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Success Iyoha, is the CEO of the Kisses & Roses fashion and lifestyle eStore on Amazon. She is also a model.

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Are African Writers And Readers Ready For The eBook Revolution?

Are African Writers And Readers Ready For The eBook Revolution?

March, 2013.

This week, the "father of African literature' Chinua Achebe died, leaving behind a legacy for Nigerian authors. Today I welcome another Nigerian author Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima to discuss the …

Joanna Penn writes non-fiction for authors and is an award-nominated, New York Times and USA Today bestselling thriller author as J.F.Penn. She’s an award-winning podcaster and creative entrepreneur.

Read the important interview on

https://www.thecreativepenn.com/tag/africa/

Small Camera with Big Dreams Versus Big Camera with Small Imagination

Reading in Motion" showing #Nollywood actress,, Celina James reading, "Conspiracy of Lagos" by Bisi Daniels in my documentary film, "Lagos in Motion".

Small Camera with Big Dreams Versus Big Camera with Small Imagination

It is better to have a small camera with big dreams than to have a big camera with small Imagination.

What makes a great filmmaker and photographer is not the size of the camera, but the size of the Imagination.

Without cinematography, there is no cinema. 

What has really affected the quality of film productions in Nollywood is the lack of enough professional cinematographers. 

From the first 60 seconds of a movie, you can see if the cinematography is good or bad.

What will guarantee the picture quality of a movie are the technical quality of the camera; the professional expertise of the cameraman or camerawoman and the expertise of the cinematographer.

Years ago, as a member of the Digital Cinema Society founded by James Mathers, I started the Nollywood Digital blog to announce and introduce new digital cinema cameras to Nigerian filmmakers to keep them updated on the best cameras for the best film and TV productions. I also proposed a quarterly Nollywood Digital Cinema Exhibition for hands-on demonstrations of the cameras and screenings of award winning movies shot with the cameras.

The most popular cameras in Nollywood are from Sony, BlackMagic Design and Canon. 

It is important for these manufacturers to have regular demonstrations of their cameras like Sony Middle East and Africa in collaboration with Kontakt Pro Nigeria Ltd had in Nigeria last September, 2022, showcasing the Cinema Line FX3, FX6 and the FX9 full-frame digital cameras.

Sony has recommended the new FX30 as an ideal choice for filmmakers actively working on or considering entering the Sony Future Filmmaker Awards, a major new annual awards program for short films. www.sonyfuturefilmmakerawards.com 

- By Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima,

Publisher/Editor,

NOLLYWOOD MIRROR® Series,

Founder/CEO,

International Digital Post Network Limited,

Screen Outdoor Open Air Cinema (SOOAC)

Vuulr Program Partner

Cinewav Affiliate Partner

With Love From Kisses and Roses eStore

We have got whatever fashion and style you want to be the cynosure of the event and make heads turn in admiration and wow them on the red carpet. 

Just select your choice.

JUNE 12 Democracy Day and Restoration of the Hope of Nigerians - President Bola Ahmed Tinubu

TEXT OF DEMOCRACY DAY NATIONAL BROADCAST BY PRESIDENT BOLA AHMED TINUBU ON JUNE 12, 2023.

Fellow Nigerians,

It is exactly three decades today that Nigerians went to the polls to exercise their inalienable right to elect a President of their choice to lead the transition from military dictatorship to a representative government of the people.

The abortion, by military fiat, of the decisive victory of Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola of the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the June 12, 1993, presidential election, up to that time, the fairest and freest election in the country’s political evolution, turned out, ironically, to be the seed that germinated into the prolonged struggle that gave birth to the democracy we currently enjoy since 1999.

In rising to strongly oppose the arbitrary annulment of the will of the majority of Nigerians as expressed in that historic election, the substantial number of our people who participated in the struggle to de-annul the election signified their fierce commitment to enthroning democracy as a form of government that best ennobles the liberty, the dignity of the individual and the integrity as well as the stability of the polity. The fierce opposition to the annulment of the June 12, 1993, presidential election and the unrelenting pro-democracy onslaught it unleashed was the equivalent of the battle against colonial rule by our founding fathers that resulted in the gaining of Nigeria’s independence in 1960.

