Africa: Epic Historical Drama Series, Shaka Ilembe, is Set for Release in 2023

PRESS RELEASE

Africa: Epic Historical Drama Series, Shaka Ilembe, is Set for Release in 2023

Shaka Ilembe tells the story of the making of the iconic African king, with iterations from his early childhood through to adulthood

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, May 25, 2022/ -- MultiChoice (www.MultiChoice.com) and Bomb Productions are proud to announce that production on the epic drama series, Shaka Ilembe, has commenced and is currently filming in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal, providing jobs for over 8 000 people.

Set in the 1700s, Shaka Ilembe tells the story of the making of the iconic African king, with iterations from his early childhood through to adulthood. The two key actors playing Shaka are the incredibly talented Lemongang Tsipa (adult king) and newcomer Ntando Zondi (boy king). The star-studded cast is headlined by Amazon’s Coming 2 America’s breakout star, Nomzamo Mbatha, who plays Queen Nandi, the revered mother of Shaka, with Thembinkosi Mthembu starring as King Dingiswayo and Wiseman Mncube in the role of King Zwide. Mbatha will also executive produce the series.

“Being able to bring this important story to the screen with such stellar talent speaks to the heart of MultiChoice’s ongoing commitment and investment in our local entertainment industry. We are committed to telling great African stories and this is a proudly African series told through the lens of Africans for the very first time,” said Yolisa Phahle, CEO of General Entertainment & Connected Video at MultiChoice.

“I am honoured to bring the giant that is Queen Nandi to life. History will remember those who informed its people of where we come from, to better understand who we are. I am fortunate to be part of a project that is much bigger than ourselves and to tell this story in our own language. Impi iyeza!” expressed Mbatha.

“It is a cast with deep talent,” added Angus Gibson, Creative Director at Bomb Productions. “It is magical witnessing these performers bring life to characters we only know from the history books. When the cast arrive on set, fully dressed in wardrobe and hair from the period, I am blown away.”

The production has been six years in the making, consulting historians, academics and family descendants, including the late King Goodwill Zwelithini and Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi. “This is our appointment with history; we want to capture the authenticity and deepen the understanding of this era,” explained Nhlanhla Mtaka, an executive and cultural advisor.

Striking a balance between historical authenticity and drama is crucial to the plot. “We want people to learn about our history and culture, but we also want to keep viewers glued in anticipation. This drama seeks to uncover nuggets of history, but creates narrative in the gaps by putting known characters alongside fictional characters in order to keep the story moving,” Phahle continued.

MultiChoice is the biggest funder of local content in Africa – producing content in local languages with local actors, and telling stories that resonate culturally. This production comes off the back of multiple successful co-productions such as Trackers, Reyka and most recently Recipes for Love and Murder. The group’s production quality and their ongoing partnership with international production companies allows for worldwide appeal and promotes South African talent on a global stage.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of MultiChoice Group.

Contact:
Elizabeth Fourie, Senior Manager: Corporate Communications
Tel:         +27 11 289 4735
Mobile: +27 83 482 5241
Elizabeth.Fourie@multichoice.co.za

About MultiChoice Group:

MultiChoice Group (MCG), which listed in the Main Board of the JSE on 27 February 2019, is one of the fastest-growing video entertainment providers globally, delivering entertainment products and services to 21.1m households across 50 countries on the African continent. Its track record of more than 35 years is reflective of a commitment to provide audiences with only the best local, sport and international content.

MCG’s strong partnerships with distributors, installers and telecommunication companies, along with its well-established payment solutions, competitive pricing and choice of viewership packages continue to secure its place in the global market, while also providing solutions unique to the African market. 

Its direct-to-home (DTH), digital terrestrial television (DTT) and over-the-top (OTT) solutions enable the business to stay relevant and aligned to changing consumer habits while capturing new markets. Content is at the very core of the business. MCG aims to deliver quality content anywhere, anytime and on any device through a comprehensive video entertainment offering at different price points. As pioneers in African video entertainment, MCG plays an important role in making information and entertainment easily accessible to Africans.

MCG aims to secure content rights cost-effectively in a manner that is reflective of the diversity of its audiences. Its substantial portfolio of content which is made available across the group’s platforms (DStv, GOtv and Showmax) includes award-winning local content (a key differentiator in its service offering), a world-class sports offering (with production capabilities) and access to international content.

MCG has superior technology capability through the security solutions that Irdeto, its technology company, brings to the group. These solutions enable MultiChoice to protect its investment, create new offerings and combat cybercrime. With more than 50 years’ expertise in software security, Irdeto’s software security solutions and cyber services protect over 6bn devices and applications for some of the world’s best brands. 

About Bomb Productions:

The Bomb Shelter is a respected leading production company based in Johannesburg South Africa. For over 21 years, Bomb has produced some of South Africa’s most iconic and ground-breaking television drama. The cult youth series, Yizo Yizo, received critical acclaim and awards around the world, and was screened at the Venice Film festival – their hit show Isibaya broke audience records and garnered awards seven years in a row, including over 30 SAFTA awards. 

