THE AFRICA MOVIE ACADEMY AWARDS CALL FOR ENTRIES 2014

The Africa Movie Academy Awards invites filmmakers to submit their feature, short and documentary works for consideration for the 10th edition of the prestigious 2014 AMAA Awards that honours and celebrate the best in the art of filmmaking and the professionals who make the industry the pride of Africa.

The deadline for submissions is 15 January 2014 and nominations will be announced in the first week of March. Acceptable genres include feature length films, shorts and documentary entries. Only films produced, premiered and or released between May 2012 and December 2013 are eligible. Features may not exceed 120 minutes and shorts should not be longer than 40 minutes.

The Jury of the prestigious continental motion picture reward system rising from its Annual General Meeting which took place recently in Durban, South Africa has approved the guidelines for the submission of films for the 2014 edition of the awards.

The AGM which was attended by Mr Ayo Baku, Director of Pan-African Film Festival Los Angeles, Dr. Asantewa Olatunji, Co-Director of PAFF, Mr. Steve Ayorinde, Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief of National Mirror Newspaper, Mr. Shuaib Hussein, Journalist and Film Critic, Ms June Givanni, an international film curator, Mr. Keith Shiri, an international Film curator and programme advisor to the London Film Festival, Mr. Berni Goldblat, member of the jury of the International Francophone Film Festival of Namur (FIFF Namur) in Belgium and Professor Hyginus Ekwuazi, lecturer at the department of Dramatic Art, University of Ibadan and also former Managing Director of Nigeria Film Corporation, Jos.

Speaking on some of the decisions taken by the Jurors, Ms. Givanni who presided over the AGM revealed that the Jury made some amendments of the award categories adding that the awards organization and the jury are poised to deliver a good tenth year anniversary event.

"We made some changes on the award categories. We have introduced an award that is named after former President Nelson Mandela called Madiba Africa Vision Awards which will be given at the discretion of the Jury to any film captures the essence and vision of the category. The category of Best Film by African Living Abroad has been cancelled.

We also renamed two categories after two exceptional Africans who have contributed to the growth and development of the film industry. The Best Film in African Language will now be Sembene Ousmane Awards for Best Film in African Language while the Best Short Film Award category will now be called Efere Ozako Award for Best Short Film. AMAA is immortalizing the names of these two great men with the awards," she said.

Ms Givanni also said that a new category Best Director First Feature Film has been introduced to encourage young and upcoming film directors to continue to strive for excellence and best practices.

The award in its nine years has had international music and Hollywood icons such as Danny Glover, Forest Whittaker, Morris Chesnut, Rockmond Dunbar, Angela Basset, Monique, Miriam Makeba, Mario Van Peebles,Jimmy Jean Louis, Hakeem Kae Kazim and host other others in attendance at different times.

Over 700 films were entered for the awards in 2013 from over 40 countries within Africa and the Diaspora and the award has been described by international media most especially CNN as the Africa's Oscars.

The awards organization also holds nominations gala night where nominees are announced for different categories across different African cities to drive home the pan-African vision of the scheme with the last 2013 nomination gala night was hosted in Lilongwe, Malawi by President Joyce Banda who has now also endowed a prize for the best film depicting positive stories about women.

"There is this great awareness of the possibilities in Africa. This has been an exciting year for African cinema as many big budget productions have been produced on the continent and distribution is becoming more accessible to African films," says AMAA founder Academy CEO Peace Anyiam-Osigwe.

The primary aim of the African Movie Academy Awards (popularly known AMAA) is to facilitate the development and showcase the social relevance of African Film and Cinema. Presented to recognize excellence in professionals in the Africa film industry, including directors, actors and writers, the Awards are aimed at honoring and promoting such excellence as well as uniting the African continent through arts and culture.

Submission must be entered online at www.ama-awards.com. Each completed entry form must be accompanied by all the supporting materials listed on the submission forms, including the synopsis of the film, the list of credits, 5 DVD copies of the film and proof of the right to submit.