Just like the anti-colonial movement, the pro-June 12 vanguard demonstrated, once again, the enduring validity of the 19th century historian, Arnold Toynbee’s eternal postulation, that civilization and societies experience progress as they are forced to respond to challenges posed by the environment. The unjust annulment of a widely acknowledged free and fair election was a challenge that elicited resistance by a resurgent civil society, leading ultimately to the attainment of our 'second independence’ as exemplified by the return of democratic governance in 1999.

Fellow compatriots, we celebrate a day that has remained a watershed in our nation’s history, not just today, but for every June 12, for the endless future that our beloved country shall exist and wax stronger and stronger, generations of Nigerians will always remind themselves that the democracy that is steadily growing to become the defining essence of our polity was not gifted to us on a silver platter.

We can easily recall the sacrifice and martyrdom of Chief MKO Abiola, the custodian of the sacred mandate that was so cruelly annulled. He sacrificed his life in unyielding, patriotic defense of the ideals of democracy as symbolized in his choice, by his fellow countrymen and women, as their duly-elected President. There was an easier choice for him. It was to forgo the justice of his cause and opt for the path of ease and capitulation in the face of the tyranny of power. To his eternal credit and immortal glory, Abiola said no. He demonstrated the time-tested eternal truth that there are certain ideals and principles that are far more valuable than life itself.

Everyday, on this day, down the ages we will recall the several other heroes of democracy such as Kudirat Abiola, wife of Chief Abiola, who was brutally murdered while in the trenches fighting on the side of the people. We remember Pa Alfred Rewane, one of the heroes of our independence struggle and Major General Shehu Musa Yar'Adua (rtd) who were silenced by the military junta while in pursuit of democracy. They gave their yesterday for the liberty that is ours today.

The point is that we must never take this democracy for granted. We must forever jealously guard and protect it like a precious jewel. For, a people can never truly appreciate the freedoms and rights democracy guarantees them until they lose it.

We have traversed the dark, thorny path of dictatorship before and those who experienced it can readily testify to the unbridgeable gap between the dignity of freedom and the humiliation and degradation of tyranny. True, rancorous debates, interminable wrangling, ceaseless quarrels, bitter electoral contestations may be perceived by some as unattractive features of democracy. But they also testify to its merit and value.

This year, we held the seventh in the cycle of elections that have become sacred rituals of our democratic practice in this dispensation since 1999.

That the polls were intensely contested is in itself positive evidence that democracy is well and alive in our land. It is only natural that even as those who won and experienced victory in the various elections are elated and fulfilled, those who lost are disenchanted and disappointed. But the beauty of democracy is that those who win today can lose tomorrow and those who lose today will have an opportunity to compete and win in the next round of elections.

Those who cannot endure and accept the pain of defeat in elections do not deserve the joy of victory when it is their turn to triumph. Above all, those who disagree with the outcome of the elections are taking full advantage of the constitutional provisions to seek redress in court and that is one of the reasons why democracy is still the best form of government invented by man.

For Chief MKO Abiola, the symbol of this day, in whose memory June 12 became a national holiday, democracy is eternal.

It is about rule of law and vibrant judiciary that can be trusted to deliver justice and strengthen institutions. It has become imperative to state here that the unnecessary illegal orders used to truncate or abridge democracy will no longer be tolerated.

The recent harmonization of the retirement age for judicial officers is meant to strengthen the rule of law, which is a critical pillar of democracy. The reform has just started.

The democracy that will yield right dividends to the people who are the shareholders means more than just freedom of choice and right to get people into elective offices. It means social and economic justice for our people. To the winner of June 12, democracy offers the best chance to fight and eliminate poverty. Thirty years ago, he christened his campaign manifesto, 'Farewell to Poverty' because he was convinced that there is nothing divine about poverty. It is a man-made problem that can be eliminated with clearly thought out social and economic policies.

It is for this reason that, in my inauguration address on May 29, I gave effect to the decision taken by my predecessor-in-office to remove the fuel subsidy albatross and free up for collective use the much-needed resources, which had hitherto being pocketed by a few rich. I admit that the decision will impose extra burden on the masses of our people. I feel your pain. This is one decision we must bear to save our country from going under and take our resources away from the stranglehold of a few unpatriotic elements.

Painfully, I have asked you, my compatriots, to sacrifice a little more for the survival of our country. For your trust and belief in us, I assure you that your sacrifice shall not be in vain. The government I lead will repay you through massive investment in transportation infrastructure, education, regular power supply, healthcare and other public utilities that will improve the quality of lives.