The team steering Bomb are responsible for many acclaimed projects, including the Oscar-nominated Mandela, Son of Africa, Father of a Nation, as well as Granada Television’s flagship documentary series 7 Up South Africa, which was nominated for a BAFTA. They were also behind the double Sundance winner Amandla, a revolution in four-part harmony as well as the pan African hit drama Jacob’s Cross, which ran for eight seasons. Other projects include  Ayeye,  Zone 14, The Road, Isithembiso, House of Zwide and Sekali le Meokgo, which premiered at the Venice Film Festival. Lupita N’yongo starred and co-directed on Bomb’s ground-breaking series Shuga (seasons 1 and 2). 

Bomb has produced over 1 000 hours of television drama and is currently in production with the epic historical drama Shaka Ilembe.

SOURCE

MultiChoice Group

Navigating the Virtual Market in an African Context

Navigating the Virtual Market in an African Context

- By Babatunde Adekanmbi

The global impact of technology ever since its inception have brought about  positive impact though coupled with some negative effects but we can't downplay how it have facilitated developments across all sectors of the economy.

  The issue of virtual market navigation particularly in an African context is as a  result of Technological impact in our current disposition today. There is   need to  understand what virtual market entails, it is marketplace with the aid of internet connectivity where numerous companies execute economic transactions to facilitate sales enablement . The virtual market is an advanced development of the traditional way of marketing, although people are still going by the modality of running a small scale enterprise in which there is need to navigate from one geopolitical zone to another in order to increase their customer base but fortunately,  business owners and Corporate Organizations have adopted the use of  Virtual market as new marketing strategy.

It's imperative we understand the mode of operation of a virtual market for optimum performance otherwise it'll be underutilize. A  virtual marketplace is a platform where third-party sellers can transact businesses (also known as e-commerce marketplaces), such sites may feature individual traders, large-scale manufacturers of goods, or anything in between. The third party sellers are known to be the retailers, small business owners, enabling them reach out virtually to the final consumers  at a specific period of time.

The virtual market comes with is own peculiarities unlike the traditional way of marketing although with some features that would probably facilitate sales enablement and customer engagement but have some hitches that the virtual market have addressed. We definitely need to align with the developments brought up by the virtual market but there's need to understand how we can effectively navigate this New virtual market particularly in an African Context. While we can't discard the fact that there are some similar features that would possibly be pinpointed from the traditional way of marketing which was understudy and developed better to align to the standing protocols setup particularly in this era.

The Africa economy ecosystem have the capability to adopt and adapt to whatever New inventions  but business owners or enterprise should position themselves for it otherwise the opportunities that lurk in the world market might elude them 

The following tips highlighted below are adoptable in which it  will give an insight and serve as a guide on how to navigate effectively  a virtual market particularly in an African Context 

• Research your target market

Knowing and understanding the needs of your target audience is a prerequisite to enable you navigate effectively, you need to understand your target audience, you can do a demographic framework which will comprise of ,age groups,gender, location etc. Learning from existing businesses relatable to what you do will equally help out as well  This will Facilitate sales engagement, customer satisfaction and enhance visibility and viability for your products and services. This research will definitely guide your working operations,  it serve as a drive towards enabling the growth of your enterprise . It will further give a deeper insight into who your target audience are, enabling you work around their interest because their satisfaction should be prioritized while thinking of maximizing profit. 

•  Design your marketplace operations.

Marketplace operations entails working hours, payment operations, delivery time that needs to be setup and getting your customers informed. It gives your potential customers a level of confidence when transacting business with you. They are able to effectively plan their schedule whenever they choose  to patronize your brand or business. A well design marketplace operations entails the working hours,  processes, procedure for patronage that enables your customer align to the set goals and objectives. It will equally facilitate the organization of your potential team, they are able to understand the proceeding at which your enterprise would be operating. 

• Choose the right business model  

Having the right business model is a veritable tool for navigating the virtual market. It gives you a sense of responsibility and direction. It is the overall framework that keeps your business operations in Check on the Long run. Your customers will be willing to transact businesses With you because you have a model that is operational and it gives no room for compromise. Both parties key into the framework since it's available. Moreso you need to understand that the business model will equally serve as a working template for your future employees, it is an avenue for creating synergy between them, your enterprise and potential customers. A business model serves as a guide for your enterprise because it entails the dos and donts of how you intend running your enterprise. It gives an indication that processes will be duly followed and this is how an organized enterprise starting up and ready to navigate the virtual market 

• Select the right marketplace software

Having  the right software to run your enterprise is highly necessary it is equally important to to know whether you're considering the use of social media platforms, email marketing tool or website for customer engagement. It aid in swift Communication between you and your customers. The market research you have done will enable you know which platform will be suitable for the products or services being offered. The right software also reduces the number of negative feedbacks  receive from services offered because realistically the software will continually serve as an intermediary between your enterprise and your potential customers. You can equally look at the possibility of building up a software of your own as this will give you the opportunity to adopt and integrate your own strategy which other software might not featured.

• Outline the essential marketplace features.

Having an outlined feature for your marketplace is an enabler in making your potential customers in deciding to transact business with you. It should entails features that are user-friendly , that  gives an overview of what your services and products  entails. Integrating the right features will Facilitate More sales to your business or enterprise. These features also serves as an indicator in enabling your customers make quickr decision when engaging with your enterprise. They have the opportunity to navigate through the available features highlighted. These outlined essential features should  give a detailed description of your enterprise which necessarily don't have to be too ambiguous hence the need for readability.

