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We have always known. But because we are a people of values, we are not given to the rabid rancour you all are used to. Before an Igbo man retaliates, know that you have pushed him beyond his limits. And when he does retaliate, he does so not out of spite but for survival. Throw us to the wolves and we will come back leading the pack. And that is what makes us the envy of every other. There will never be a people more dignified and honorable like the Igbos. Never!
-@Ndidi Anike.
The Universal Movie Awards will return for its 3rd edition in November 18,2023.The film award event is open to filmmakers from around the world and also contributes to the Nigeria being positioned as a creative hub through its focus on high quality Nigeria film.
Universal Movie Awards is accepting entries to the 3rd UNIMA edition.
December 12, 2022 Opening Date
January 31, 2023 Early bird Deadline
March 31, 2023 Regular Deadline
July 31, 2023 Late Deadline
September 1, 2023 Extended Deadline
Applications for submitting films are being accepted on various film submission platforms.
a. Click to submit your film https://filmfreeway.com/UNIVERSALMOVIEAWARDS
b. Click to submit your film https://filmmakers.festhome.com/festival/universal-movie-awards
The Unima awards accepts films in five categories which include:
Feature Film,
Short Film,
Fiction,
Documentaries
Short Documentaries
Indigenous film
Feature Animation
Short Animation
More information on the programme will be released in the lead up to the event. https://unimaawards.org/
50 years after fellow citizen Ingrid Bergman, Swedish director Ruben Östlund, a two-time winner of the Palme d’or, will preside over the Jury of the 76th edition of the Festival de Cannes to be held from May 16 to 27.
« I am happy, proud, and humbled to be trusted with the honor of Jury president for this year’s Competition at the Festival de Cannes. Nowhere in the film world is the anticipation as strong as when the curtain rises on the films in Competition at the Festival. It is a privilege to be part of it, together with the Cannes audience of connoisseurs. I am sincere when I say that cinema culture is in its most important period ever. The cinema has a unique aspect – there, we watch together, and it demands more on what is shown and increases the intensity of the experience. It makes us reflect in a different way than when we dopamine scroll in front of the individual screens. », declared the futur President Ruben Östlund.
With a track record of only 6 features, the filmmaker was already selected twice at Un Certain Regard, where he was awarded the Jury Prize in 2014, before later entering the Competition. No sooner does he appears there that the Palme d’or is awarded to him twice; first for The Square at the 70th Festival de Cannes, and then for his next film acclaimed last year, Triangle of Sadness.
After studying cinema in Gothenburg, he directed his first feature film, The Guitar Mongoloid, in 2004. On the edge of the documentary genre, the film describes the intersecting destinies of outcasts in a fictional city that closely resembles Gothenburg. Humor as a tool of sociological description is already apparent.
His next short film, Autobiographical Scene Number 6882, gathers all the ingredients of his future work, which are affirmed in Involuntary, a feature film selected at Un Certain Regard in 2008. Östlund positions the camera at a relevant distance to better observe human behavior: small weaknesses and major flaws caused by group dynamics are then dissected to the point of discomfort. Two years later, Incident by a Bank won the Golden Bear for best short film at the 60th Berlinale – it examines the reactions of passers-by to a bank robbery. His third
feature film, Play, which was presented at the Directors’ Fortnight in Cannes in 2011, describes harassment between youth gangs. When it was released in Sweden it gave rise to a major debate across Swedish society.
In Force Majeure, which was screened at Un Certain Regard in 2014, the situation takes on the aspect of an avalanche where a father prefers to take cover rather than save his wife and children: how can he accept the aftermath, in bad faith and in fear of losing face? Such is the issue that the director examines with ferocious acidity.
Ruben Östlund repeatedly explores a provocative dialectic which has become his signature: an initial situation sets the stage for a sociological examination where the baser instincts of our humanity are painstakingly and uncompromisingly examined with corrosive humor.
In 2017, in The Square, he tells the fictional story of an artistic experiment he conducted in his native country. The film addresses brilliantly the boundaries of public space, art and the animal aspects within ourselves.