For more information see www.ama-awards.com

We look forward to seeing your film!

Sincere regards,

CEO: Ms Peace Anyian-Osigwe and the AMAA Team

I CREATED EKO FILM FESTIVAL TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE –HOPE OPARA

Story by Ifeoma Meze

Eko International Film festival may not be the biggest in the country but the man behind it, Hope Opara is proud of what he has done. He spoke with Snr Reporter, Ifeoma Meze, about this and more.

How did the Eko International Film Festival start?

I started from publishing a magazine called, Supple and my interest was in films and film festival. I was actually advised to look into that area of writing. We started by writing about local and international stars that we interview from time to time; we also cover events globally. The publication is online. We decided to do the publication online because when you are online the world is seeing you but when you are in print, the circulation might be within an environment. As we moved on with writing about films and film festivals, I also started getting invitations to different film festivals in many countries. That was where I started having the passion in international film festival. Film festival is an industry on its own.

When did you finally launch the film festival?

I will say we started planning in 2009, because no matter how small a film festival is, it takes an average of 12 months to prepare for it. You cannot just stand up and have a town hall meeting and then start calling people that you are having an international film festival. It involves a lot of things. You have a credible contact globally to advertise the film festival because film festival is like a body. Others will have to know that something like that is going on and you have to choose a date that does not directly conflict with major film festivals. These are part of the preparations. When you get this done and get it registered globally, then the acceptability will be there. That is when you announce for film submissions. You get film submissions from filmmakers around the world. The people that submit their films, you would give them their return ticket to come to your festival because they are bringing their work for you to screen and you have to be very careful with their projects. This year’s festival is going to start from July 9 to 14. July 9 is the opening ceremony, and then July 10 to 13 is the screening period while July 14 is the award night.

How was the first edition of the festival received?

The first outing was big in terms of publicity but it was not big based on the fact that we did not have the required resources to invite people who actually submitted their films because we got film submissions from 26 countries of the world. It involves some financial commitment to do that. That was our challenge at that time and we were able to do the much we can. If the government and corporate organisations will look into the level of branding this festival can give them, I think they will be knocking on our doors to sponsor the course. Multinational companies around the world do not joke with film festivals. We all know that after listening to news on TV, the next thing people look forward to is a film, which can be a documentary, investigative, feature, soap, cartoon and all the rest of them. If there are no varieties on television, you get bored and leave the house. Getting sponsorship for film festival is probably getting into the psyche of Nigerian corporate organisation that it is a very good window to brand a product.

What are we to expect at this year’s edition of the festival?

I think this year is going to be better than that of last year because it is about film submission. It’s about screening of people’s works. It’s about creating the awareness for the people in the society, it is also about having workshops for up coming film producers who decide to take film as a career. We are going to have a very good workshop for that. We are also building a good distribution channel for people who want to exhibit their films. A film festival is all about film business, how to get it right for film producers because all these exhibitions from different countries with different creativity are going to open and broaden people’s mind on how things are being done. Festivals are not about wearing the best clothes and smiling at the camera on red carpet. They are all about film business and we intend to do a good job in the festival that is coming up in July.

Have you always had passion for film?

If I have to go back to my school days like when I was in secondary school, the kind of films I watched then were marshal art movies. I loved those movies and I have a black belt in Kung fu. So, those were the kind of films we were watching in those days – Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan, Chuck Norris, but now we are seeing so many varieties and we are tapping into them.

Was there a gap you wanted to bridge by establishing Eko International Film Festival, knowing that there are many other film festivals in Nigeria?

I started Eko Film Festival because I wanted to create a difference and add value to what others had been doing.

Did you study anything close to theatre arts?

No, I read finance at Nekede Polytechnic, Owerri while my MBA was also in finance at Abubaka Tafawa Balewa University in Bauchi State.

Wearing suit and sitting in an air-conditioned office and analysing financial report was not your calling?