• Choose a marketplace payment solution

Payment solutions are applications setup to facilitate payment of goods and services. It's important you make use of a payment solution that will be easy on the part of your customers, with  less Technical issues and good Internet services. Your customers may be deterred from patronizing you continuously if your payment solutions are not user friendly or easily accessible. They are numerous payment solutions available for use but it's essential to choose the one that is relatable to one's enterprise . The right marketplace payment enhances timely payment of services offered to your customers, it avoids the issue of complexity when making payment as the society have equally clamored for cashless policies.  It equally address the issue of theft..  You equally need to ensure this marketplace payment solution is efficientenough , the technical aspects must be well understood particularly to your team. 

• Assemble a great team

The need for a great team, who are ready to adhere and align to the set aim and objectives of your enterprise can't be over emphasized, the great edifice or platform you're creating can be ruin down when your team is made of wrong individuals. Team selection is a process that should be followed with due process, the responses derive while engaging with the pontential employees should at least correlate with your enterprise hope to achieve in the nearest future. 

You need to setup a team of high quality professionals, they hould be knowledgeable about the type of business you operate. The success of your business would be as a result of the attitudinal response of your team members to your customers. Their ability to understand the concept of your business enhance the growth of your business facilitate more sales enablement as your customers or clients are eager to recommend you to people in their network and society at large

• Build your marketplace platform

Build a marketplace platform that your customers can trust. This can only be achieved if your customer service is swift, reliable and readily accessible, ensuring your customer queries are attended to in an ample time. A platform that is responsive where you can resolve customer queries faster without physical visitation of the customer to your business location would also be of great help. The uniqueness of one's enterprise will be further appreciated and valued when there's a market platform your potential customers can relate with. A platform that affords them the opportunities to relay issues relatable to services rendered by your enterprise,  give them the opportunities to make their recommendations due to their user experience.

***

You can reach out to the writer

Babatunde Adekanmbi

Digital Creator

Email-babatundeadekanmbi@gmail.com

WhatsApp +2348096570499 , Call+2348096570499

The Best Films from Africa and its Diasporas Come to the 19th Edition of the Tarifa African Film Festival

The Best Films from Africa and its Diasporas Come to the 19th Edition of the Tarifa African Film Festival

This event will be held from 27 May to 3 June in the Andalusian town of Tarifa, a cross-border town between Morocco and Spain.

The opening film is the Nigerien film Walking on Water, the closing film is the Somali film The Gravedigger's Wife.

Tarifa, May 2022. The Tarifa African Film Festival celebrates its 19th edition with an official session made up of films from Tunisia, Sao Tome and Principe, Ethiopia, Egypt, Benin, Reunion, Rwanda, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Senegal, French Guiana, Nigeria, Guinea Bissau, Madagascar and Angola, as well as two major retrospectives, one dedicated to the links between cinema and literature and the other focusing on the Egyptian filmmaker Atteyat Al Abnoudy.

The two great retrospectives of the Tarifa African Film Festival

The big bet of this edition will be Entre la tinta y la pantalla, a parallel section that delves into the relationship between literature and cinema, through sixteen titles produced from the 1960s to the present day that cover countries such as Senegal, Mozambique, South Africa, Mauritania, Burkina Faso, Algeria, Angola, Morocco and Afro-Cuban descent. Among the filmmakers present in this section, some historical ones stand out, such as Ousmane Sembène (Senegal), Med Hondo (Mauritania) or Djibril Diop Mambéty (Senegal); as well as other contemporary ones, such as Dani Kouyaté (Burkina Faso) or Mariano Bartolomeu (Angola), among others. As for literary authors, we find classics such as Naguib Mahfuz (Egypt), an emblematic figure of the new Arab novel, Abdoulaye Mamani (Níger), Moussa Diagana (Mauritania), Assia Djebar (Algeria, literary pseudonym of Fatema Zohra), Malek Alloula (Algeria) and Mia Couto (Mozambique), one of today's most important authors. 

The FCAT dedicates a major retrospective to the Egyptian filmmaker Atteyat Al Abnoudy (1939-2018), considered the "mother of the Egyptian documentary" and one of the pioneering directors in the Arab world. Nicknamed "filmmaker of the poor", her decision to film people in a daily life of hard work and precariousness was a scandal at a time when film was perceived as a propaganda weapon by the authorities. 

FCAT official sessions: 20 titles from 18 African countries

The African presence at the major international festivals provided a great harvest of films from the continent. The official feature film section of the FCAT, called Hypermetropia, offers films from Rwanda, Tunisia, Egypt, Haiti, Mali, Benin, Reunion, Ethiopia, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo and, for the first time, a film from Sao Tome. 

The ten titles in Hypermetropia are among the most daring on a formal level and imbued with great visual poetry. Most of them are works by young filmmakers, films that dialogue with each other on the issues of exile, from the dream of an idealised place (Faya Dayi, by Jessica Beshir, Ethiopia) to the uprooting, the violence of the host country (Lèv la tèt dann fenwar, by Erika Étangsalé, La Réunion). Another theme is the struggle for dignity (Xaraasi Xanne, by Malians Bouba Touré and Raphaël Grisey). 

