THREE 2015 MOVIES TO WATCH OUT FOR — #Africa

This blog brings you the best and latest of African talent and art; on the continent and in the diaspora. Here are 3 movie finds that would be worth checking out-

thE CeO

Synopsis: TransWire Communications is a global phone network with major operation in Nigeria. The CEO, an expatriate, has retired hence the Global Chairman has decided to send five nominees amongst his most senior level staff across Africa on a Leadership course in order to determine which one to appoint as the new CEO of Nigeria.

Popular Nigerian filmmaker, Kunle Afolayan, on Thursday in a press conference unveiled the full details of his next movie, The CEO. The film showcases a cross-selection of African & international cast and crew members with diverse talents and backgrounds.

The cast includes Grammy Award-winning singer/songwriter, entertainer and activist from Benin, Angélique Kidjo; Haitan actor and model Jimmy Jean-Louis, best known for his role as The Haitan on the NBC television series Heroes;  actor and founder of the New Nigeria Cinema movement, Wale Ojo; French-Ivorian actress and model, Aurelie Eliam; South African actor and presenter, Nicolaos Panagiotopoulos; Nigerian actress, Kemi Lala Akindoju; Moroccan star, Fatym Layachi; Kenyan actor Peter King, and Nigerian actress, Hilda Dokubo among others.

 

Synopsis – The CEO tells the story of TransWire Communications, a global phone network with major operation in Nigeria. The CEO, an expatriate, has retired; hence the Global Chairman has decided to send five nominees among his most senior-level staff across Africa on a leadership course in order to determine which one to appoint as the new CEO of Nigeria. The process that started relatively smoothly suddenly climaxed in a game of an intriguing death.

(Trailer not yet released) To stay updated, follow on Facebook here or follow the hashtag #theceomovie on social media

FifTy

Hot off its selection for the 2015 BFI London Film Festival, EbonyLife Films today released the official trailer for its highly acclaimed feature film, Fifty. The movie stars Ireti Doyle, Dakore Egbuson-Akande, Omoni Oboli and Nse Ikpe-Etim.

Directed by Biyi Bandele and executively produced by Mo Abudu, FIFTY, captures a few pivotal days in the lives of four Nigerian women at the pinnacle of their careers. Tola, Elizabeth, Maria and Kate are forced at midlife to take inventory of their personal lives, while juggling careers and family against the sprawling backdrops of the upper middle-class neighbourhoods of Lagos.

The trailer is a sneak peek into this tender but unflinching exploration of love and lust, power and rivalry, life and loss in twenty-first century Lagos. The four lead characters, six-inch heels, partying hard and loving strong, with courage and fortitude, navigate life’s unending curveballs.

Fifty will premiere in a special grand Lagos ceremony on the 13th of December 2015 at The Eko Hotel & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos and will be released in cinemas nationwide on the 18th of December 2015.

In the meantime, for more information, visit the website: www.fiftythemovie.com  or follow on Twitter: @Fiftythemovie; Instagram: @fiftythemovie or on Facebook: www.facebook.com/FiftyTheMovie

beAsTs of No NaTioN

The powerful new film starring Idris Elba recently had its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival and will screen at the Telluride Film Festival, Toronto Film Festival, and London Film Festival. Beasts of No Nation, A Netflix Original Film.

Synopsis – When civil war tears his family apart, a young West African boy is forced to join a unit of mercenary fighters and transform into a child soldier. Available in select theaters and on Netflix October 16.

Written and directed by Emmy Award winner Cary Fukunaga (“True Detective,” Sin Nombre) and starring Golden Globe winner Idris Elba (“Luther,” Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom), Beasts of No Nation will debut Friday, October 16, 2015, the same day in Landmark theatres in the U.S. and worldwide on Netflix in all territories where the world’s leading Internet TV network is available.

Beasts of No Nation is based on the highly-acclaimed novel by Nigerian author Uzodinma Iweala, bringing to life the gripping tale of Agu, a child soldier torn from his family to fight in the civil war of an African country. Newcomer Abraham Attah gives a stunning portrayal of Agu, while Elba dominates the screen in the role of Commandant, a warlord who takes in Agu and instructs him in the ways of war.

The film is produced by Amy Kaufman and Cary Fukunaga (who previously worked together on Sin Nombre), Daniela Taplin Lundberg, Riva Marker and Dan Crown for Red Crown Productions, along with Elba. Jeff Skoll and Jonathan King are executive producers for Participant Media; Donna Gigliotti is executive producer for Levantine Films; Elizabeth Koch and Kristina Kendall are executive producers for New Balloon; and Bill Benenson, Laura Bickford and Todd Courtney are also executive producers.

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Beautifully Dreaming, Positively Doing

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Meeting Chimamanda + HALF OF A YELLOW SUN Official Trailer

I had the ultimate pleasure of meeting Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie in person and got my copy of ‘Americanah’ signed at Atlanta’s Author Presentation and Book Signing of Americanah. What an impressive event and author!