I will tell you a short story. There was a time in Owerri I came across product, a body cream called ‘Hope’ which happens to be my name. I told myself immediate I saw that one day I would own a company. From that day on, I started thinking of being a businessman. I told myself that whatever I am going to do, I would definitely be a businessman. After my youth service, I came to Lagos and started hustling. I got into printing and from printing I went into publishing before going into writing films.

You never worked for anybody?

I did a little freelancing for a friend of mine who owns Top Media Communications, Reginald Aguchie. I did freelancing for him before I started my own outfit. I did not work for someone up to one year before establishing my own outfit. I picked up an idea and started building it. I prefer publishing online because it gives you less stress but it takes time for people to begin to know you.

How easy was it for you when you started? Did you get support from anywhere?

I got support from my immediate elder brother but I must say that nothing comes easy. I started my business from the scratch.

Were there many challenges that you almost gave up?

Sometimes you wake up in the morning and you don’t know where you are going. That is the challenge; unlike someone that is working for a company and at the end of the month he or she earns a salary. I don’t know how many people who have become multibillionaires in the world worked for somebody, unless you are going to steal it. So, if you want to be a billionaire, you better start thinking of what you can do by yourself. Create something that can add value to the society through something you have passion for. If you want to work for somebody, you can be comfortable, drive a good car, and live in a good home. You can have some good digits at the end of the month, but I don’t know how many people Dangotte must have worked for to become the richest man in Africa.

So did you start by thinking of becoming a billionaire?

Don’t get me wrong; don’t start by thinking of how to become the richest man in the world. Start thinking of how to create something that people will appreciate and come to you. Create something that a lot of people are going to benefit from. If at the end of the day you become a millionaire, good.

Are you from a very rich family?

I don’t know what people mean by a rich family. I came from an average family. At least everybody is educated in the family. Growing up was like a normal childhood. Boys will always be boys. You beat somebody up and someone else beats you up the following day. You go to school, come back and go to the farm, fetch water and do other chores you do while living in the village.

So you grew up in the village?

Yes, I grew up in the village. I am a complete village man. I like local delicacies too.

When was the last time you visited your village?

It should be last year. I don’t go there regularly because all my people are outside the country including my mom.

Is this why you are establishing the film festival in Lagos instead of Abia State where you come from?

I am based in Lagos and I have to do it where I am usually at. Since there is Lagos Film Festival already, I decided to call mine Eko International Film Festival.

What position will you get to and you will say you have reached the peak of your career?

I don’t think there will be a highest height because life is a continuous process until the day God says it is your time to leave the earth.

Is your family okay with your busy schedules and constant travels?

Nobody is complaining.

’12 YEARS A SLAVE,’ ‘AMERICAN HUSTLE’ LEAD 2014 GOLDEN GLOBES NOMINATIONS

71st Annual Golden Globes Nominations.

BEST MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA
“12 Years a Slave”
“Captain Phillips”
“Gravity”
“Philomena”
“Rush”

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA
Cate Blanchett, “Blue Jasmine”
Sandra Bullock, “Gravity”
Judi Dench, “Philomena”
Emma Thompson, “Saving Mr. Banks”
Kate Winslet, “Labor Day”

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA
Chiwetel Ejiofor, “12 Years a Slave”
Idris Elba, “Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom”
Tom Hanks, “Saving Mr. Banks”
Matthew McConaughey, “Dallas Buyers Club”
Robert Redford, “All Is Lost”

BEST MOTION PICTURE – COMEDY OR MUSICAL
“American Hustle”
“Her”
“Inside Llewyn Davis”
“Nebraska”
“The Wolf Of Wall Street”

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE – COMEDY OR MUSICAL
Amy Adams, “American Hustle”
Julie Delpy, “Before Midnight”
Greta Gerwig, “Frances Ha”
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, “Enough Said”
Meryl Streep, “August: Osage County”

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE – COMEDY OR MUSICAL
Christian Bale, “American Hustle”
Bruce Dern, “Nebraska”
Leonardo DiCaprio, “The Wolf of Wall Street”
Oscar Isaac, “Inside Llewyn Davis”
Joaquin Phoenix, “Her”

