award, the Grammy Award and the Wildscreen Panda Award. Acclaimed films and series from the documentary group include Pandora's Promise,  Girl Rising,  Success at the Core, Hard Candy and The Blues.

About CINELAN Cinelan produces and distributes award-winning film programs that influence audiences by fulfilling the fundamental human desire to experience a good story. Cinelan recently completed FOCUS FORWARD - Short Films, Big Ideas, an award winning series of thirty 3-minute films that reached audiences around the globe with over 140 screening events across all seven continents and over 75 million film-views from 150+ countries online. Founding partners are Morgan Spurlock, Damon Smith, David Laks, Douglas Dicconson, Jack Myers and Karol Martesko-Fenster. Advisory Board member Joe Cantwell is a special consultant on WE THE ECONOMY.

About FILMS MEDIA GROUP Films Media Group, a subsidiary company of Infobase Holdings, Inc., is the premier source of high-quality video on academic, vocational, and life-skills topics. With thousands of outstanding educational videos from the world's most recognized producers, we're proud to serve the needs of schools, colleges, libraries, the medical community, and other institutions with the broadest and deepest range of content available. Multi-subject subscriptions are available in collections specifically designed for academic institutions (Films On Demand), high schools (Classroom Video On Demand), and public libraries (Access Video On Demand), and provide one-stop shopping for librarians, faculty, and educators.

NOTE TO MEDIA The full line-up of previously announced actors, artists and economic experts, full background information, bios and images are available upon request.
Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20141201/161578LOGO
 
SOURCE Cinelan
CONTACT: FENTON COMMUNICATIONS (Economic, education, business media): Ira Arlook, 202-789-7760, ira@fenton.com or Elizabeth Bartolomeo, 202-789-7753, ebartolomeo@fenton.com, SUNSHINE SACHS (Entertainment, general consumer, technology media): Jessica Berger, 212-691-2800, berger@sunshinesachs.com or Abi O'Donnell, 212-691-2800, odonnell@sunshinesachs.com, CINELAN: Susan Jacobs, 917-626-5999, susan.jacobs@cinelan.com, VULCAN PRODUCTIONS: Julia Pacetti, 718-399-0400, julia@jmpverdant.com
RELATED LINKS
http://www.wetheeconomy.com


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Africa Can Do It, Says Louis Michel

 STRASBOURG,France, 01 December 2014 / PRN Africa / -- "Africa is able not only to transform the lives of a billion citizens, but to improve those of millions of people throughout the world ! said Co-President of the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly (JPA) at the opening its 28th session in Strasbourg on 1 December.

Africa, once seen as the « forgotten continent » is today « THE continent of the future », said Mr Michel. He listed the assets that have made possible an “African renaissance”: immense tracts of arable land, a wealth of raw materials, growing cultural influence and a youthful population. The “continent's economic take-off », with an average economic growth rate of 5% and population growth of 2.5% per year, « has become indissociable from globalisation », he added.

Yet much remains to be done to make these assets really work for Africa. Growth must be “sustainable and inclusive” said Mr Michel, citing the business climate, the tax system and the exploitation of raw materials as key challenges.

According to JPA Co-President Fitz A. Jackson (Jamaica) "when we speak of economic growth, we should also consider the critical role that the private sector plays in facilitating economic growth and reducing poverty, inequality and income disparity in ACP States."

No development without security 

Peace and stability are threatened by developments in the Sahel, Darfur, Somalia, the Horn of Africa, DRC, Mali and Nigeria (where the Islamic terrorist group Boko Haram operates) in Niger, and finally, by the emergence of the so-called « Islamic state ». To prevent Africa turning into a « lawless area for traffickers worldwide”, the African authorities “must be given the means to run an effective and lasting counter-terrorist policy”.
Fitz A. Jackson recalled that the terrorism had various facets" and highlighted "its trans-boundary nature and ongoing internationalisation".

End impunity 

Like terrorism, "wars, massacres and ethnic violence know no borders», said Mr Michel. "Reconciliation (...) is always painful, but it is the only way to return to the peace and harmony that cement a people", he continued, stressing that it is also necessary to «shoulder the burden of truth”. He saluted the role of the International Criminal Court “in this dual process of justice and reconciliation”.

