Showing posts with label 2nd Eko International Film Festival. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 2nd Eko International Film Festival. Show all posts

Sunday, July 24, 2011

I came to see films and I saw films


Peace Anyiam-Osigwe sitting in the audience at the 2nd Eko International Film Festival.

"I came to see films and I saw films ; that is what film festivals are all about, not talk shops,” said Peace Anyiam-Osigwe, the CEO of the African Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) on the fourth day of the 2nd Eko International Film Festival when Joseph Ugochukwu Ubaka’s Lilies of the Ghetto and Abba Makama’s Direc-Toh were screened at the Silverbird Galleria in Lagos, Nigeria.


Bic Leu of Finding Nollywood and Faruk Lasaki, Director of the Changing Faces at the 2nd Eko International Film Festival.


Peace Anyiam-Osigwe and Deborah, a guest from the United States.


Hope Obioma Opara, President Eko International Film Festival and Joseph Ugochukwu Ubaka, Director of Lilies of the Ghetto..

Click here for the Photo Gallery of the 2nd Eko International Film Festival.


Thursday, July 14, 2011

The Invocation and Eternal close the 2nd Eko International Film Festival


The international award winning film Eternal closed the second Eko International Film Festival in Lagos on Thursday July 14, 2011.

Thursday July 14, 2011.



The Invocation and Eternal close the 2nd Eko International Film Festival

Emmanuel Itier’s dialectical spiritual documentary The Invocation and Chike Ibekwe’s melodramatic metaphysical drama Eternal closed the second edition of the annual Eko International Film Festival (EKOIFF) Thursday morning at the Silverbird Cinemas of the Silverbird Galleria on Victoria Island, Lagos.

International award winning documentaries, features and short films from Nigeria, Europe and the U.S. were screened from the opening last Saturday July 9 to the closing day on Thursday July 14. The free event attracted leading stakeholders in Nollywood, including top filmmakers, journalists, film critics and the public who had to come to the venue even in the downpour and flood of a very wet season in the coastal mega city of Nigeria, the hub of Africa’s first film industry rated as the second largest in the world by UNESCO.

The President of Eko International Film Festival, Mr. Hope Obioma Opara thanked the Silverbird Group for providing a very conducive venue at the Silverbird Galleria and promoting the event on Silverbird TV, Rhythm FM 93.7 and supporting his company Supple Communications Limited to organize a successful film festival. He also appreciated the morale support of the Nigerian press for the highly commendable news coverage of the event and promises that the third edition next year will be better with the cooperation and support of more participants and sponsors.

“Hopefully, we are going to have corporate sponsors for the third edition in 2012. In fact the preparation for the next one has already begun,” said Mr. Opara. He reemphasized that the mission of Eko International Film Festival is to promote the best interests of Nollywood and use the film festival to make Lagos State a major tourist destination in the world as the famous Cannes Film Festival is doing for France.

The Founder/Festival Director Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima appreciated the outstanding quality of the submitted films from both local and international filmmakers; notably Faruk Lasaki’s romantic thriller Changing Faces, Iara Lee’s socio-political documentary Cultures of Resistance, Emmanuel Itier’s intellectual and spiritual documentary The Invocation, Chike Ibekwe’s metaphysical drama Eternal, Joseph Ugochukwu Ubaka’s engaging urban crime thriller Lilies of the Ghetto and Kayode Ibisankale’s well researched documentary on the Yoruba’s Talking Drum Dundun.

“The enthusiasm of filmmakers to participate in Eko International Film Festival is our greatest encouragement, because what makes a successful film festival is the quality of the films. But, with corporate sponsors we would be able to screen more international award winning films next year and host the filmmakers,” said Michael Chima.


Wednesday, July 13, 2011

AMAA CEO Peace Anyiam-Osigwe, others at 2nd Eko International Film Festival


Ms. Peace Anyiam-Osigwe

The CEO of African Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) Peace Anyiam-Osigwe was one of the notable guests at the Wednesday screening of Joseph Ugochukwu Ubaka’s Lilies of the Ghetto on the fifth day of the 2nd Eko International Film Festival at the Silverbird Galleria in Lagos. She was introduced to the organizers by top journalist and film critic Shaibu Husseini who is also the Chairman of the AMAA Selection Committee. They met with special guests from the United States of America and discussed the challenges and achievements in Nollywood.