The democracy MKO Abiola died for is one that promotes the welfare of the people over personal interests of the ruling class and one where the governed can find personal fulfillment and happiness. That is the hope MKO Abiola ignited throughout our country in 1993.

On this year’s Democracy Day, I enjoin us all to rededicate ourselves to strengthening this form of government of free peoples that has been our guiding light these past 24 years. In particular, those of us who have been privileged to be elected into public offices at various levels in both the executive and legislative arms of government must recommit ourselves to offering selfless service to the people, and delivering concrete democracy dividends in accordance with our electoral promises.

On my part and that of my administration, I pledge anew our commitment to diligently fulfilling every component of our electoral pact with the people - the ‘Renewed Hope’ agenda.

We shall be faithful to truth. Faithful to equity. And faithful to justice. We shall exercise our authority and mandate to govern with fairness, respect for the rule of law, and commitment to always uphold the dignity of all our people.

On this note, I wish us all a happy Democracy Day celebration and pray that the light of liberty shall never be extinguished in our land.

Thank you all and may God continue to bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

BOOK OF THE MONTH:

The Mobile Film Festival Africa unveils its 2023 in Rabat

Sunday Mapya from Tanzania, director of "I Have a Dream Too" and winner of the Grand Prize Africa

(Source: United Cities and Local Governments of Africa (UCLG Africa) 

PRESS RELEASE

The Mobile Film Festival Africa unveils its 2023 in Rabat

Guests were able to discover all the films in this year's official selection (54 films from 21 African countries)

Access Multimedia Content

https://uclga.africa-newsroom.com/press/media/the-mobile-film-festival-africa-unveils-its-2023-winners-in-rabat?lang=en

RABAT, Morocco, June 9, 2023/ -- The Mobile Film Festival Africa unveiled the winners of its 2023 edition at a prize ceremony held on Thursday June 8 at the Renaissance cinema in Rabat, an event part of the "Rabat, African Capital of Culture" program celebrations.

From left to right, Gad El Maleh, Jury President, Kamal Lougleb, director pf "The Guardian of the Walls" and winner of the Grand Prize Morocco, HEM Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid, minister of Youth, Culture and Communication

(Source: United Cities and Local Governments of Africa (UCLG Africa) 

From left to right, Mr. Morris Mbolela, Deputy Secretary General of UCLG Africa, Bruno Smadja, Founder of the Mobile Film Festival Africa, Gad El Maleh, Comedian and Jury President, HEM Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid, minister of Youth, Culture and Communication

(Source: United Cities and Local Governments of Africa (UCLG Africa)

Guests were able to discover all the films in this year's official selection (54 films from 21 African countries), as well as the prizes awarded by a jury chaired by Gad Elmaleh and including Samia Akarriou, Sofia Alaoui, Françoise Ellong, Rafiki Fariala and Fibby Kioria.

For its second pan-African edition, organized in partnership with United Cities and Local Governments of Africa (UCLG Africa) and the Kingdom of Morocco's Ministry of Youth, Culture  and Communication, the Mobile Film Festival has set up production grants worth a total of $51,000. These grants will enable the winners to make a film with professional resources and support from the Mobile Film Festival. Here are the winners:

Grand Prize Africa ($ 10,000)- I Have a Dream Too by Sunday Mapya - Tanzania

Grand Prize Morocco ($ 10,000)- The Guardian of the Walls by Kamal Lougleb - Morocco

This prize is accompanied by a 10-day screenwriting training residency at ENS Louis-Lumière in Paris, offered by the Institut Français du Maroc.

French Speaking Film Award ($ 5,000)- The Peninsula Dream by Nelly Brun Elvire Behanzin - Benin

This prize, supported by TV5 Monde, is awarded to a film from a country member of the International Organization of Francophonie.

ACP - EU Culture Award (5 000 $)- PAASWAAAD (Password) by Shandra Daisy Apondi - Kenya

This prize is supported by the ACP-EU Culture program.

Best Script Award ($ 5,000)- uççş²Iا دq⁄ زي (Like a Matchstick) by Sami Iskander - Egypt

This prize is supported by Canal +.

African Female Director Award ($ 5,000)- Life in Pink by Vanessa Pellegrin - Morocco

Best Actress Award ($ 500)- Kenza Salahddine in Life in Pink - Morocco

Documentary Film Award ($ 5,000)

Blindness by Bongani Ndaba - South Africa

Best Film from the Democratic Republic of the Congo ($ 5,000)

Nature's Heroes by Gael Bolila - DRC

This prize is supported by Rawbank and illicocash.