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE FILM
“The Croods”
“Despicable Me 2″
“Frozen”

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
“Blue is the Warmest Color”
“The Great Beauty”
“The Hunt”
“The Past”
“The Wind Rises”

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MOTION PICTURE
Sally Hawkins, “Blue Jasmine”
Jennifer Lawrence “American Hustle”
Lupita Nyong’o, “12 Years a Slave”
Julia Roberts, “August: Osage County”
June Squibb, “Nebraska”

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MOTION PICTURE
Barkhad Abdi, “Captain Phillips”
Daniel Brühl, “Rush”
Bradley Cooper, “American Hustle”
Michael Fassbender, “12 Years a Slave”
Jared Leto, “Dallas Buyers Club”

BEST DIRECTOR – MOTION PICTURE

Alfonso Cuaron, “Gravity”
Paul Greengrass, Captain Phillips”
Steve McQueen, “12 Years a Slave”
Alexander Payne, “Nebraska”
David O. Russell, “American Hustle”

BEST SCREENPLAY – MOTION PICTURE
Spike Jonze, “Her”
Bob Nelson, “Nebraska”
Jeff Pope, Steve Coogan, “Philomena”
John Ridley, “12 Years A Slave”
Eric Warren Singer, David O. Russell, “American Hustle”

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE – MOTION PICTURE
Alex Ebert, “All Is Lost”
Alex Heffes, “Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom”
Steven Price, “Gravity”
John Williams, “The Book Thief”
Hans Zimmer, “12 Years A Slave”

BEST ORIGINAL SONG – MOTION PICTURE
“Atlas,” “Hunger Games: Catching Fire”
Music by: Chris Martin, Guy Berryman, Jonny Buckland, Will Champion
Lyrics by: Chris Martin, Guy Berryman, Jonny Buckland, Will Champion

“Let It Go,” “Frozen”
Music by: Kristen Anderson Lopez, Robert Lopez
Lyrics by: Kristen Anderson Lopez, Robert Lopez

“Ordinary Love,” “Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom”
Music by: Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton, Larry Mullen, Jr., Brian Burton
Lyrics by: Bono

“Please Mr Kennedy,” “Inside Llewyn Davis”
Music by: Ed Rush, George Cromarty, T Bone Burnett, Justin Timberlake, Joel
Coen, Ethan Coen
Lyrics by: Ed Rush, George Cromarty, T Bone Burnett, Justin Timberlake, Joel
Coen, Ethan Coen

“Sweeter Than Fiction,” “One Chance”
Music by: Taylor Swift, Jack Antonoff
Lyrics by: Taylor Swift, Jack Antonoff

BEST TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA
“Breaking Bad”
“Downton Abbey”
“The Good Wife”
“House Of Cards”
“Masters Of Sex”

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA
Julianna Margulies, “The Good Wife”
Tatiana Maslany, “Orphan Black”
Taylor Schilling, “Orange Is The New Black”
Kerry Washington, “Scandal”
Robin Wright, “House Of Cards”

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA
Bryan Cranston, “Breaking Bad”
Liev Schreiber, “Ray Donovan”
Michael Sheen, “Masters of Sex”
Kevin Spacey, “House of Cards”
James Spader, “The Blacklist”

BEST TELEVISION SERIES – COMEDY OR MUSICAL
“The Big Bang Theory”
“Brooklyn Nine-Nine”
“Girls”
“Modern Family”
“Parks & Recreation”

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES – COMEDY OR MUSICAL
Zooey Deschanel, “New Girl”
Lena Dunham, “Girls”
Edie Falco, “Nurse Jackie”
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, “Veep”
Amy Poehler, “Parks & Recreation”

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES – COMEDY OR MUSICAL
Jason Bateman, “Arrested Development”
Don Cheadle, “House of Lies”
Michael J. Fox, “The Michael J. Fox Show”
Jim Parsons, “The Big Bang Theory”
Andy Samberg, “Brooklyn Nine-Nine”