The film festival wraps on Thursday July 14, with the screening of two features, Emmanuel Itier's multiple award winning film The Invocation narrated by the famous Hollywood actress Sharon Stone and Chike Ibekwe’s award winning movie Eternal.


Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Iara Lee's Cultures of Resistance thrills film festival's audience in Lagos



Many people came for the Nigerian premiere of Iara Lee's Cultures of Resistance at the 2nd Eko International Film Festival Tuesday morning at the Silverbird Galleria on Victoria Island, Lagos. The audience twitched and swore as bloody scenes of oppression were shown on the silver screen. They were moved by the gripping imagery of political tyranny and how the human spirit can overcome fear in a hostile world.

Many people said Lee's political documentary is the best film they have seen at any film festival in Nigeria. The impact of the scenes showing the legendary Pan African musician and protest artiste Fela Anikulapo Kuti and Niger Delta activist Ken Saro-Wiwa was felt by the audience who could not deny the testimonies of the victims of injustice in Africa's most populous country. They were enraptured by the flashbacks on the martyrs and heroes of political justice in Nigeria.

Lee is expected in Nigeria before Christmas.


~ By Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima


Monday, July 11, 2011

Eko International Film Festival presents World Premiere of "Direc-Toh"

The world premiere of Abba Makama's "Direc-Toh" the fastest Nigerian movie shot in one day comes up on Tuesday July 12, the third day of the 2nd Eko International Film Festival (EKOIFF) at the Silverbird Galleria on Victoria Island, Lagos. The film will be screened at 10.30 am. The young Nigerian director is a graduate of New York University film school.



A Nigerian Film maker sets out to make a record as the fastest filmmaker on the Planet. Big Ben a.k.a the light speed champion tries shooting a feature film in one day and all hell breaks loose..

Written, Directed, Shot and Edited by Abba Makama.
Co Writer-Gabriel Ofor Okafor
Producers-Lani Makama, Benedict Aromeh, Abba Makama
Starring Benedict Aromeh, Dabis Christopher
Genre- Nolly Woody Allen, Comedy Satire, Afro Psycho Pseudo Hipster babble, Mockumentary
Format- HDV
Budget-All in the magic baby..
Release date. mid 2010.


Monday, July 4, 2011

African Premiere of The Invocation at 2nd Eko International Film Festival



The African premiere of Emmanuel Itier's multiple award winning movie THE INVOCATION narrated by the famous Hollywood actress Sharon Stone will be at the 2nd Eko International Film Festival (EKOIFF) on Saturday July 9, 2011, at the prestigious Silverbird Galleria, 133 Ahmadu Bello Way, Victoria Island, Lagos.

THE INVOCATION is a thought provoking film about God and World Peace. An exploration of the notion of the Divine around the world and through Religion, Spirituality, Science, History, Politics and Arts.

It is an invitation to elevate our school of thought and to change the code of human interaction in relation to our perceptions of God. The film proposes answers to universal questions in both a religious and non-religious context: Who am I, where do I come from, and where am I going? Is there something beyond the here and now? What is the global idea of ‘God’ which has presented us with countless conflicts throughout human history? How can we live in Peace?

The project was filmed around the world by a team of talented religious and non-religious filmmakers, and challenges us to go beyond our differences in seeking the common goal of world peace. Without agenda, the film presents a message of global understanding, unity, and humanity. Featuring interviews with respected social and political lime lights, spiritual leaders, artists, entertainers and other influential figures, THE INVOCATION is a truly inspiring source of information that compels you to "be the change you want to see in the world."

Credited cast:

Karen Armstrong ...

Michael Beckwith ...

Mustapha Cherif ...

Deepak Chopra ...

Chaim Cohen ...

Stewart Copeland ...

Brian Cox ...

The Dalai Lama ...

Rosario Dawson ...

Veronica De Laurentiis ...

Amit Goswami ...

John Hagelin ...
Ervin Laszlo ...
Malcolm McDowell ...
Dean Radin ... (as Dean Radin Ph.D.)


Awards and Festivals:
LA International Film Festival 2010 - WINNER, Best Documentary
Bev.Hills Film, TV, & New Media Fest. 2010 - WINNER, Humanitarian Award
The Orlando Global Peace Film Festival
The Spiritual Festival of Mexico City
Tel Aviv Spirit Film Festival
Santa Fe Film Festival
Santa Barbara Film Festival


For Reservations and Tickets, call 08033036171, 07066379246.