Finally, in 2022, Triangle of Sadness chronicles a cruise ship caught in a storm that reshuffles the cards of class struggle in Western societies in a nauseating hullabaloo.
By inviting Ruben Östlund to preside over the Jury, the Festival de Cannes wishes to pay a tribute to films that are uncompromising and forthright and which constantly demand that viewers challenge themselves and that art continue to invent itself.
Ruben Östlund has therefore become the third two-time winner of the Palme d’Or to be the President of the Jury, following Francis Ford Coppola and Emir Kusturica, and the very first to take on this role the year after his acclaim in Cannes.
« As president, concludes Ruben Östlund, I will remind my colleagues in the jury about the social function of the cinema. A good movie relates to the collective experience, stimulates us to think and makes us want to discuss what we have seen – So let’s watch together! »
Nigerian born US based Actor Tracy Obonna featured in a recent Hollywood movie Bermuda Island.
She played the character in Film: Laura
Beverly Hills Fine Arts Theatre is the location for the sold out premiere of the Mahal Empire thriller, Bermuda Island starring Tom Sizemore, John Wells, Greg Tally ,Tracy Obonna and others.
Directed by Adam Werth. Story by Michael Mahal & Sonny Mahal, Screenplay by Robert Thompson.
SYNOPSIS
Passengers on their way to a tropical paradise crash at sea and find themselves on a deserted island. Desperate to survive the elements and infighting between survivors, they find that the island has more in store for them than they ever imagined.
Tracy Obonna Bio
Tracy graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Theatre Arts from The University of Albany in New York. She then obtained a MBA in Finance from Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale Florida. Tracy also received a scholarship to play Division 1 volleyball for Youngstown State University in Ohio. She was then inducted into the Schools Hall of Fame. Tracy is now working on numerous film projects around the world.
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm5919982/?ref_=rvi_nm
The rapper formerly known as Kanye West told the world last year that he lost $1 billion after severing a partnership with Adidas. Now it turns out Adidas stands to lose even more.
The German sportswear brand expects to lose $1.3 billion in sales this year because Yeezy clothes and shoes will not be available, the company said Thursday. A lack of Yeezy products will also reduce operating profit by $534 million, with the company projected to break even this year, Adidas said.
“The numbers speak for themselves. We are currently not performing the way we should,” CEO Bjørn Gulden said in a statement. “2023 will be a year of transition to set the base to again be a growing and profitable company.”
Courtesy CBS News
SYNOPSIS
Passengers on their way to a tropical paradise crash at sea and find themselves on a deserted island. Desperate to survive the elements and infighting between survivors, they find that the island has more in store for them than they ever imagined.
Story by Michael Mahal & Sonny Mahal, Screenplay by Robert Thompson. Director Adam Werth
DOUBLE DEKOI SYNOPSIS:
Amanda (Abimbola ESTHER-Modella BBN) visits her younger brother, Steve (Baaj Adebule), in prison to hear his side of the story. Steve has been convicted of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment. After listening to his brother’s story, Amanda realizes it is a set up by the same organization that killed her father. StarCity Properties Ltd is an Estate Development firm on the outside. But on the inside, the company engages on illegal activities like drug and human trafficking. When Amanda’s father realized what the company was really about, he threatened to go to the police if they don’t stop. StarCity Properties Ltd had two choices, either to disengage from its criminal activities or remove Mr. Bankole from the face of the earth. They chose the latter. Now, StarCity Properties Ltd is a criminal organization ran by the blood thirsty Madam Seggy(Sola Sobowale), whose only daughter(Ojumu Christiana-ChristO BBN) is a renowned Police Inspector, Betty. Now, there is a potentially incriminating documents Mr. Bankole hid somewhere before his demise. StarCity Properties Ltd want that recording by all means. That is why they set up Bankole’s only son, Steve, hoping to propose a deal to the young man in exchange for his freedom.
Convinced that her brother is innocent, Amanda decides to infiltrate the Double Dekoi (StarCity Properties Ltd). She sends her mother(Franca Brown) to Abuja and joins her cousin, who lives in the ghetto. Amanda recruit her cousin, Jaspa(Nwekete Bright Chidi-BBN) and the funny Flecky (Seyitan Adeyemi). And together, they infiltrate the Cartel, in search of evidence that could set Steve free. “DOUBLE DEKOI” is intriguing, hilarious. Action packed and suspense- filled. But above all, the lessons are priceless.