Best Actor Award ($ 500)- Yakaru Talibé (A Beggar’s Dream) by Abdoul - Senegal

Best Actor Award ($ 500)

Famille Odiri/Udo in Human Migrant - Morocco

Enthusiasm for this second pan-African edition was evident right from the call for films, with a  huge turnout (886 films from 40 African countries received), and continued throughout the online festival phase, with media coverage across the continent and internationally.

International visibility will be also ensured throughout 2023, with screenings at film festivals, associations and cultural institutions, as well as the 600 cinema screens in 31 African countries showing films from the official selection.

To make them as accessible as possible, the films are offered with subtitles in French, English, Arabic, Portuguese and Spanish.

One of the specificities of the Mobile Film Festival is its 100% digital dimension. All the films are available on all our social networks (Youtube, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and TikTok).

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Cities and Local Governments of Africa (UCLG Africa).

 

Please, contact us for all interview requests with the directors, the festival organization and the jury members.

Press Contact:

Claudia Rodríguez Press Relations Africa

WhatsApp : +33 787 14 15 40

Téléphone : +33 140 09 89 65 Email : presse@mobilefilmfestival.com

WhatsApp for your questions: https://apo-opa.info/3N2L8ye

About the Mobile Film Festival:

The Mobile Film Festival is an international short film festival founded in 2005 based on a simple principle: 1 Mobile, 1 Minute, 1 Film. Our goal is to support, expose and mentor the upcoming talented filmmakers from all over the world, through grants and technical support to help the winners shoot a professional short film.

The Mobile Film Festival is also 100% digital, in order to reach the largest possible audience. Since 2015, the Mobile Film Festival has received 6414 films from 157 countries, 134 million views and awarded more than €360,000 in grants to the winners.

CGLU Afrique:

The umbrella organization of local and regional governments in Africa was founded in 2005 in the town  of  Tshwane, South Africa, following the unification of three continental groups local governments, namely the African Union of Local Authorities (AULA); the Union of African Cities (AVU); and the Africa chapter of the União das Cidades e Capitais Lusófonas (UCCLA). UCLG Africa (UCLGA.org) brings  together  51  national  associations  of local and regional governments from all regions of Africa, as well as 2,000 cities and territories of more than 100,000 inhabitants. UCLG Africa represents more than 350 million African citizens. A founding member of the world organization UCLG, it is the regional chapter for Africa. UCLG Africa's headquarters are based in Rabat, capital of the Kingdom of Morocco, where it enjoys diplomatic status as a Pan-African International Organization. UCLG Africa also has five regional offices across the continent: in Cairo, Egypt, for North Africa; in Accra, Ghana,  for Central Africa; in Libreville, Gabon, for Central Africa; in Nairobi, Kenya, for East Africa; and in Pretoria, South Africa, for Southern Africa.

Programme Capitale Africaine de la Culture:

The African Capitals of Culture program is supported by United Cities and Local Governments of Africa (UCLG Africa). It aims to make culture the fourth pillar of the sustainable development of local authorities, to promote the definition and implementation of cultural policies at the territorial level, and to develop mutually beneficial partnerships between local authorities and actors and promoters of cultural activities, with a view to developing public and private ecosystems capable of making the most of culture to regenerate self-esteem and citizenship, develop decent jobs, particularly for young people and women, and contribute to the international influence of African and Afro-descendant culture.

UNESCO:

UNESCO is the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. UNESCO programs contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals defined in the 2030 Agenda and adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 2015. Among many other activities, UNESCO supports the development of audiovisual production for and by young people and women in particular, especially on the African continent.

Programme ACP-EU Culture:

The ACP-EU Culture Programme is an initiative implemented by the Organisation of  African,  Caribbean  and  Pacific States (OEACP) with the financial support of the European Union (EU). This programme illustrates the   desire to stimulate the potential of the cultural and creative sector and its contribution to the socio-economic development of ACP countries. With a budget of € 40 million covering the period 2019-2026, the programme is focused on: (i) encouraging entrepreneurship and cultural and technological  innovation,  as  well  as  the participation of young people; (ii) creating new jobs and increasing the income of artists and cultural professionals;

(iii) improving the quality of ACP cultural productions; and (iv) enhancing the value of ACP cultural productions and artists on international markets. For more information, visit www.ACP-UE-Culture.EU and follow ACP-EU Culture via Twitter / Instagram / Facebook / LinkedIn.