Films that propose a representation of women far from clichés (Black Medusa, by Ismaël and Youssouf Chebbi, Tunisia), of their emancipation and empowerment (Feathers, by Omar El Zohairy, Egypt) and (Freda, by Gessica Géneus, a film from Haiti and Benin), but also highlighting the necessary liberation of men from their own mental shackles (Une histoire d'amour et désir, by Tunisian Leyla Bouzid).

Films that revisit the traumas and forgotten episodes of history (the documentary Constelaçoes do Equador, by Silas Tiny, the first film from Sao Tome and Principe in the FCAT); a portrait of the concerns and aspirations of youth (Nous, étudiants! by Rafiki Fariala, from the Central African Republic); or the screening of an Afrofuturist, anti-colonialist, anti-capitalist and queer vision of the continent (Neptune Frost, by Rwandans Saul Williams and Anisia Uzeyman). 

África en breve, the competitive short film section continues to be an incubator of talent on the African continent, with titles dealing with colonial violence (Écoutez le battement de nos images, by Audrey & Maxime Jean-Baptiste, French Guiana), colonial representation (Kapita, by Petna Ndaliko, Democratic Republic of Congo) and resistance to colonial domination (Mangrove School, by Filipa César & Sónia Vaz Borges, Guinea Bissau, Portugal).

Also, the violence of war (Vou Mudar a Cozinha, by Ondjaki, Angola), gender violence (Imuhira, by Myriam Uwiragiye, Rwanda) and (Microbus, by Maggie Kamal, Egypt); the emotional violence of leaving childhood (Astel, by Ramata-Toulaye, Senegal) and the violence of exile and uprooting (Egúngún, by Olive Nwosu, Nigeria). Comedy is also present in this selection, through the meta-cinema in an international premiere (The Unusual Kinky Quaint Peculiar Weird Strange Rum Queer Odd and Bizarre Day of a Shadow Man, by Hary Joel, French Guiana) or magical realism (Precious Hair & Beauty, by John Ogunmuyiwa).

Additionally, outside the official competition is La tercera raíz, a section dedicated to Afro-descendants. The 19th edition of the festival will be dominated by films from the Dominican Republic, where the cultural legacy of Africa is present in all areas of people’s life. 

The opening and closing film of the 19th edition of the festival 

The opening film of this year's festival, the documentary Marcher sur l'eau (Aïssa Maïga, 2021), a co-production between Niger and France, is set in the village of Tatiste in Niger, where Houlaye, a 14-year-old teenager, and other children travel kilometres to fetch the water the village needs to survive. The closing film, The gravedigger's wife (Khadar Ayderus Ahmed, 2021), a Somali film presented at the Cannes Critics' Week, will be screened on Friday, 3 June, after the prize-giving ceremony of the 19th FCAT. A tender portrait of an African couple facing a health problem. 

The poster, the work of the Italian-Senegalese artist Maïmouna Guerresi 

This year's poster was created by Maïmouna Guerresi, an Italian-Senegalese multimedia artist whose work is steeped in Sufi spirituality. The work, which belongs to her series Aïsha in Wonderland, brings a feminine energy to this powerful image that alludes to "cultural and spiritual crossbreeding".

Industry and training at FCAT

The FCAT LAB post-production workshop, which offers support for featured films from Africa in the form of prizes, will once again be active at this year's edition. The FCAT LAB 2022 will take place in online format as part of the actions programmed in the Tree of Words, the space dedicated to the professional and training activities of the African Film Festival-FCAT. 

For its part, the Instituto de la Cinematografía y de las Artes Audiovisuales (ICAA) will organise a showcase in Tarifa, where five Spanish companies representing post-production services will present themselves to African producers and directors both in person and via streaming. 

The Aula de cine will also take place, under the title Relatos ensoñados. El arte narrativo en los cines africanos, an in-depth course on the evolution and characteristics of African cinema, given by the programmer and film critic Javier H. Estrada (Spain). All the filmmakers that will be analysed in the Aula share an iconoclastic spirit, authentic aesthetic renovators who also observed the realities of their countries with a profoundly critical eye. During four sessions, cinematographies such as those of Mali, Egypt, Tunisia and Angola will be addressed, highlighting their past and present relevance.

The Festival de Cine Africano-FCAT is the most important film festival of the continent and of African descent in the Spanish-speaking world and has a film collection of more than a thousand titles translated into Spanish.

DOWNLOAD IMAGES 

For more information you can contact the communication office: 

Marta Jiménez: gabineteprensa@fcat.es

Valeria Reyes: comunicacion3@fcat.es

                             

Giving Africa a Creative Voice in the Digital Era

 MultiChoice Group

OPINION PIECE

Giving Africa a Creative Voice in the Digital Era (By Georginah Machiridza)

A modern media company would likely use a combination of broadcast media, social media, written content, video clips, as well as animation and physical activations to share content and market their brand.

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, May 25, 2022/ -- By Georginah Machiridza, Executive Head Content Strategy and 3rd Party Channels, MultiChoice Group (www.MultiChoice.com)

It’s crucial that the content, art and creative output of Africa’s content creators remains authentically African, even while we embrace the opportunities of the digital era, writes Georginah Machiridza, Executive Head Content Strategy and 3rd Party Channels, MultiChoice Group.