Also starring
Kanayo O Kanayo as Don Malaika
Hilda Dokubo
Tony Akposheri
Angela Phillips
Leon Slaboh
Ronke Odusanya
Yinka Quadri
Sunny McDon
Elliel Otote and others
ABOUT THE DIRECTOR NNAMDI ODUNZE
You must have heard about the multi-million dollar star studded film Double Dekoi. But you may not have heard about the director behind it.
Nnamdi E Odunze is n ot new in the Nigerian film industry . he started his entertainment career at The Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), trained as a core Script Supervisor & Director by the best hands on television and films.
He created the first reality TV show in Nigeria after the Big Brother Africa in 2004,”Next Nollywood Star” a TV Talent Hunts Show. He has directed over a dozen movies/TV programmes. He has also packaged and managed several premiere deals for Nigerian international Diaspora filmmakers.
Odunze has a vast knowledge of organizing road shows of any standard.
He has to his credit, Assistant Director: “Sakobi Returns” (A ZebEjiro Production), Director: “Adaeze” (1st Igbo soap opera in Nollywood), Director: ‘Enu Ofe’(Igbo soap opera), Director: ‘Crossed Road’(Golden Pyramid Productions Ltd.), Director: ‘Comfort Zone’(Golden Pyramid Productions Ltd.), Director:
‘Adamma ’(FAD Productions Ltd.), Director: ‘Ikpe Omuma’ (TV Series-Golden Pyramid Productions Ltd./Africa Movie Magic), Director: ‘Secret Pain’(TV Series-Golden Pyramid Productions Ltd./Africa Movie Magic ),Director: ‘Diary of a Hood’(Heavy Metal Studios Ltd.), 1st Assistant Director ‘Sweet & Sour’ (ZebEjiro Productions (on The NTA Network Service), 1st Assistant Director & Script Supervisor: ‘Mortal Sin’ (ZebEjiro Productions Ltd), Assistant Director: ‘Extreme Measures’ (Zeb Ejiro Productions Ltd), Director: ‘Ice Cold’ (MacMillan Productions), Director: ‘Sweetest Goodbye’ and ‘Paradise of Shame’ (Monarch Productions), Production Designer & Script Supervisor:
Slave Masters’(New-Vision Productions, London), Producer: A Queen For Domingo(A Live Musical Drama Makeli Multi-media Productions Ltd), Assistant Director: ‘with God’ (O’King Productions Ltd.),Unit Director: Black Night In South America(African Oasis Productions, Brazil ), etc.
In the last few years, Odunze has established good reputation in producing and directing movies, organizing and management of events, stage plays in partnership with Nigerian Television stations.
Nnamdi’s experience spans beyond theatre and the shores of Nigeria as he can be considered as a world Citizen by being involved in productions “12 Ayilara Street (on tour) in the Republic of Benin by the Embassy of France/French Cultural Center (Lagos –Nigeria) and the Republic of Togo.
This flowing experiences made it easy fir him to gather top veterans like KOK, Sola Sobowale, Hijda Dokubo and a host if others in the criss cultural feature film Double Dekoi.
NnamdiE. Odunze is the creator of“Millionaire’s Mansion” reality TV shows.
Nnamdi E Odunze is happily married to his beautiful wife and blessed with lovely children.