France Médias Monde Groupe:

Watch and listen to the world. France Médias Monde, the group in charge of French international broadcasting, comprises the news channels France 24 (in French, English, Arabic and Spanish), the international radio station      RFI (in French and 16 other languages) and the Arabic-language radio station Monte  Carlo  Doualiya.  France Médias Monde broadcasts to the world in 21languages. Its journalists and correspondents offer viewers, listeners and Internet users comprehensive coverage of world events, with a focus on cultural diversity and contrasting viewpoints via news bulletins, reports, magazines and debates. 66 nationalities  are  represented  among  the  group’s employees. Every week, RFI, France 24 and Monte Carlo Doualiya attract 244,2million contacts (2021average). Those outlets have a combined 95million followers on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram  and rose to 2.2billion views and streams in 2021. France Médias Monde is the parent company of CFI, the French media cooperation agency and also a shareholder of the French-language general interest TV channel TV5monde.

LAFAAAC:

LAFAAAC is a mobile training app where you can find high quality courses on the jobs of creative and cultural industries (audiovisual, cinema, music, fashion, video games, etc.), accessible without internet, once downloaded. LAFAAAC is a new digital university!

TV5MONDE+:

TV5MONDE, the world's French-speaking channel, is delighted to be a partner of the Mobile film festival, which celebrates the creativity of the continent's young talents. Thanks to the ease offered by digital technology, mobile phones make it possible to tell beautiful stories whose main actors are the women and men of the continent. The TV5MONDE prize will be awarded to the best Francophone film. On our sites and on our social networks, ten of  the fifty films in competition will be proposed to you. Enjoy the festival!

RFI, une chaîne radio de France Médias Monde:

RFI (Radio France Internationale) is a French news and current affairs public radio station that  broadcasts  worldwide in French and in 16other languages*. RFI is broadcast on 152 different FM frequencies, via short wave relays, on 30 different satellite signals throughout the world and also on the internet and dedicated apps. RFI is  also broadcast across the globe via more than 1950 partner radios. It draws on the expertise of its Paris-based editorial teams and a unique global network of 400 correspondents to provide news bulletins and features offering listeners the means to better understand the world. Some 61.4million listeners around the world tune into RFI   every week, and its digital platforms attract an average of 21.2million visits a month (2021 average) while 29.4million followers stay connected via Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. *Brazilian, Cambodian, Chinese, English, Fulfuldé, Haitian creole, Hausa, Mandinkan, Persian, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Spanish, Swahili,Ukrainian, Vietnamese.

France24, une chaîne de télévision de France Médias Monde:

France 24, the international news channel, broadcasts 24/7 to 481.4million households around the  world  in  French, Arabic, English and Spanish. The four channels have a combined weekly  viewership  of  97.8million  viewers. France 24 gives a French perspective on global affairs through a network of 160 correspondent located    in nearly every country. It is available via cable, satellite, DTT,  ADSL, on mobile phones, tablets and connected   TVs, as well as on YouTube in four languages. Every month, France 24’s digital platforms attract 23.2million visits, 132.8million video views (2021 average) and 59.9million followers on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

MCD, une chaîne radio de France Médias Monde:

Monte Carlo Doualiya is a French radio station that broadcasts in Arabic from Paris to the Middle East, Mauritania, Djibouti, and Sudan, on FM, via satellite and via partner radio stations. It provides news bulletins and magazines, with a strong focus on culture, live broadcasts, conviviality and interaction. Its editorial team and  worldwide network of correspondents provide coverage of world news to 10.4million listeners every week. Monte Carlo Doualiyais a radio station based on the values of universalism and freedom for listeners of all ages.The station is also accessible via its website, which is one of the most modern of all Arabic-language sites, and via its app and through a range of cable and satellite packages. MCD attract 1.9million visits to its digital platforms every month (2021 average) and 4.6million followers on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Jawjab:

Jawjab is a creative studio, a production company and a place for creation of all sorts. This subsidiary of Ali n' Productions was founded by Nabil Ayouch in 2016, and has distinguished itself by the originality of its content, the diversity of its know-how and the values it holds. Through its platforms, the studio aims to promote the values of gender equality, inclusion and freedom of speech, and is committed to opening up  discussion  on  the  issues specific to Moroccan society, with humility and kindness. A desire that crystallized with the launch of JATWJABT     in 2022, the country's first feminist and inclusive media, which highlights topics related to women and minorities rights.Jawjab focuses its efforts on creating strong concepts, driven by the creativity and expertise of its teams, to birth unique productions that contribute to the development of the Moroccan audiovisual field. Jawjab was rewarded in 2019 with the Samir Kassir prize, awarded by the European Union for the best audiovisual production of the year.