We’re all aware of how rapidly the media landscape is changing. Audiences have been migrating to digital and online channels for more than a decade, and even established media such as broadcast, film, and radio are using hybrid platforms that reach audiences across multiple channels.

A modern media company would likely use a combination of broadcast media, social media, written content, video clips, as well as animation and physical activations to share content and market their brand.

Digital skills

This constantly evolving media terrain requires a diverse range of skills. Storytelling lies at the heart of most media messaging, but specific technical knowledge is required to translate compelling stories for every channel.

Writing, cinematography, video editing, TV, radio and online presenting, animation, coding and content management are just some of the specialised skills of the modern media landscape – many of which are evolving in real time as their respective media fields develop.

Africa is at the coalface of these developments. New media provides enormous opportunities to reach more of our people, with more compelling content, and to do it more efficiently and cost-effectively.

African authenticity

The challenge, though, is that we must continue to tell African stories, even while many technology innovations and Big Tech companies originate outside Africa. Digital media evolution comes with a very real threat of cultural imperialism.

The solution to avoiding this Western cultural hegemony is twofold. Firstly, we must empower African content creators with the skills to tell African stories. Secondly, we must create viable, profitable markets for African content, and grow demand for that content.

Fortunately, Africa has long been a hub of creativity and innovation. We have “found our voice” in the digital economy, and there are many creators telling African stories for African, as well as global audiences.

These include people like Kenyan comedienne Elsa Majimbo, Ghanaian internet personality Wode Maya, Ghanaian visual artist Prince Gyasi, Kenyan journalist Brian Otieno, South African illustrator and artist Slaying Goliath, SA comic Donovan Goliath and others. These innovators are  “Expressing Africa” through compelling content using digital and social-media platforms.

African media platforms such as DStv and Showmax are also enabling this trend, creating platforms across the continent tailor-made to showcase African stories for audiences hungry for stories about themselves and their culture.

In 2018, M-Net and MultiChoice spent R2,5bn developing local movies and series and bringing them to screens across Africa.

By investing in original productions of authentic stories and talent across the continent, M-Net is helping to launch acting, writing and filmmaking careers, both locally and internationally.

Hyperlocal platforms

In Ethiopia, MultiChoice channel Abol TV provides premium 100% Ethiopian general entertainment 24 hours a day. In Uganda, Pearl Magic provides a similar offering, telling stories by Ugandans for Ugandans. In Nigeria, Africa Magic provides channels in Igbo, Yoruba and Hausa. Customised hyperlocal MultiChoice offerings are also available in Ghana, Angola, Mozambique and Kenya and 3rd party channel launching in Zimbabwe recently.

The group reaches a total of 50 African countries. The Showmax streaming service has also emerged as a powerful platform for African content, through its movie and series offerings. Its Colours Of Africa series of homegrown African short films by MultiChoice Talent Factory (MTF) students celebrates African culture and the effects of modernisation on some cultural practices.

Skills pipeline

All of these emerging platforms – whether broadcast, streaming or digital – have created enormous opportunities for African media workers and content creators. Creating the skills that enable young creatives to grasp these opportunities is the other way Africa will find its voice in the digital era.

Helping to provide this, by building a pipeline of skilled African content professionals is the MultiChoice Talent Factory.

MTF plays a critical role in building and strengthening the TV & film industry across Africa, and was born out of a need to solve for representation, local content, and higher production quality and value. MTF is a shared-value platform and strives to be Africa’s leading training ground for content creators, by providing an enhanced training programme through partnering with local and global experts. The initiative takes a multi-tiered approach, incorporating the MTF Portal, the MTF Academies and MTF Industry Masterclasses.

Every year, the MTF academies select 74 talented African individuals to participate in a 12-month academic and practical immersion programme including both theory and hands-on experience in cinematography, editing, audio production and storytelling to name a few.

The year-long, fully sponsored programme is offered through regional MTF academies in Kenya, Nigeria, Zambia and South Africa, in partnership with local tertiary education institutions. Students and interns learn filmmaking by making films – developing their film and TV production skills alongside industry greats.

In addition, MTF Masterclasses give working film and television professionals and those who aspire to be content creators exclusive access to practical, industry expert-led skills workshops, where they interact and learn from the best in Africa and the world. The online portal has more than 40 000 registered users who have access to a growing library of masterclass content.

The MTF Masterclasses, the Academies and the MTF Portal (a profiling and networking platform) – support MultiChoice’s commitment to enhancing accessibility, opportunity, and quality in local productions.

These initiatives are all part of Africa’s cultural and technological resurgence, creating opportunities and building capacity, allowing Africa’s creative output to stand proud on the world stage.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of MultiChoice Group.

SOURCE

MultiChoice Group

India Has 100 Unicorns

 India Has 100 Unicorns

India is becoming the world's fastest-growing startup ecosystem with 100 Unicorn Startups, as of 2022. In today's world, unicorn startups are not as uncommon as before; however, building a unicorn startup is not easy. It takes a lot of hard work, commitment, and perseverance throughout the startup's journey to climb the ladder of unicorns, and the ones that have bagged the title of unicorns are discussed in this article.

