This is the kind of thing I'd love to do more of, if I had the resources. A series of profiles/interviews by Afrinolly (of the Afrinolly Short Film Competition which we covered earlier this year) of contemporary Nigerian filmmakers, including names that I hope you'll recognized, since we've written about them several times in the past, like Obi Emelonye (Last Flight To Abuja), Tunde Kelani (Dazzling Mirage), Kunle Afolayan (The Figurine), and others.In the individual profiles, each filmmaker talks about a number of items, including their latest projects, their processes, being Nigerian filmmakers in a global marketplace, the journeys they are on, where they're going/want to go,...
- 6/3/2013
- by Tambay A. Obenson
- ShadowAndAct
Hailed as the 'Martin Scorsese of Lagos', Afolayan is finding new ways to take his films beyond Nigerian borders – screening his latest, Phone Swap, at the Film Africa festival in London
They're calling you "the Scorsese of Lagos" – no pressure then. That's what the New York Times recently headlined its piece, and Kunle Afolayan's ambitions to shake up the industry now known (more great expectations) as Nollywood. With three films under his belt since he started directing in 2005 – which, by frantic west-African standards, makes him more the Kubrick of Lagos – the 38-year-old has become a byword for elevated quality: shooting on 35mm, releasing in cinemas, trying to improve on horribly stilted Nollywood formulas that seem to place more emphasis on gaudy soft furnishings than on dialogue and camerawork.
Actually, Afolayan would prefer it if you called him the Mel Gibson of Lagos. "I always show Apocalypto to my crew,...
They're calling you "the Scorsese of Lagos" – no pressure then. That's what the New York Times recently headlined its piece, and Kunle Afolayan's ambitions to shake up the industry now known (more great expectations) as Nollywood. With three films under his belt since he started directing in 2005 – which, by frantic west-African standards, makes him more the Kubrick of Lagos – the 38-year-old has become a byword for elevated quality: shooting on 35mm, releasing in cinemas, trying to improve on horribly stilted Nollywood formulas that seem to place more emphasis on gaudy soft furnishings than on dialogue and camerawork.
Actually, Afolayan would prefer it if you called him the Mel Gibson of Lagos. "I always show Apocalypto to my crew,...
- 10/30/2012
- by Phil Hoad
- The Guardian - Film News
Check out this super-glossy preview trailer for a new Nollywood film (the film that “all of Nollywood is talking about,” according to the team behind it), which its website says received a 10-city theatrical run in the Us last month, with screenings in cities in Georgia, Virginia, Maryland, Illinois, California, and other states; and will expand to a 25-city limited theatrical release beginning this summer!
I could be wrong about this, but it’s not often that I hear of a Nollywood film traveling in this fashion, Stateside; so this film may be making history here. I know it’s certainly not the first time a Nollywood movie has played in a North American theater, but I don’t think there has been any that has traveled this widely.
There was Kunle Afolayan’s The Figurine, last year, which, I recall was talked about in a similar way; i.e.
I could be wrong about this, but it’s not often that I hear of a Nollywood film traveling in this fashion, Stateside; so this film may be making history here. I know it’s certainly not the first time a Nollywood movie has played in a North American theater, but I don’t think there has been any that has traveled this widely.
There was Kunle Afolayan’s The Figurine, last year, which, I recall was talked about in a similar way; i.e.
- 3/25/2011
- by Tambay
- ShadowAndAct
I’m a little behind on this, but… it started just this past Monday, February 28th, the 22nd Edition of the Pan-African Film Festival; not the festival currently happening in Los Angeles by the way. I’m referring to the largest, and most prominent film festival in all of Africa, that takes place once every 2 years, in Ouagagadougou, Burkina Faso, also known as Fespaco.
The festival will run through through March 5th, this Saturday.
I was to highlight noteworthy titles playing at the festival – many we’ve previously talked about, and continue to do so, for those who may have just be joining us, or who need reminders.
Today’s profile is for a Nigerian/Nollywood film called The Figurine (Araromire).
“… this movie will change the face of Nollywood on the world map…”
Big words from the filmmakers. But not just the filmmakers… some who saw it at earlier film...
The festival will run through through March 5th, this Saturday.
I was to highlight noteworthy titles playing at the festival – many we’ve previously talked about, and continue to do so, for those who may have just be joining us, or who need reminders.
Today’s profile is for a Nigerian/Nollywood film called The Figurine (Araromire).
“… this movie will change the face of Nollywood on the world map…”
Big words from the filmmakers. But not just the filmmakers… some who saw it at earlier film...
- 3/3/2011
- by Tambay
- ShadowAndAct
121 films later… another installment of the Pan African Film Festival (Paff) in Los Angeles, CA, came to a close on Wednesday, the 23rd, with the announcement of its filmmaker awards.
Prizes were handed out for the following categories: Best Narrative Feature, Best First Feature Film, Best Narrative Short, Best Documentary Feature, Best Documentary Short, and Audience Favorite awards.
I was extremely pleased to see João Daniel Tikhomiroff’s Besouro win the Best Narrative Feature prize. It’s a film we’ve touted on this blog for the last 2 years, since initially hearing about it. The film is still without North American distribution, as far as I know, and it needs all the press and push it can get. I hope it’s eventually picked up – even if it’s a straight-to-dvd release.
Ava DuVernay’s I Will Follow received the well-deserved Best First Feature Film award.
And the Jamie Foxx-executive produced Thunder Soul,...
Prizes were handed out for the following categories: Best Narrative Feature, Best First Feature Film, Best Narrative Short, Best Documentary Feature, Best Documentary Short, and Audience Favorite awards.
I was extremely pleased to see João Daniel Tikhomiroff’s Besouro win the Best Narrative Feature prize. It’s a film we’ve touted on this blog for the last 2 years, since initially hearing about it. The film is still without North American distribution, as far as I know, and it needs all the press and push it can get. I hope it’s eventually picked up – even if it’s a straight-to-dvd release.
Ava DuVernay’s I Will Follow received the well-deserved Best First Feature Film award.
And the Jamie Foxx-executive produced Thunder Soul,...
- 2/25/2011
- by Tambay
- ShadowAndAct
Official poster. Click to enlarge.
The 6th Africa Movie Academy Awards took place in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, Nigeria, last Saturday and, sweeping the board with 13 out of 24 prizes, including Best Film and Best Director, was a film that was featured here on this blog last December, Kunle Afolayan’s supposed game-changing Nollywood film The Figurine.
I didn’t see it when it played to packed audiences at the London African Film Festival last year, but a certain someone we all know was supposed to have seen it just this last weekend (as it was picking up all the prizes in Nigeria) and so we may just get a review and find out if it’s the Nollywood film that could potentially break out and go mainstream. The premise, is interesting enough – the chance find of a centuries old figurine that bestows seven years of good luck followed by seven years...
The 6th Africa Movie Academy Awards took place in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, Nigeria, last Saturday and, sweeping the board with 13 out of 24 prizes, including Best Film and Best Director, was a film that was featured here on this blog last December, Kunle Afolayan’s supposed game-changing Nollywood film The Figurine.
I didn’t see it when it played to packed audiences at the London African Film Festival last year, but a certain someone we all know was supposed to have seen it just this last weekend (as it was picking up all the prizes in Nigeria) and so we may just get a review and find out if it’s the Nollywood film that could potentially break out and go mainstream. The premise, is interesting enough – the chance find of a centuries old figurine that bestows seven years of good luck followed by seven years...
- 4/14/2010
- by MsWOO
- ShadowAndAct
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