HIT RADIO:

HIT RADIO S.A. is an independent Moroccan Media Group that started its activities with the launch in 2006 of a music radio for Moroccan youth. It was the first radio to broadcast news flashes in Darija the moroccan slangs, to expose the new Moroccan music scene and to launch a "Free Antenna" in Morocco. HIT RADIO is actively participating in the improvement of the national media landscape in a innovative and independent spirit.

With a positioning focused on music, entertainment and freedom of expression, HIT RADIO is listened nowadays by more than 3.4 million daily listeners in Morocco and more than 2 millions per month abroad through the digital audio streaming. Since 2012, the HIT RADIO concept was extended to 9 sub-Saharan countries: Central African Republic, Burkina Faso, Congo, Togo, Gabon, Ivory Coast, Burundi, Chad and Niger.

La Tribune: le média de la transformation et des territoires:

Faced with the acceleration of major digital, ecological and societal transitions, La Tribune is asserting itself in the French media landscape as "the newspaper of the changing world". As a reference media in the economy and finance sector, La Tribune relies on a heritage of 30 years of innovation and sectoral presence in all territories. As a local economic newspaper, its editorial expertise is based on a network of journalists in touch with  the  real economy in the regions and in the major cities.

In a world saturated with information, La Tribune's vocation is to provide a rich and useful expertise. Far from  being exhaustive in its treatment of current events, its editorial staff strives to decipher the subjects at the heart of its editorial line, subjects that are forward-looking and offer solutions in a cross-cutting theme such  as:  the  industry of the future, finance, technological revolutions, entrepreneurship, energy transitions, aeronautics, space and air transport, and the intelligent city in all its components (mobility, commerce, housing, etc.).

CANAL+:

CANAL+ Group is a leading media company and pay-TV operator. CANAL+ Group has a wide  international  footprint with a presence in Europe, Africa and Asia. CANAL+ Group totals 23.7 million subscribers worldwide, including 9 million in mainland France. With STUDIOCANAL, CANAL+ Group is also a European leader in the production, acquisition and distribution of feature films and TV series. It is also a leading player in free-to-air television with a pole of several channels, as well as an ads sales agency. CANAL+ Group is wholly-owned by worldwide integrated content, media and communication group, Vivendi.

SOURCE

United Cities and Local Governments of Africa (UCLG Africa)

Stephanie Linus, Robert De Niro, Tiffany Chen, Brendan Fraser and other Stars at 2023 Tribeca Festival

Stephanie Linus with other members of the Jury and Robert De Niro and other VIPs.

Nollywood diva, Stephanie Linus joined Hollywood icon, Robert De Niro, Tiffany Chen, Brendan Fraser and other top stars as the 2023 annual Tribeca Festival started on Wednesday June 7 in New York.

"It is such an exciting festival with many voices amplified, especially women’s voices. It has given a platform for both new and seasoned filmmakers to showcase their works. I am having a great time reviewing the shortlisted films and recommending winners for the 2023 Tribeca Festival, " said Stephanie Linus, the famous Nollywood star who is a member of the Jury.

Robert De Niro is being celebrated with a three-day event later this year to honor his 80th birthday. Mayor Eric Adams presented him with a key to the city. He founded Tribeca Film Festival in  2002. Photo of Robert De Niro from the Tribeca Festival. 

The stars were at the premiere of "Kiss The Future"  at the Tribeca Film Festival that runs from Wednesday, June 7 through Sunday, June 18.

A stirring testament to art’s enduring ability to cast light even in the darkest of circumstances, Kiss the Future follows an underground community that worked and created throughout the nearly four-year-long Siege of Sarajevo.