LIST OF WINNERS AND NOMINESS UNIVERSAL MOVIE AWARDS 2022
BEST PICTURE CATEGORY
EAGLE WINGS (Nigeria) by Paul Apel Papel – WINNER
CRYSTAL COUNTLESS MISFORTUNE (Uganda) by Leonard Amanya – Nominee
KUNGFU GIRL (China) by Kenny Gage, Devon Downs -Nominee
OCTOBER 22 (Singapore) by Nauwroz Khan – Nominee
KAPANA (Namibia) by Philippe Talavera – Nominee
NOT TO FORGET (USA) by Valerio Zanoli – Nominee
STAY (USA) by Oluyinka Davids -Nominee
NEXT TUESDAY (Nigeria) by Mercy Manuels – Nominee
BEST ACTOR MALE CATEGORY
ENYINNA NWIGWE EAGLE WINGS (Nigeria) – WINNER
ABIGETE EDISON (CRYSTAL COUNTLESS MISFORTUNE) Uganda – Nominee
LOUIS GOSSETT JR NOT TO FORGET (USA) -Nominee
A PANNEEIRCHELVAM OCTOBER 22 (Singapore) -Nominee
BEST ACTOR FEMALE CATEGORY
OLYMPIA DUKAKIS (NOT TO FORGET) USA – WINNER
MIKIROS GAROES (KAPANA) Namibia – Nominee
CLEO KABUYE (CRYSTAL COUNTLESS MISFORTUNE ) Uganda – Nominee
YIXI TAO (KUNGFU GIRL) China – Nominee
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR MALE CATEGORY
FEMI JACOBS (EAGLE WINGS )Nigeria – WINNER
GEORGE CHAKIRIS (NOT TO FORGET) (USA) – Nominee
JOSHUA EMMANUEL (NEXT TUESDAY) Nigeria – Nominee
JOSEPH BENJAMIN (STAY) USA – Nominee
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR FEMALE CATEGORY
KATOOKO SUSAN (CRYSTAL COUNTLESS MISFORTUNE) Uganda – WINNER
STELLA DAMASUS (STAY) USA – Nominee
KAREN GRASSLE (NOT TO FORGET) USA – Nominee
SITHIRA THEVI (OCTOBER 22 )Singapore – Nominee
BEST DIRECTOR CATEGORY
PAUL APEL PAPEL (EAGLE WINGS) Nigeria – WINNER
VALERIO ZANOLI (NOT TO FORGET) USA – Nominee
LEONARD AMANYA (CRYSTAL COUNTLESS MISFORTUNE) Uganda – Nominee
NAUWROZ KHAN (OCTOBER 22 )Singapore – Nominee
BEST SCREENPLAY CATEGORY
NOT TO FORGET (USA) – WINNER
OCTOBER 22 (Singapore) – Nominee
KAPANA (Namibia) – Nominee
CRYSTAL COUNTLESS MISFORTUNE (Uganda) – Nominee
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY CATEGORY
NOT TO FORGET (USA) – WINNER
EAGLE WINGS (Nigeria) – Nominee
STAY (USA) – Nominee
OCTOBER 22 (Singapore) – Nominee
BEST STORY CATEGORY
CRYSTAL COUNTLESS MISFORTUNE (Uganda) – WINNER
NOT TO FORGET (USA) – Nominee
EAGLE WINGS (Nigeria) – Nominee
OCTOBER 22 (Singapore) – Nominee
BEST ORIGINAL SONG CATEGORY
EAGLE WINGS (Nigeria) – WINNER
NOT TO FORGET (USA)- Nominee
CRYSTAL COUNTLESS MISFORTUNE (Uganda) – Nominee
OCTOBER 22 (Singapore) – Nominee
SHORT FILM CATEGORY
JOSEPH (Nigeria) by Efa Iwara, Ifeme C.S – WINNER
WASHERWOMAN (UK) by Obi Ejikeme – Nominee
UNDERWATER (Switzerland) by Nicolas Seguel – Nominee
EMI (I AM MY DEMON) (Nigeria) by Barbara Babarinsa – Nominee
FEATURE DOCUMENTARY FILM CATEGORY
ASYLUM LOVE HAS NO BOUNDARIES (UK) by Anastasia Charalambous Barnfather – WINNER
WHERE LUNA LIVES (Belarus) by Aliaksandra Markava – Nominee
SWIMMING AGAINST THE CURRENT. (USA) by Aminah Salaam – Nominee
BLACK DADDY THE MOVIE (USA) by Damon Jamal Taylor – Nominee
THE CONDEMNED FREE (USA) by Bethel Bates – Nominee
SHORT DOCUMENTARY FILM CATEGORY
AMERICAN JUSTICE ON TRIAL: PEOPLE V. NEWTON (USA) by Andrew Abrahams, Herb Ferrette – WINNER
ROMEO YUSUPOV (New Zealand) by Romeo Yusupov – Nominee
IN A WHOLE NEW WAY (USA) by Jonathan Fisher – Nominee
RAPE OF JUSTICE (Nigeria) by Willie Workman Oga – Nominee
ANIMATION FILM CATEGORY
LION HARE & HYENA (South Africa) by Sheldon Christopher Noble – WINNER
HOW MUCH FOR THE EXAMS (Croatia) by Ivica Valentić – Nominee
FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM CATEGORY
ITLU AMMA (India) by Umamaheswara rao C – WINNER
KIAPO (OATH) (Kenya) by Amos Mwaki – Nominee
JUYIN SARUATA ( PALACE COUP) (Nigeria) by Falalu A. Dorayi – Nominee
African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) and the Silverbird Group have signed an MoU in an agreement to construct a state-of-the-art and Africa’s largest film and studio studio complex in Nigeria.