Fitz A. Jackson also expressed concern about the security of the population in some post-conflict countries where tensions between former protagonists persist. "This could be due to the absence or weakness of democratic structures, cultures and practices, and the consequent struggle for democratisation, good governance and reform of political systems" he said. He also called on his European counterparts to ensure that there is absolute transparency in the sale of weapons from their countries which (...) could end up perpetuating conflicts and terrorism in Africa and other countries".

Ebola: the worst outbreak of the disease in history 

The Ebola outbreak "has become the worst outbreak of the disease in history, not only for Africa but also elsewhere in the world", said Mr Michel. "The Ebola epidemic remains a global issue that urgently needs a sustained response based on our sense of humanity and empathy", said JPA Co-President Fitz A. Jackson.
Mr Michel welcomed joint EU and USA efforts to provide the authorities of the affected countries with financial and technical resources to help in their fight against the disease.
"This is indeed human solidarity when it is most needed. But I still believe that the international community can do more", said Mr Jackson. He also drew the Assembly's attention to the long-lasting social and economic impact of the epidemic.

In this regard, he supported "the call by the United States for the International Monetary Fund to cancel debts owed by the severely affected countries" and invited "other multilateral and bilateral lenders to favourably respond to this call".

28th ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly
The ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly (JPA) brings together elected representatives of the European Union (EU) and the countries of Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific (ACP), with MEPs and MPs from the 78 signatory states to the Cotonou Agreement, which is the basis for ACP-EU development cooperation.

The Assembly will vote on Wednesday 3 December on three resolutions: 

the social and economic consequences of malnutrition in ACP countries (debate Tuesday, vote Wednesday, co-rapporteurs: Alban Bagbin, ACP, and Norbert Neuser, EU), private sector development strategy, including innovation, for sustainable development (debate Tuesday, vote Wednesday, co-rapporteurs: Arnaldo Andrade Ramos, ACP, and Bogdan Brunon Wenta, EU), and the challenge of national reconciliation in post-conflict and post-crisis countries(debate and vote on Wednesday, co-rapporteurs: Komi Selom Klassou, ACP, and Joachim Zeller, EU).

Copyright European Union, 1995-2014
SOURCE European Parliament

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International Press Academy Announces Nominations for the 19th Annual Satellite™ Awards

LOS ANGELES, Dec. 1, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The International Press Academy (IPA) announced its nominations for the 19^th Annual Satellite™ Awards in the Motion Pictures and Television categories. Each year, the IPA celebrates nominees from domestic and international submissions for 38 categories: 19 in Motion Pictures, 13 in Television, 2 in Blu-ray DVDs and 4 in Video Games.

Special achievement awards and nominations for the Blu-ray and Video Game categories will be announced on January 5, 2015.

The special achievement awards include The Mary Pickford Award for outstanding artistic contribution, The Nikola Tesla Award for visionary achievements in filmmaking technology and The Auteur Award for creative vision and unique artistry made on audiences and fellow artists alike.
The winners of the 19^th Annual Satellite™ Awards will be announced in a ceremony held on February 15, 2015 in Los Angeles, Calif.

About the International Press Academy
The International Press Academy (IPA) is a global association of professional entertainment journalists representing a multitude of print, broadcast and digital media outlets. FEDEORA, The Federation of European and Mediterranean Film Critics, joined the IPA in 2011 extending the IPA's membership of foreign and domestic correspondents, whose markets reach millions worldwide via print, television, radio and the Internet.

For photos, logos and the entire list of International Press Academy nominations, go to: www.pressacademy.com.

The Motion Picture and Television nominees for the 19^th Annual Satellite™ Awards are as follows:

INTERNATIONAL PRESS ACADEMY 
2014 Nominations19^th ANNUAL SATELLITE™ AWARDS

MOTION PICTURES

Actress in a Motion Picture

Anne Dorval
 MOMMY
Roadside Attractions
Felicity Jones
THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING
Focus Features
Gugu Mbatha-Raw
BELLE
Fox Searchlight
Julianne Moore
STILL ALICE
Sony Pictures Classics
Marion Cotillard
TWO DAYS, ONE NIGHT
IFC Films
Reese Witherspoon
WILD
Fox Searchlight
Rosamund Pike
GONE GIRL
Fox