Sensing that a larger voice is needed, an American aid worker makes a longshot pitch to U2 to help raise awareness about the Bosnian capital’s plight. The band immediately agrees and begins a series of live satellite interviews with local Sarajaevans during their 1993 ZOO TV Tour in an effort to highlight the direness of the situation on the ground. After those mid-concert interviews end, the band pledges to play a concert in the city once the conflict comes to a close. And when U2 arrives to perform a long-promised concert, the show becomes a monument to the strength and resilience of the people of Sarajevo, and art’s capacity to inspire and unite.––Jason Gutierrez

The 2023 features program includes 109 feature films from 127 filmmakers across 36 countries. The lineup includes 93 world premieres, one international premiere, eight North American premieres, one U.S. premiere, and six New York premieres. There are 43 first-time directors and 29 directors returning to Tribeca with their latest projects. 41% (45) of all feature films are directed by women and, for the first time, more than half of competition feature films are directed by women at 68% (19). Additionally, 36% (39) of feature films are directed by BIPOC filmmakers, including two indigenous filmmakers.

This year’s Festival also includes a notable number of films directed by actors: world premiere of First Time Female Director by Chelsea Peretti; world premiere of Maggie Moore(s) by John Slattery; world premiere of Bucky F*cking Dent by David Duchovny; world premiere of Downtown Owl by Lily Rabe and Hamish Linklater; world premiere of Eric LaRue by Michael Shannon; world premiere of Fresh Kills by Jennifer Esposito; North American premiere of The Listener by Steve Buscemi; New York premiere of Shortcomings by Randall Park; and more.

There are 53 documentary features across all categories including the world premiere of Marvel’s first original documentary Stan Lee by Tribeca alumnus David Gelb as well as world premieres from Academy Award winners and nominees including Julie Cohen, Waad al-Kateab, Morgan Neville, Sam Pollard, Rob Epstein, and Jeffrey Friedman. As an activist festival rooted in the foundational belief that art can inspire change, the 2023 Tribeca Festival showcases numerous documentary features that shine a light on the ongoing war in Ukraine as well as the silencing of artists in Iran.

For the third year, the Tribeca Festival continues its commemoration of Juneteenth through the “Expressions of Black Freedom” program, sponsored by Indeed, which includes a festival-wide celebration of the 50th anniversary of hip-hop, the world premiere of All Up in the Biz, a documentary about New York hip-hop legend Biz Markie, and the world premiere of Cinnamon, directed by Bryian Keith Montgomery Jr. and starring Damon Wayans and Pam Grier.

The 2023 “Spotlight+” category includes a series of live events that bring the film experience to life following each premiere. A performance from She Is The Music artists, curated by Alicia Keys, will follow the world premiere of Uncharted; Sara Bareilles will give a special performance following the world premiere of Waitress, the Musical - Live on Broadway!; the one and only Gloria Gaynor will perform following the world premiere of Gloria Gaynor: I Will Survive; a conversation with Peabody Award-winning news anchor Dan Rather and director Frank Marshall will follow the world premiere of Rather; Gogol Bordello will perform following the world premiere of Scream of My Blood: A Gogol Bordello Story; a songwriting masterclass by Indigo Girls will follow the New York premiere of It’s Only Life After All; a musical Q&A with Marc Rebillet will follow the world premiere of Songs About Fucking; and a group of dancehall legends will perform following the world premiere of Bad Like Brooklyn Dancehall.

See full program on 
https://tribecafilm.com/press-center/festival/press-releases/tribeca-festival-announces-2023-feature-film-lineup

Top 10 Most Powerful Women in Nollywood and the Nigerian Film Industry

Who are the top 10 most powerful women in Nollywood and the Nigerian film industry?

Do you know them?

The movers and shakers and the leading achievers in film production, distribution and exhibition.

They were twelve; two of them have passed on to eternal glory, but the milestones of their legacies have become testimonies of their outstanding achievements in the history of Nollywood and the Nigerian film industry.

I have already written on Mrs. Amaka Igwe, MFR that was  published in the Black Film Maker magazine in the UK in 2006. 

She was the numero uno of the women in Nollywood.

On 2 January 2020, Google celebrated her 57th birthday with a Google Doodle.

Mrs. Peace Anyiam-Osigwe, MFR has been celebrated locally and internationally and her Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) was the cover feature of the first edition of the NOLLYWOOD MIRROR® Series in 2013 which has become a collector's edition by art collectors on Nollywood and the history of filmmaking in Nigeria. Madam Peace was the only filmmaker in Nollywood to become a TED Fellow.

(Please, if you know another one, let me know).

Both of them are profiled among the 40 Nigerian female filmmakers in the third edition of the NOLLYWOOD MIRROR® Series to be released this year.