Read more on 
https://startuptalky.com/top-unicorn-startups-india/

Eagle Wings, The Best War Film on the War on Terrorists in Africa

Eagle Wings, The Best War Film on the War on Terrorists in Africa

The film from writer/director Paul Apel Papel was shot entirely on location in Nigeria and is one of Vision's emerging catalog from prolific filmmakers in the region. Eagle Wings depicts the on-going devastating regional conflicts of insurgents, their pervasive mistrust of the government, and the mission of those who try to diffuse the war against all odds. The production value of aerial fighter jet scenes as well as ground combat, add to the realistic and epic scope of the film.

Synopsis: As insurgents overtake territories and kill civilians, the Nigerian Air Force is called in to bring peace to the area. When a recently married commander is lost behind enemy lines, his brothers-in-arms swear to his wife they will bring him home safely. The rescue mission leads them into a war-torn area and directly into a terrorist stronghold where loyalties are put to the test.

Eagle Wings on the following ONLINE VOD PLATFORMS:

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/movie/eagle-wings/id1614927647?ls=1

Shortened link: https://apple.co/3LotpP7

Amazon (VOD): https://www.amazon.com/Eagle-Wings-Enyinna-Nwigwe/dp/B09XFHGCVJ/ref=sr_1_15?crid=3UM6V458SPKJ5&keywords=eagle+wings+movie&qid=1652804146&sprefix=eagle%2Caps%2C1974&sr=8-15

Shortened link: https://amzn.to/3G0NLwL

Vudu: https://www.vudu.com/content/movies/details/Eagle-Wings/2005431

Shortened link: https://bit.ly/3Njob8z

GooglePlay: https://play.google.com/store/movies/details/Eagle_Wings?id=12411645C10325CAMV (will be live soon!)

Shortened link: https://bit.ly/3FRiQ64

YouTube: 

Shortened link: 

Hoopla: https://www.hoopladigital.com/title/14964760

Shortened link: https://bit.ly/3wkbKnk

Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/ondemand/eaglewings

Shortened link: https://bit.ly/3FXeuKz

Also showing on cable TV channels in America.

Ideato South/North Federal Constituency: Dr. Chika Abazu as the Way to Go

Ideato South/North Federal Constituency: Dr. Chika Abazu as the Way to Go

- By Micheal Nnaji 

According to John. C Maxwell,  a leader is one who knows the way, goes the way and shows the way. 

Dr. Chika Abazu clearly fits into this discription.

This is why among the motley of crowd jostling to represent Ideato North and South federal constituency in the House of Reps in the next political dispensation, opinion leaders, political leaders, the youths, market women, students etc agree he is the most prepared and focused.

Dr. Abazu raises above the fray and stands out on the pedestal of competence,reason a broad spectrum of people across the constituency are earnestly praying the All Progressives Congress, APC to do the right thing by giving him its ticket for the election.

Describing the last seven years of representation the constituency has had at the House of Reps as years eaten by locust, an APC chieftain from Umueshi, Ideato South,who craved anonymity said: "Ideato North and South has suffered the worst form of representation since 2015. 

"We are like orphans in the midst of parents; in this new dispensation we want someone who is in touch with the people and with reality; we want a people oriented person who has the Ideato nation and its people at heart, a representative who has no baggage, who puts Ideato first. Irrespective of party, we want the best and in Dr. Chika Abazu, I find this representative." 

If elected into the House of Reps as the representative of Ideato people, Dr. Abazu, pledges, in his words, "Prudent utilisation of Constituency Funds for genuine, people-focused, transparent and verifiable projects and programs"

His focuse, according to him will be social amenities and infrastructures, health care, quality education, economic empowerment, medium size agricultural and settlement  scheme akin to the Isreali Kitbzu system and social welfare for youths.

Dr. Abazu will leave no stone unturned to enhance the growth of Ideato North/South federal constituency in terms of:
°Legislative representation 
•Accountability 
•Education
•Youth and women economic emancipation programmes
•Road Infrastructure
•Power 
•Water
•Health
•Sports
•Social welfare
•Security 

°Sponsorship or co-sponsorship of at least two bills and two motions that would impact the Constituency every year; meaningful contribution in plenary and committee activities especially oversight function.

As a technocrat, Dr. Abazu will ensure prudent utilisation of Constituency Funds for genuine, people-focused, transparent and verifiable projects and programs.

He is primed at building and equipping of modern school structures and making learning fun for children through learning aids; financial support to primary/secondary school students; facilitating university scholarship for exceptional students.

As a youth enthusiast and a bridge between the young and old, Dr. Abazu, if elected, will be committed to establushing a training hub for the training of youths and women in various vocations including ICT and Agriculture; giving of starter packs/seed grants to trained persons.

Erosion menance is one of the environmental problems facing Ideato and to tackle it headlong, if elected, Dr. Abazu will see to the  procurement of heavy construction vehicles like bulldozers, font loaders, grader, compactors, trenchers etc for all year round erosion control, road grading and maintenance.