The Partnership was signed by Mrs. Helen Brume, Director Project & Asset-Based Finance, Afreximbank and Mr. Ben Murray-Bruce, Founder of Silverbird Group.
The Ben Murray-Bruce Studios and Film Academy (BMB Studios and Film Academy), will transform the 32,725 square meter land area in Eko Atlantic City into two purpose-built sound stages, a Digital Hub with music and broadcast studios, editing bays, screening rooms, Studio backlot, Production Offices and a Film Academy designed to meet the aspirations of today’s and tomorrow’s content creators.
The development of the BMB Studios and Film Academy is in line with Afreximbank’s Creative Africa Nexus (CANEX) Initiative, a programme established by the Bank to support Africa’s creative and cultural industry.
Courtesy Vanguard Newspaper : Read more (https://www.vanguardngr.com/2022/11/afreximbank-silverbird-sign-mou-to-construct-world-class-film-studio-complex-in-nigeria/)
Rudolf Brenyah Launches the Maiden Edition of Africa’s Future Empowerment Conference (AFEC)
Rudolf Brenyah – a Dutch-born Ghanaian – is set to launch a revolutionary Africa’s Future Empowerment
Conference on October 8th, 2022, in Lagos, Nigeria.
Rudolf Brenyah, through Rudolf Brenyah International, presents the first edition of Africa’s Future Empowerment Conference (AFEC), slated for 8th October 2022. The event, designed to empower, inspire, and prepare African youths for leadership, will take place at D’podium International Event Center, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria.
Rudolf Okyere-Brenyah is an author, award-winning digital entrepreneur, and motivational speaker.
Despite being born in Amsterdam to Ghanaian parents and spending most of his life in the West, Rudolf has always focused on African Youths, which is his motivation for launching AFEC.
According to a publication from UNICEF, three out of five people are under the age of 25, and half of Africa’s population is between 3 and 24 years old, making Africa the youngest continent. Rudolf Brenyah believes this population should be leveraged and utilized for Africa’s development. When he was asked the reason he started this conference, Rudolf said;
“Africa has a very young population. So, the reason why I started the Africa’s Future Empowerment Conference
(AFEC) is because I want to ensure that I play my part in preparing this young population that we have for
leadership and consequently, position them for greatness. We do not always have to depend on the government for
everything. I believe in taking actions not complaints. And this is what AFEC is all about – taking actions that will impact Africa positively.”
AFEC is Rudolf’s way of contributing to Africa’s development. AFEC is a mega-conference! The conference aims to educate African youths on self-development, financial education, entrepreneurship, purpose discovery, unleashing potentials, tech skills, and equipping them for leadership.
Africa’s Future Empowerment Conference is not just a conference but a movement. AFEC is projected to take off in Nigeria and move on to every African country! And it gets better. AFEC will feature a section called ‘Pitch and Win’, where people (especially young minds) can present their business ideas and win prizes like grants and mentorship.
Entry into the event is free, but registration is compulsory.
You can register for the conference here.
Media Contact
Africa’s Future Empowerment Conference AFEC
Rudolf Brenyah