The top 10 Most Powerful Women in Nollywood and the Nigerian film industry, who are currently among the most active and accomplished leading achievers and stakeholders will be featured in the third edition of the NOLLYWOOD MIRROR® Series.

One of them will be on the cover.

I will not reveal all the ten, because of those who will quickly copy the title and rush to publish the list and claim the credit for the authorship.

The following are the first top three.

Ms  Mo Abudu

Ms. Chioma Ude

Mrs. Stephanie Linus

- By Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima,

Publisher/Editor,

NOLLYWOOD MIRROR® Series

Nigeria Daily Twitter

https://twitter.com/nigeriadaily

New Nigeria on Pinterest

www.pinterest.com/nigeriansreport

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

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

Tel: +2347066379246

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==

UN Member States Cast Their Votes To Secure A Better Urban Future For All

UN Member States Cast Their Votes To Secure A Better Urban Future For All 

The second session of the United Nations Habitat Assembly opens in Nairobi, Kenya

Nairobi, Kenya (5 June 2023) – The second United Nations Habitat Assembly, #UNHA2, opens with a call for sustainable urban development and effective multilateralism to create more livable, sustainable, and resilient cities to emerge stronger after crises.

The Assembly is taking place from 5 to 9 June 2023 in Nairobi, Kenya. It is hosted by the government of Kenya in collaboration with UN-Habitat, the United Nations Human Settlements Programme. 

More than 80 Ministers and Vice Ministers, plan to attend the second session of the UN Habitat Assembly. Almost 5,000 delegates from around the world are representing member states and stakeholders at the Assembly. 

The President of Kenya, William Ruto, will open the Assembly. The First Lady of Kenya, Rachel Ruto, will host the inaugural First Ladies Roundtable on women and their role in placemaking in cities on 6 June 2023. 

“We must flip the script about cities. Cities are not only the source of problems. They can create and scale solutions. If planned, built, and managed well, they are the most sustainable form of human settlement and the answer to the climate emergency,” said the UN-Habitat Executive Director, Maimunah Mohd Sharif, ahead of the opening. “Local action and effective and inclusive multilateralism are indispensable for global progress. 

The five-day programme includes a high-level dialogue of the heads of state, thematic debates, and dialogues focusing on universal access to affordable housing, urban climate action, urban crises recovery, localization of the SDGs, and prosperity and local finance.

More than 30 side events will showcase innovative approaches and transformative actions linked to the five key areas highlighted in the report of the Executive Director on the special theme of the second United Nations Habitat Assembly. 

At the Urban Expo, more than 50 exhibitors will showcase urban projects, best practices, and cutting-edge solutions to tackle the challenges of housing, transport, energy, and climate change. The expo includes a special highlight showcasing 45 years of sustainable urbanization in Kenya.

The UN Member States will cast their votes with a number of resolutions expected to be tabled to guide regional, national, and local governments to secure a better urban future for all. These include:

• International guidelines on people-centered smart cities 

• Accelerating the transformation of informal settlements and slums by 2030

• World Clean-up Day

• Biodiverse and resilient cities 

• Localization of the Sustainable Development Goals

• Adequate housing for all 

The five-day session will conclude with a Ministerial Declaration upon reaching an agreement.

You can watch the live stream from the official opening press conference of the second United Nations Habitat Assembly on 5 June 2023 at 2:00 PM (EAT).

Follow this link.

About the second session of the United Nations Habitat Assembly (UNHA2) 

The second session of the United Nations Habitat Assembly will be held from 5 to 9 June 2023 in Nairobi, Kenya. The theme of the session is “A sustainable urban future through inclusive and effective multilateralism: achieving the Sustainable Development Goals in times of global crises.”

The United Nations Habitat Assembly is the global authority on urban trends and policies. It convenes once in four years. 193 UN Member States cast their votes, while participants also include non-Member States, other UN bodies and specialized agencies, as well as intergovernmental organizations, civil society, private sector, academia and research institutions, women, youth and children, and grassroots organizations.

About the UN Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) 

UN-Habitat is the United Nations entity responsible for sustainable urbanization. It has programmes in over 90 countries that support policymakers and communities to create socially and environmentally sustainable cities and towns. UN-Habitat promotes transformative change in cities through knowledge, policy advice, technical assistance, and collaborative action. 

For more information, please contact: 

News and Media Unit, UN-Habitat