BEST MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
“American Horror Story: Coven”
“Behind The Candelabra”
“Dancing on the Edge”
“Top of the Lake”
“White Queen”

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Helena Bonham Carter, “Burton and Taylor”
Rebecca Ferguson, “White Queen”
Jessica Lange, “American Horror Story: Coven”
Helen Mirren, “Phil Spector”
Elisabeth Moss, “Top of the Lake”

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SERIES, MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION

Matt Damon, “Behind the Candelabra”
Michael Douglas, “Behind the Candelabra”
Chiwetel Ejiofor, “Dancing on the Edge”
Idris Elba, “Luther”
Al Pacino, “Phil Spector”

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A SERIES, MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Jacqueline Bisset, “Dancing on the Edge”
Janet McTeer, “White Queen”
Hayden Panettiere , “Nashville”
Monica Potter, “Parenthood”
Sofia Vergara, “Modern Family”

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A SERIES, MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Josh Charles, “The Good Wife”
Rob Lowe, “Behind the Candelabra”
Aaron Paul, “Breaking Bad”
Corey Stoll, “House of Cards”
Jon Voight, “Ray Donovan”

WINNIE MANDELA IS SPITTING FIRE...

 "I cannot forgive him for going to receive the Nobel [Peace Prize in 1993] with his jailer [FW] de Klerk. Hand in hand they went. Do you think de Klerk released him from the goodness o his heart? He had to. The times dictated it. "Look at this Truth and Reconciliation charade. He should never have agreed to it." Again her anger was focused on Mandela. "What good does the truth do? How does it help anyone to know where and how their loved ones were killed or buried? That Bishop Tutu who turned it all into a religious circus came here," she said pointing to an empty chair in the distance. "He had the cheek to tell me to appear. I told him a few home truths. I told him that he and his other like-minded cretins were only sitting here because of our struggle and ME. Because of the things I and people like me had done to get freedom." "I am not alone. The people of Soweto are still with me. Look what they make him do. The great Mandela. He has no control or say any more. They put that huge statue of him right in the middle of the most affluent "white" area of Johannesburg. Not here where we spilled our blood and where it all started. Mandela is now a corporate foundation. He is wheeled out globally to collect the money and he is content doing that. The ANC have effectively sidelined him but they keep him as a figurehead for the sake of appearance."

HALF OF A YELLOW SUN FILM GET DISTRIBUTORS

I bring you the good news that Nigeria’s most expensive film at the moment Half of a Yellow Sun has found distributors, according to Tambay A. Obenson of Shadow and Act, international sales have been brisk, as the sales company representing the film, Metro International Entertainment, reported that it has sold UK, Australia, Canada and New Zealand rights to the Biafran War film, an adaptation of famous author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's Orange Prize-winning novel of the same title. Metro said that it is currently fielding "multiple offers" from USA distributors and finally we have the first official movie posters of Half of a Yellow Sun!

GIRLS: HIDDEN CAMERAS AND SEX GAMES.

In recent times I have come across many scandals in some tabloids about sexual escapades that involved some notable celebrities in the past but these days, one doesn’t need to pay any junk reporter to publish such blackmails any more .You can just simply use a camera phone and the next minutes the whole world is seeing everything on the social media without being mindful of the serious damage this must have caused the victim.

It happened to one popular actress and if not that she was involved with a white man who went ahead and married her, she would have been in total mess. The question for the ladies is why will you give out your nude pictures to your boy friends? Why would you allow your mere boy friend to be taking your nude pictures from all angles without you taking his own nude pictures? Why would you allow a man to record you’re sucking him and you didn’t record him when he is heading you? A man will always   have a second chance in most relationships but ladies find it very difficult to have a second chance.