She is in person, warm and (as my one of my friends  pointed out) not as intimidating and overbearing as her works/or speeches might express..:) She is in fact – as I observed from the short time spent, listening to her interact, read, speak, her way with the audience’s questions – very down to earth, laid back, always smiling, confident and sweet even in her firm opinions. She did use some a couple of expletive words here and there that would make the ‘self righteous’ flinch. However, overall, she is a great speaker, very fluid and eloquent.  She exudes confidence and radiance.  Not that I expected less, but it is always a breathe of fresh air- considering the known lofty culture of celebrities albeit with great talent/work – when the celebrated are relate-able on ground.  She received graciously, my gift to her, of my AfroSpire Demo CD and told me the name ‘Tosinger’ is one she won’t forget, how impactful. She is undoubtedly, like I told her, an inspiration, one who all African women, and people (and everyone in general) are mightily proud of. Here’s a humorous recap of the event from my blogger friend from the GH 🙂 , Malaika on her blog ‘Mind of Malaka’

Tosinger and Chimamanda

My Americanah Signed with Love..

In the same line of thought, the official UK Movie Trailer of Chimamanda’s Orange Prize-winning novel – Half of A Yellow Sun is out! It’s a drama that brings together the lives of four people during the struggle to establish an independent republic in Nigeria. HALF OF A YELLOW SUN is the feature film debut from London based Nigerian playwright, novelist and screenwriter Biyi Bandele. Starring Oscar-nominee Chiwetel Ejiofor (12 Years A Slave), BAFTA-winner Thandie Newton (Crash), BAFTA-nominee Joseph Mawle (Birdsong), Anika Noni Rose (Dreamgirls) and John Boyega (Attack the Block) HALF OF A YELLOW SUN is an epic love-story weaving together the lives of four people swept up in the turbulence of war, produced by Andrea Calderwood of Slate Films (The Last King of Scotland). Co starring Hakeem Kae-Kazim, Onyeka Onwenu, Nollywood’s OC Ukeje, Zack Orji  and Genevieve Nnaji among others.

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Beautifully Dreaming, Positively Doing..

xoxo

Tosinger

The Art & Education of SHUGA!

Hi Friends,

Considering the element of impatience  associated with suspense, I don’t do too well with most TV Series/Soaps and don’t bother starting if I won’t finish it. However I found myself hooked to the MTV Shuga Naija TV series on YouTube after watching the first one and looking forward to episode after episode. The quality and the creative presentation is totally on point. Like a breathe of fresh air, I see a line up of vibrant actors that are well cast for their roles in a Nigerian TV production. They all fit their roles so perfectly like a round peg in a round hole  PLUS the acting is on point, and the message is as clear as water.  Great cast. The acting is so natural, real and believable with the use of everyday lingo/slangs and even some incorporation of Nigerian languages and dialects (with subtitles). Shuga is beautiful Art in film format (kudos to the team), and surely a powerful educational media tool.

MTV Base and MTV Staying Alive Foundation joined forces with the Nigerian government’s National Agency for the Control of AIDS and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to combat a lack of awareness and misinformation about HIV, sexual responsibility and teen pregnancy among Nigerian youth, using this Shuga TV Drama series. It debuted on TV on World AIDs Day, December 1, 2013.

Shuga, MTV’s award winning TV series and multimedia campaign, is part of a powerful 360-degree mass media campaign designed to raise awareness about sexual health, HIV prevention and teen pregnancy in Nigeria relayed with fun, exciting, educative, vibrant and exciting story lines.

Directed by Biyi Bandele and Written by Kemi Adesoye, Tunde Aladese, Omotunde Akiode, Ayoade Adeyanju, Victor Sanchez and
Biyi Bandele. Shuga features quite a number of stars including Maria Okanrende, Tiwa Savage, Okezie Morro, Chris Attoh, Ikubese Emmanuel Ifeanyi, Nick Mutuma, Dorcas Shola Fapson, Leonora Okine et al

Director Biyi Bandele

Biyi Bandele and Kemi Adesoye. All photos in this article are from MTV Shuga FB Page and Google

The week is ending, kick off your shoes, relax your feet, take a break and watch the episodes 1-7 below. Counting the seconds to Episode 8.

For more info on MTV Shuga, see http://www.shuga.tv

EPISODE 1

EPISODE 2

EPISODE 3

EPISODE 4

EPISODE 5

EPISODE 6

EPISODE 7

EPISODE 8 PROMO

Subscribe to MTV Shuga Naija’s Youtube Channel here to be updated. Season Finale is just 3 days away!

Update

And here is Episode 8 of Shuga Naija which rounds up Season 3 of MTV Shuga

Health is Wealth.

Beautifully Dreaming.. Positively Doing…

xoxo

Tosinger