Actress in a Supporting Role

Emma Stone
BIRDMAN
Fox Searchlight
Katherine Waterston
INHERENT VICE
Warner Bros.
Keira Knightley
THE IMITATION GAME
The Weinstein Company
Laura Dern
WILD
Fox Searchlight
Patricia Arquette
BOYHOOD
IFC Films
Tilda Swinton
SNOWPIERCER
The Weinstein Company

Actor in a Motion Picture

Benedict Cumberbatch
THE IMITATION GAME
The Weinstein Company
David Oyelowo
SELMA
Paramount
Eddie Redmayne
THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING
Focus Features
Jake Gyllenhaal
 NIGHTCRAWLER
Open Road
Michael Keaton
 BIRDMAN
Fox Searchlight
Miles TellerWHIPLASH
Sony Pictures Classics
Steve Carell
FOXCATCHER
Sony Pictures Classics

Actor in a Supporting Role

Andy Serkis
DAWN OF THE PLANET OF THE APES
Fox
Edward Norton
BIRDMAN
Fox Searchlight
Ethan Hawke
BOYHOOD
IFC Films
J.K. Simmons
WHIPLASH
Sony Pictures Classics
Mark Ruffalo
FOXCATCHER
Sony Pictures Classics
Robert Duvall
THE JUDGE
Warner Bros.

Motion Picture

BIRDMAN 
Fox Searchlight
BOYHOOD 
IFC Films
GONE GIRL 
Fox
LOVE IS STRANGE 
Sony Pictures Classics
MR. TURNER 
Sony Pictures Classics
SELMA 
Paramount
THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL 
Fox Searchlight
THE IMITATION GAME 
The Weinstein Company
THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING 
Focus Features
WHIPLASH 
Sony Pictures Classics

Motion Picture, Animated or Mixed Media

BIG HERO 6 
Disney
HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON 2 
Fox
SONG OF THE SEA 
GKids
THE BOOK OF LIFE 
Fox
THE BOXTROLLS 
Focus Features
THE LEGO MOVIE 
Warner Bros.
WRINKLES 
GKids

Motion Picture, Documentary

AFTERNOON OF A FAUN: TANAQUIL LE CLERCQ 
Kino Lorber / Koch Lorber Films
ART AND CRAFT 
Oscilloscope Pictures
CITIZENFOUR 
RADiUS-TWC
FINDING VIVIAN MAIER 
IFC Films
GLEN CAMPBELL…I'LL BE ME 
Area23a
JODOROWSKY'S DUNE 
Sony Pictures Classics
KEEP ON KEEPIN' ON 
RADiUS-TWC
MAGICIAN: THE ASTONISHING LIFE AND WORK OF ORSON WELLES 
Cohen Media Group
RED ARMY 
Sony Pictures Classics
VIRUNGA 
Netflix

Motion Picture, International Film 

FORCE MAJEURE 
Sweden
GETT: THE TRIAL OF VIVIANE AMSALEM 
 Israel
IDA 
Poland
LEVIATHAN
 Russia
LITTLE ENGLAND 
Greece
MOMMY 
Canada
TANGERINES
Estonia
TIMBUKTU 
Mauritania
TWO DAYS, ONE NIGHT 
Belgium
WILD TALES
 Argentina

Screenplay, Original

BOYHOOD
 Richard Linklater
IFC Films
BIRDMAN
Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, Armando Bo, Alexander Dinelaris, Nicolas Giabone
Fox Searchlight
LOVE IS STRANGE
 Ira Sachs, Mauricio Zacharias
Sony Pictures Classics
NIGHTCRAWLER 
Dan Gilroy
Open Road
SELMA
 Paul Webb
Paramount
THE LEGO MOVIE
 Phil Lord, Christopher Miller
Warner Bros.