Please ladies, “let’s go out” with a boy friend is different from “let go in “as husband and wife. I have seen recently what looks like Chidinma  the new singing sensation on a sex tape, I felt bad, what if this is true, who is that Nigerian man that will close his eyes and take her as a wife. I am from the Ibo nation and our wives are regarded as our pride may be the same thing applies in other tribes. Irrespective of that, why would  a sane girl  get so exposed over a temporary relationship like this ,even if the man is your husband won’t you have some level of reservations in case anything happens to that relationship?

Most times ladies like those who tell them lies instead of facing reality and for the very fact that they usually have a mind set of what they want from a relationship which might be deceitful without being mindful that over 85 percent of men are hunters.

Are you aware that the casual relationships you have been enjoying might one day play back on you? Just recently a lady’s sex video was sent to the fiancé few days to her wedding and that is supposed to be the real man she wants to spend the rest of her life with. One can assume that there might be a hidden camera, only God knows why some men are so mean and heartless with such nasty revelations.

Ladies! Are you I blame in most cases? We know that the economic hardship prompt taking some decisions, to gain some favors, but you must be careful that you should not expose yourself to what will hunt you all your life. “Love is not enough for all I know”. No one is looking for a virgin as a wife or husband because you will search endlessly, have fun as much as you can but don’t leave your traces worse, because you have to beware of anything going viral on the social media.

 For guys, who care, for girls, we care.

... by Hope Opara

GOOD BYE MADIBA

          

 “Top 10 Nelson Mandela Quotes of All-Time.”

1. Nothing in this world is impossible and Mandela makes sure to remind us of that.

“It always seems impossible until it’s done.”

2. A lot of people find it easy to be pessimistic and think of the negatives that can arise out of a situation. But in this quote, Mandela shows us that thinking positive is the only way to go. The more positive you think, the more positive the outcome will probably be.

“I am fundamentally an optimist. Whether that comes from nature or nurture, I cannot say. Part of being optimistic is keeping one’s head pointed toward the sun, one’s feet moving forward. There were many dark moments when my faith in humanity was sorely tested, but I would not and could not give myself up to despair. That way lays defeat and death.”

3. Living isn’t just about doing for yourself, but what you do for others as well.

“For to be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.”

4. An ode to the fact that racism is not passed on genetically, but passed on through teachings.

“No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.”

5.  Life is a course with endless obstacles to hurdle.

“After climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more hills to climb.”

6. We are too quick to give up and refuse to get up from our failures. If we don’t fight to get up, we are giving up on something bigger — life.

“The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.”

7. Sometimes you can leave a place and find that the only thing that has changed after all the years is yourself.

“There is nothing like returning to a place that remains unchanged to find the ways in which you yourself have altered.”

8. Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.

“If you want to make peace with your enemy, you have to work with your enemy. Then he becomes your partner.”

9. Be brave!

“I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.”

10. From the poorest of countries to the richest of nations, education is the key to moving forward in any society.

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”

-          Ibukun Onitiju

ADELE BROKE A NEW RECORD

Adele's album 21 has broken a new record by becoming the first album to be downloaded three million times.

The Rolling In The Deep singer released her second album 21 in 2011 but it is still selling so well that it has become the first to reach the milestone, according to the Daily Mirror.

But the figure doesn't take into consideration physical copies bought, which takes the album's total sales up to 10,798,000.

A further 40,000 sales were made from its vinyl release and Nielsen SoundScan has placed it at number 13 on the list of best-selling albums since 1991.

Oscar-winner Adele is said to be working on her third album at the moment. Her first, titled 19, was released in 2008.

BROKEN MOVIE DVD DROPS DECEMBER 9

With a couple of award wins to its credit, multiple nominations at the Nollywood Movies Awards 2013 and an official selection at the 4th Eko International Film Festival, EKOIFF 2013, the much anticipated DVD release of Bright Wonder’s flick, which is barely few days away is signed and sealed awaiting delivery.

Scheduled to hit the DVD market on Monday, December 9, 2013, all plans has been concluded with Paulo International Concepts for its marketing and distribution, nationwide.