To modernise Ideato and make it a liveable urban area, Dr. Abazu has pledged the following:

•Facilitation of the restoration of electricity to all communities in Ideato through procurement and  installation of transformers and other power installations; construction of solar street lights at designated areas

•Greater Ideato water scheme will be birthed for provision of basic water supply; procurement of motorized borehole drilling machines; all year round drilling of boreholes in designated and accessible areas within the community; provision of borehole drilling services at highly subsidized rate.

•Construction and equipping of primary health centres

And to curb youth restiveness, he will facilitate the construction of mini sports stadium for sports and recreation.

He will also strengthen local security networks so as to secure the lives and property of Ideato people.

Dr. Abazu is accessible and reachable and will at all times be avilable to his constituents

With his international connections and contacts, Dr. Abazu will ensure the mobilization of funds for various projects from donor agencies and development partners.

***

Nnaji writes from 
Osina,Ideato North.

Nigerian Film Corporation, Show Us the Money!

 The Nigerian Film Corporation (NFC). should be run by competent professional experts with proven knowledge of the film industry locally and globally and not by civil servants without any proven expertise and experience in the management of the Nigerian film industry.

As we speak, Nollywood and Kannywood are made up of independent film and TV studios, administratively challenged ad-hoc producers association; financially challenged guild of directors; administratively challenged actors guild; accredited and unaccredited film schools and film festivals doing their best without any competent government administration.
The NFC had a film festival two weeks ago and majority of Nigerians did not even know about it, because of the administrative incompetence of the corporation. The theme was "Show Us The Money" and there was no film market to attract international acquisition and distribution companies to show them the money.

 
- Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima,
The Publisher/Editor, NOLLYWOOD MIRROR® Series.
@247nigeria Twitter.

#film #Nigeria #Nollywood #Kannywood #actors #producers #directors #guild #accredited #government #management #experience #money #schools #administration #civil #corporation #filmmarket #studios #filmschool #filmindustry #filmfestivals

2022 Annual Cannes Film Festival : Live Updates

 #Cannes2022
#CannesFilmFestival
#Cannes
#France

View daily updates on the 75th annual Cannes Film Festival streaming live from 17 to 28 May, 2022 at the Palais des Festivals et des Congres.

Vincent Lindon is the President of the jury, and the winners will be announced on 28th May 2022.

View daily updates on 
247 Nigeria (@247nigeria) / Twitter
https://mobile.twitter.com/247nigeria

CANNES 2022 OFFICIAL SELECTION

COMPETITION
Les Amandiers, dir: Valeria Bruni Tedeschi
Holy Spider, dir: Ali Abbasi
Crimes Of The Future, dir: David Cronenberg
Stars At Noon, dir: Claire Denis
Frère Et Soeur, dir: Arnaud Desplechin
Tori And Lokita, dirs: Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne
Armageddon Time, dir: James Gray
Close, dir: Lukas Dhont
Broker, dir: Hirokazu Kore-eda
RMN, dir: Cristian Mungiu
Triangle Of Sadness, dir: Ruben Ostlund
Showing Up, dir: Kelly Reichardt
Decision To Leave, dir: Park Chan-wook
Nostalgia, dir: Mario Martone
Tchaikovski’s Wife, dir: Kirill Serebrennikov
Boy From Heaven, dir: Tarik Saleh
Leila’s Brothers, dir: Saeed Roustaee
Eo, dir: Jerzy Skolimowski

UN CERTAIN REGARD
*Les Pires, dirs: Lisa Akoka, Romane Gueret
Burning Days, dir: Emin Alper
*Metronom, dir: Alexandru Belc
All The People I’ll Never Be, dir: Davy Chou
Sick Of Myself, dir: Kristoffer Borgli
Domingo And The Mist, dir: Ariel Escalante Meza
*Plan 75, dir: Hayakawa Chie
*Beast, dirs: Riley Keough, Gina Gammell
Corsage, dir: Marie Kreutzer
*Butterfly Vision, dir: Maksim Nakonechnyi
The Silent Twins, dir: Agnieszka Smocynska
The Stranger, dir: Thomas M Wright
*Joyland, dir: Saim Sadiq
*Rodeo, dir: Lola Quivoron
Godland, dir: Hlynur Palmason

CANNES PREMIERE
Nos Frangins, dir: Rachid Bouchareb
Nightfall, dir: Marco Bellocchio
Dodo, dir: Panos H Koutras
Irma Vep (series), dir: Olivier Assayas

OUT OF COMPETITION
Z (Comme Z), dir: Michel Hazanavicius
Top Gun: Maverick, dir: Joseph Kosinski
Elvis, dir: Baz Luhrmann
Novembre, dir: Cédric Jimenez
Three Thousand Years Of Longing, dir: George Miller
Mascarade, dir: Nicolas Bedos

MIDNIGHT SCREENINGS
Hunt, dir: Lee Jung-Jae
Moonage Daydream, dir: Brett Morgen
Fumer Fait Tousser, dir: Quentin Dupieux

SPECIAL SCREENINGS
All That Breathes, dir: Shaunak Sen
The Natural History Of Destruction, dir: Sergei Loznitsa
Jerry Lee Lewis: Trouble In Mind, dir: Ethan Coen

*Denotes first film, eligible for the Camera d’Or

2022 Short films and La Cinef Selections

The Short Film Palme d'or will be awarded on Saturday, May 28 during the closing ceremony of Cannes Film Festival. 