Screenplay, Adapted

AMERICAN SNIPER 
Jason Hall
Warner Bros.
GONE GIRL
Gillian Flynn
Fox
INHERENT VICE
 Paul Thomas Anderson
Warner Bros.
THE IMITATION GAME 
Graham Moore
The Weinstein Company
THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING 
Anthony McCarten
Focus Features
WILD 
Nick Hornby
Fox Searchlight

Director

Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu
BIRDMAN
Fox Searchlight
Ava DuVernay
SELMA
Paramount
Damien Chazelle
WHIPLASH
Sony Pictures Classics
David Fincher
GONE GIRL
Fox
Morten Tyldum
THE IMITATION GAME
The Weinstein Company
Richard Linklater
BOYHOOD
IFC Films

Original Score

BIRDMAN 
Antonio Sanchez
Fox Searchlight
FURY
 Steven Price
Sony
GONE GIRL 
Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross
Fox
INTERSTELLAR 
Hans Zimmer
Paramount
THE IMITATION GAME 
Alexandre Desplat
The Weinstein Company
THE JUDGE
Thomas Newman
Warner Bros.

Original Song

Everything is Awesome
THE LEGO MOVIE
Warner Bros.
I'll Get What You Want
MUPPETS MOST WANTED
Disney
I'm Not Gonna Miss You
GLEN CAMPBELL…I'LL BE ME
Area23a
Split the Difference
BOYHOOD
IFC Films
We Will Not Go
VIRUNGA
Netflix
What Is Love
RIO 2
Fox

Visual Effects

DAWN OF THE PLANET OF THE APES
Joe Letteri, Dan Lemmon, Matt Kutcher
Fox
GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY
Stephane Ceretti
Disney
INTERSTELLAR 
Paul Franklin, Andrew Lockley, Ian Hunter, Scott Fisher
Paramount
INTO THE WOODS
Matt Johnson, Stefano Pepin, Christian Irles
Disney
NOAH 
Ben Snow, Dan Schrecker, Marc Chu, Burt Dalton
Paramount
TRANSFORMERS: AGE OF EXTINCTION
Scott Farrar, A.S.C., John Frazier, Scott Benza, Patrick Tubach
Paramount

Cinematography

BIRDMAN
Emmanuel Lubezki, ASC, AMC
Fox Searchlight
GONE GIRL 
Jeff Cronenweth, ASC
Fox
INHERENT VICE 
Robert Elswit
Warner Bros.
INTERSTELLAR 
Hoyte Van Hoytema, F.S.F., N.S.C.
Paramount
MR. TURNER 
Dick Pope, BSC
Sony Pictures Classics
THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING
 Benoit Delhomme
Focus Features

Film Editing 

AMERICAN SNIPER
 Joel Cox, Gary Roach
Warner Bros.
BIRDMAN 
Douglas Crise, Stephen Mirrione, ACE
Fox Searchlight
BOYHOOD
 Sandra Adair
IFC Films
DAWN OF THE PLANET OF THE APES
William Hoy, ACE, Stan Salfas, ACE
Fox
FURY 
Dody Dorn, ACE, Jay Cassidy, ACE
Sony
THE IMITATION GAME 
William Goldenberg
The Weinstein Company

Sound (Editing and Mixing)

GONE GIRL 
Ren Klyce, Steve Cantamessa
Fox
INTO THE WOODS
 Michael Prestwoood Smith, Michael, Keller, John Casali, Renee Tondelli, Blake Leyh
Disney
NOAH 
Craig Henighan, Ken Ishii, C.A.S., Skip Lievsay
Paramount
SNOWPIERCER 
Taeyoung Choi, Anna Behlmer, Terry Porter, Mark Holding
The Weinstein Company
TRANSFORMERS: AGE OF EXTINCTION
 Ethan Van Der Ryn, Erik Aadahl, Peter J. Devlin, C.A.S.
Paramount
WHIPLASH 
Thomas Curley, Ben Wilkins, Craig Mann
Sony Pictures Classics

Costume Design

BELLE
 Anushia Nieradzik
Fox Searchlight
INTO THE WOODS
Colleen Atwood
Disney
MALEFICENT 
Anna B. Sheppard
Disney
NOAH 
Michael Wilkinson
Paramount
SAINT LAURENT 
Anais Romand
Sony Picture Classics
THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL 
Milena Canonero
Fox Searchlight