Broken movie which starred Nse Ikpe Etim, Kalu Ikeagwu, Bimbo Manuel, Iyke adiele, Tehilla Adiele and a host of others had a spectacular première at the Silverbird Cinemas Abuja in March 28, 2013. A social movie it is which tends to underscore the adverse effects of child abuse and poor parental upbringing. The movie is centred on the lives of two adults, past lovers and once married but along the line their lives was thrown into chaos as the mistakes of their past including the aftermath of children they failed to bring up properly in their selfish union, hunted their present as asylum, death-roll and street living marred their once sane lives.

For more information on distribution and marketing, visit; www.facebook.com/Brokenmovieng ; www.twitter.com/Brokenmovie ; or call: 08035765357, 08123272787

by Dumkenna Nnadi

Christopher Evan Welch, Actor on Stage and Screen, Dies in L.A.

Christopher Evan Welch, who appeared onstage in numerous plays, in films including Steven Spielberg’s “War of the Worlds” and “Lincoln,” Paul Thomas Anderson’s “The Master” and Woody Allen’s “Vicky Cristina Barcelona,” as well as on television, died early Monday at a Los Angeles hospital, his agency Paradigm confirmed. He is believed to have been 48.

The actor had been in L.A. shooting a role in the upcoming HBO series “Silicon Valley.”

Welch made his Broadway debut in 1997 in the play “London Assurance.” He played the Reverend Samuel Parris in the 2002 revival of Arthur Miller’s “The Crucible” on the Rialto and had a role in “Festen” in 2006. He also had numerous off-Broadway credits.

Other film credits include 2004′s “The Stepford Wives,” Sydney Pollack’s “The Interpreter,” “The Hoax,” “The Good Shepherd” and “Synecdoche, NY.” He was the narrator of “Vicky Cristina Barcelona.”

In 2010 he was a series regular on AMC’s cerebral spy drama “Rubicon” as Grant Test. His first TV credit came in 1993 for voice work on “Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog” as Miles “Tails” Prower. He went on to guest on series including “The Sopranos,” “The Practice,” “Law & Order: Criminal Intent,” “Law & Order: SVU” and “The Good Wife

ROWLAND SIGNS CO PRODUCTION CONTRACT WITH ASI - B FILMS

                 Rowland Okorie Ceo Equity Concepts and Ceo Asi B Films Mr Asi Mathaba 

KNOW YOUR MOVIES GAINS CO-PRODUCTION CONTRACT DISCOP AFRICA 2013.

Equity Concepts Entertainments and Asi B Films have signed a contract to co-produce KNOW YOUR MOVIES tv game show in South Africa. The signing took place after DISCOP AFRICA at Sandton Convention Centre Johannesburg on 6th -8th of November.  The production of the game show kicks off in February next year 2014 said the Ceo of Asi B Films Mr Asi Mathaba – Executive CEO/Producer and Director.

Asi B Films is One of the top production houses in South Africa doing business with Network channels like SABC, Multi Choice Etv to mention but a few.  An Innovative film, television and multimedia Production Company, that seeks to tell untold South African and African stories with a uniquely bringing to life the human element using internationally celebrated formats of storytelling inspired by the unrivalled beauty, abundance and generosity provided by Africa. Expressing himself said we are happy and ready to treat this idea by taking the concept to the next level, treat with an angelic innocence to give allowance to dream up a cutting-edge creative solution in line with production requirements.

                              Rowland Okorie  and  Mr Asi Mathaba

The Ceo of Equity Concepts who was nominated by the FORMAT PEOPLE based in USA to attend DISCOP in South Africa where he would find a deal in terms of buyers, directors, producers and where he would pitch for a competition with other African format producers finally got a juicy co-production deal worth millions of dollars. He was unable to make the trip till the last day of the event due to circumstances beyond his control thou he is finally happy about his new contract but regret not been on time to participate in the competition.

DISCOP is an event which brings together participants from tv content markets, co-production forums and conference programs specifically targeting Content Sellers, Content buyers ,Content producers who are Creators, developers and producers of film and television content.