TSUTSUE Amartei Armar 

Ghana/France - 15'

PO SUI TAI YANG ZHI XIN (A SHORT STORY) Bi Gan 

China - 15'

LORI (MELANCHOLY OF MY MOTHER'S LULLABIES) Abinash Bikram Shah 

Nepal/Hong Kong - 14'

HAI BIAN SHENG QI YI ZUO XUAN YA (THE WATER MURMURS) Story Chen/China - 14'

UOGOS (CHERRIES) Vytautas Katkus 

Lithuania/Italy - 15'

SAME OLD Lloyd Lee Choi 

United States - 15'

LE FEU AU LAC (FIRE AT THE LAKE) Pierre Menahem 

France - 15'

GAKJIL (PERSONA) Sujin Moon 

South Korea - 6'

LUZ NOCTURNA (NIGHT LIGHT) Kim Torres 

Costa Rica/Mexico - 14'

For its 25th edition, La Cinef has selected 13 live-action and 3 animated shorts directed by 6 male directors and 10 women directors, from among the 1,528 submitted by film schools all over the world. 

The 3 La Cinef prizes will be handed at a ceremony preceding the screening of the awarded films on Thursday 26 May, in the Buñuel Theatre.

CHLIEB NÁŠ KAŽDODENNÝ (LIQUID BREAD) Alica Bednáriková

FTF VŠMU-Film and Television Faculty - Slovakia  - 26'

MUMLIFE Ruby Challenger

AFTRS - Australia - 15'

TOUT CECI VOUS REVIENDRA (ALL OF THIS BELONGS TO YOU) Lilian Fanara

La Fémis - France - 29'

LES HUMAINS SONT CONS QUAND ILS S'EMPILENT (HUMANS ARE DUMBER WHEN CRAMMED UP TOGETHER) Laurène Fernandez

La CinéFabrique - France - 4'

IL BARBIERE COMPLOTTISTA (A CONSPIRACY MAN) Valerio Ferrara

Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia - Italy - 19'

THE PASS Pepi Ginsberg

NYU - United States - 15'

SHEHERUT (KINSHIP) Orin Kadoori

The Steve Tisch School of Film & Television Tel Aviv University - Israel - 24'

NAUHA Pratham Khurana

Whistling Woods International - India - 26'

JUTRO NAS TAM NIE MA (WE ARE NOT THERE TOMORROW) Olga Kłyszewicz

The Polish National Film School in Łódź - Poland - 8'

DI ER (SOMEWHERE) Li Jiahe

Hebei University of Science and Technology School of Film and Television - China - 23'

FENG ZHENG (THE SILENT WHISTLE) Li Yingtong

Emerson College - United States - 18'

MISTIDA Falcão Nhaga

ESTC - Portugal - 30'

GLORIOUS REVOLUTION Masha Novikova

London Film School - United Kingdom - 20'

100% FLÅET KÆRLIGHED (THAT'S AMORE) Malthe Saxer

Den Danske Filmskole - Denmark - 49'

HAJSZÁLREPEDÉS (CRAZE) Bianka Szelestey

Eötvös Loránd University Department of Film Studies - Hungary - 22'

SPRING ROLL DREAM Mai Vu

NFTS - United Kingdom - 9'

https://www.festival-cannes.com/en/infos-communiques/communique/articles/2022-short-films-and-la-cinef-selections

What Matters Most in Making a Great Movie is not the Size of Your Camera

 "What matters most in making a great movie is not the size of your camera, cast or crew, but the size of your imagination."

- EKENYERENGOZI Michael Chima,
Publisher/Editor, NOLLYWOOD MIRROR® Series
Producer and director of "Lagos in Motion".

Photo Credit: Canon Europe

Top 10 Cinema Cameras in 2022

1 Sony FX6
2, Canon EOS R5C
3. Blackmagic Ursa Mini Pro 12K
4. Canon EOS C300 Mark III
5. Blackmagic Design URSA Mini Pro G2
6. Panasonic Lumix BS1H
7. Z Cam E2
8.. Panasonic AU-EVa1 5.7K
9. Canon EOS C70
10. Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 6K

Case Study:
The Blair Witch Project

The Blair Witch Project is a 1999 American supernatural horror film written, directed and edited by Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sánchez. It is a fictional story of three student filmmakers—Heather Donahue, Michael C. Williams, and Joshua Leonard—who hike into the Black Hills near Burkittsville, Maryland, in 1994 to film a documentary about a local legend known as the Blair Witch. 

Myrick and Sánchez conceived of a fictional legend of the Blair Witch in 1993. They developed a 35-page screenplay with the dialogue to be improvised. A casting call advertisement in Backstage magazine was prepared by the directors; Donahue, Williams and Leonard were cast. The film entered production in October 1997, with the principal photography taking place in Maryland for eight days. About 20 hours of footage was shot, which was edited down to 82 minutes
Shot on an original budget of $35,000–60,000, the film had a final cost of $200,000–750,000 after post-production edits.

Running time
81 minutes
Country
United States
Language
English
Budget
$200,000–500,000
Box office
US$248.6 million

#film #filmmakers #design #project #photography #europe #language #filmmakers #filmmaking #camera #cast #crew #size #imagination

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Blair_Witch_Project