Art Direction & Production Design

BIRDMAN 
Kevin Thompson, Stephen H. Carter, George DeTitta Jr.
Fox Searchlight
FURY
Andrew Menzies, Peter Russell
Sony
MALEFICENT 
Dylan Cole, Gary Freeman, Frank Walsh
Disney
NOAH 
Mark Friedberg, Debra Schutt
Paramount
THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL 
Adam Stockhausen, Stephan Gessler, Anna Pinnock
Fox Searchlight
THE IMITATION GAME
 Maria Djurkovic, Nick Dent
The Weinstein Company

Best Movie Ensemble

INTO THE WOODS 
Disney
TELEVISION

Miniseries Made for Television

24: LIVE ANOTHER DAYFox
ENDEAVOUR
ITV
FLEMING: THE MAN WHO WOULD BE BOND 
BBC America
HAPPY VALLEY 
Netflix, BBC One
THE HONOURABLE WOMAN
 BBC, Sundance Channel
THE SPOILS OF BABYLONI
FC
OLIVE KITTERIDGE 
HBO
SHERLOCK 
PBS, BBC One
THE ROOSEVELTS: AN INTIMATE HISTORY
PBS

Motion Picture Made for Television

RETURN TO ZERO 
Lifetime
THE GABBY DOUGLAS STORY 
Lifetime
THE NORMAL HEART 
HBO
THE TRIP TO BOUNTIFUL
 Lifetime
TURKS & CAICOS 
BBC, PBS

Actress in a Miniseries or a Motion Picture Made for Television 

Cicely Tyson
THE TRIP TO BOUNTIFUL
Lifetime
Frances McDormand 
OLIVE KITTERIDGE
HBO
Kristen Wiig
THE SPOILS OF BABYLON
IFC
Maggie Gyllenhaal
THE HONOURABLE WOMAN
BBC, Sundance Channel
Minnie Driver
RETURN TO ZERO
Lifetime
Sarah Lancashire
HAPPY VALLEY
Netflix, BBC One

Actor in a Miniseries or a Motion Picture Made for Television 

David Suchet 
AGATHA CHRISTIE: POIROT
PBS
Dominic Cooper
FLEMING: THE MAN WHO WOULD BE BOND
BBC America
Kiefer Sutherland
24: LIVE ANOTHER DAY
Fox
Mark Ruffalo
THE NORMAL HEART
HBO
Richard Jenkins 
OLIVE KITTERIDGE
HBO
Stephen Rea
THE HONOURABLE WOMAN
BBC, Sundance Channel

Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television

Allison Tolman 
FARGO
FX
Ann Dowd
THE LEFTOVERS
HBO
Michelle Monaghan
TRUE DETECTIVE
HBO
Nicola Walker
 LAST TANGO IN HALIFAX
BBC, PBS
Sarah Paulson
AMERICAN HORROR STORY
FX
Zoe Kazan 
OLIVE KITTERIDGE
HBO

Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television

Andre Holland
 THE KNICK
Cinemax
Christopher Eccleston
 THE LEFTOVERS
HBO
Jimmy Smits
SONS OF ANARCHY
FX
Matt Bomer
THE NORMAL HEART
HBO
Peter Dinklage
GAME OF THRONES
HBO
Rory Kinnear
PENNY DREADFUL
Showtime

Television Series, Drama

THE AFFAIR 
Showtime
FARGO 
FX
HALT AND CATCH FIRE 
AMC
HANNIBAL 
NBC
HOUSE OF CARDS
 Netflix
THE FALL 
BBC, Netflix
THE KNICK 
Cinemax
TRUE DETECTIVE
 HBO

Television Series, Genre

AMERICAN HORROR STORY 
FX
GAME OF THRONES
 HBO
GRIMM 
NBC
PENNY DREADFUL 
Showtime
SLEEPY HOLLOW 
Fox
THE LEFTOVERS 
HBO
THE STRAIN 
FX
THE WALKING DEAD 
AMC

Actress in a Series, Drama

Eva Green
PENNY DREADFUL
Showtime
Gillian Anderson
THE FALL
BBC, Netflix
Julianna Margulies
THE GOOD WIFE
CBS
Kerri Russell
THE AMERICANS
FX
Lizzy Caplan
MASTERS OF SEX
Showtime
Robin Wright
HOUSE OF CARDS
Netflix
Ruth Wilson
THE AFFAIR
Showtime
Tatiana Maslany
ORPHAN BLACK
BBC America