Watch Play and Win is hitting your screen soon. Said the CAMA award winner event manager of the year Mr Rowland Okorie.

By Ebuka

  

CNN 2013 HEROES

Here are the top 10 Heroes of 2013, in alphabetical order:

                                                    DALE

Dale Beatty: Making life easier for disabled veterans

After Dale Beatty lost his legs in the Iraq war, his community thanked him for his service by helping him build a home. To pay it forward, Beatty co-founded Purple Heart Homes, which has helped build or modify homes for dozens of disabled U.S. veterans. "We wouldn't leave someone behind on the battlefield," Beatty said.

  

                                                 GEORGE

Georges Bwelle: Bringing health care to the jungle

For decades, Georges Bwelle watched his father suffer, unable to get the medical attention he needed. Now a doctor, Bwelle travels into the jungles of his native Cameroon nearly every weekend, providing free medical care for those who don't have access to good health care. "To make people laugh, to reduce the pain, that's why I'm doing this," he said.

                                                            ROBIN

Robin Emmons: Creating an oasis in a 'food desert'

More than 72,000 people in Charlotte, North Carolina, lack access to fresh produce. When Robin Emmons discovered this problem, she took action. "I decided to rip up my whole backyard and make it all a garden for people in need," she said. Since 2008, Emmons has grown more than 26,000 pounds of fruits and vegetables for area residents.

                                                                  DANIELLE

Danielle Gletow: Granting wishes for foster kids

Foster children don't often get the things other children do, but Danielle Gletow is trying to help change that. She posts their wishes online so the public can help grant them. "I'm here to be the mom to all these kids who might not feel like they have one," she said. Since 2008, her group has helped grant more than 6,500 wishes in 42 states.

                                                        TAWANDA

Tawanda Jones: Giving kids a way off deadly streets

Tawanda Jones is using dance to empower the youth of Camden, New Jersey, one of the poorest cities in the country. Through Jones' drill team program, at least 4,000 children have learned discipline, respect and community service -- and all of them have graduated high school. "We need to take back our city and, most importantly, take back our youth," Jones said.

                                                      RICHARD

Richard Nares: Helping sick kids get to chemo

For many children fighting cancer, it can be extremely tough to make it to their chemotherapy appointments. But Richard Nares started a group that gives them transportation and support. "No child should miss their cancer treatment due to lack of transportation," said Nares, who lost his son to leukemia in 2000.

                                                        KAKENYA

Kakenya Ntaiya: Educating girls for the first time

Kakenya Ntaiya is inspiring change in her native Kenyan village. After becoming the first woman in the village to attend college in the United States, she returned to open the village's first primary school for girls. "Our work is about empowering the girls," Ntaiya said. "They are dreaming of becoming lawyers, teachers, doctors."

                                                       CHAD

Chad Pregracke: Cleaning up America's rivers

Chad Pregracke has made it his life's work to clean up the Mississippi River and other American waterways. Since 1998, about 70,000 volunteers have helped Pregracke remove more than 7 million pounds of garbage from 23 rivers across the country. "Picking up garbage, it's tough, miserable and hot," Pregracke said. "We try to make it fun."

                                                          ESTELLA

Estella Pyfrom: Bringing computers to kids in need

Estella Pyfrom used her life savings to create "Estella's Brilliant Bus," a mobile computer lab that provides tutoring for thousands of low-income students in Palm Beach County, Florida. "It's not just a bus, it's a movement," Pyfrom said. "And we're going to keep making a difference."

                                                          LAURA

Laura Stachel: Lighting the way for safe childbirths

Laura Stachel created a special "solar suitcase" to help health-care workers deliver babies in more than 20 developing countries. "I really want a world where women can deliver babies safely and with dignity," Stachel said.

As part of their award package, each top 10 Hero will also receive free organizational training from the Annenberg Foundation, a leading supporter of nonprofits worldwide. The Heroes will participate in a customized version of the Annenberg Alchemy program, which offers practical guidance to help strengthen organizations for long-term success.