Actor in a Series, Drama

Billy Bob Thornton
 FARGO
FX
Charlie Hunnam
SONS OF ANARCHY
FX
Clive Owen
THE KNICK
Cinemax
Lee Pace
HALT AND CATCH FIRE
AMC
Martin Freeman
 FARGO
FX
Mads Mikkelsen 
HANNIBAL
NBC
Michael Sheen
MASTERS OF SEX
Showtime
Woody Harrelson
TRUE DETECTIVE
HBO

Television Series, Comedy or Musical

ALPHA HOUSE 
Amazon
LOUIE 
FX
ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK 
Netflix
SILICON VALLEY
 HBO
THE BIG BANG THEORY
 CBS
TRANSPARENT 
Amazon
VEEP 
HBO
BROOKLYN NINE-NINE 
Fox

Actress in a Series, Comedy or Musical

Edie Falco
NURSE JACKIE
Showtime
Emmy Rossum
SHAMELESS
Showtime
Julia Louis-Dreyfus
VEEP
HBO
Mindy Kaling
THE MINDY PROJECT
Fox
Taylor Schilling
ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK
Netflix
Zooey Deschane
lNEW GIRL
Fox

Actor in a Series, Comedy or Musical

Jeffrey Tambor
TRANSPARENT
Amazon
Jim Parsons
THE BIG BANG THEORY
CBS
John Goodman 
ALPHA HOUSE
Amazon
Louis C.K.
LOUIE
FX
Thomas Middleditch
SILICON VALLEY
HBO
William H. Macy
SHAMELESS
Showtime

Best TV Ensemble 

THE KNICK

SOURCE International Press Academy
CONTACT: Mirjana Van Blaricom, (818) 989-1589, info@pressacademy.com
RELATED LINKS
http://www.pressacademy.com



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President Goodluck Jonathan Hosts Nollywood Stars as Boko Haram Terrorists Attack Kano Central Mosque

Whilst the famous Kano Central Mosque was burning after horrifying terrorist bombings killed over 200 people among Muslim worshipers who came for the traditional Friday Jumat prayers yesterday November 28, President Goodluck Jonathan was reported hosting many Nollywood stars, musicians and comedians for a Creative Industry Night.at the Eko Hotel and Suites on Victoria Island, Lagos. 

 

Nigerian entertainers from southern Nigeria celebrating at the Presidential Creative Industry Night at the Eko Hotel and Suites in Lagos whilst the Kano Central Mosque was burning after horrifying Boko Haram terrorists bomb attacks with over 200 Muslim worshipers killed on Friday November 28, 2014.

It is really shocking that the second mega city in Nigeria Kano was burning in terrorists bombings with scores killed and properties razed and President Goodluck Jonathan went ahead to host Nigerian entertainers in Lagos when he should have cancelled the event. And how can these entertainers be celebrating when their fellow Nigerians have been attacked and killed in the worst terrorist attack in Nigeria in 2014? If only Fela Anikulapo-kuti could come back to life today, he would weep for these shameless and conscienceless entertainers.

More Reports on The Kano Mosque Bombings

Nov 29, 2014

• Posted at 05:01 WAT Statement by the High Representative/Vice President Federica Mogherini on the attack against the Central Mosque in Kano, Nigeria
• Posted at 02:51 WAT Deadly Boko Haram attack forces thousands to flee Nigeria for Niger – UN
• Posted at 02:23 WAT Minister for Africa condemns bomb attack on mosque in Nigeria

Nov 28, 2014

• Posted at 23:02 WAT Canary CEO: OPEC's Gulf State Members Appear to Be Taking Aim at American Shale
• Posted at 22:21 WAT Minister for Africa condemns bomb attack on mosque in Nigeria

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Nigerian Supermodel Betty Adewole Now A Born Again Christian

 "I'm a born again Christian," she testified on her Twiter profile.

 Betty's grass to grace story should be a great inspiration and motivation for all girls in the world that your poor family background should not discourage you, but should challenge you to break socioeconomic barriers and break new grounds to excel and succeed in life.

Read the following by Betty Adewole in her own words and discover the power in her African beauty. http://totnaija.blogspot.com/2014/11/my-tom-ford-model-of-year-is-betty.html.

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