Pan-African Film and Television Festival (FESPACO)

There is the Oscars and there is is FESPACO.





Log on to http://www.fespaco.bf/ for more details. By the way the site is in French.

Through the Glass

Stephanie Okereke is stepping behind the camera for a change and has offered her movie "Through the Glass"
I haven't seen it yet so I can't really render any insight, but judging from the trailer...

I'll let you be the judge.

Cheers!

African Diaspora Film Festival

Very interesting line up of events. I've always envied New Yorkers...right in the heart of art, fashion and media.

For more information log on to http://www.nyadff.org

"War Child" - The Movie

Coming to a theatre near you.

Log on to http://warchild.reelufilms.com/ for more information.

Obama The Musical

Just days before the US elections, it is unlikely that US presidential candidates Barack Obama and John McCain will be sharing a stage.

But in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, their characters will be singing and dancing together when Obama, The Musical opens on Sunday.

The hour-long play is hotly awaited in a country where Mr Obama, whose father was Kenyan, is a wildly popular figure.

Those involved in the production are doing little to hide their sympathies.

Mr Obama, who has never lived in Kenya and has only come to the country on visits, is a national hero. A local beer has been named after him.

'Chief villain'

Scriptwriter and director George Orido complies with Kenyan preferences in his casting of Mr McCain, his running-mate Sarah Palin, and President George Bush.

"McCain comes in as the villain, the chief villain. His supporting cast are George Bush and Sarah Palin who are standing in Obama's way," the director says.

The 30-strong cast is made up of young actors and actresses - their average age is 21 - who are very excited to be a part of the production.

Eric Makori, who plays Mr Obama, says he feels privileged to have the role. He too supports the Democratic candidate.

But so does Paul Kamau, who plays Mr McCain.

And while he is content to play the Republican candidate, Mr Kamau says he would rather be cast as his rival.

"Obama is more fun to portray than McCain," he says. "I hope he will win."

Message for Kenyans

The play tells the story of Mr Obama's life.

It begins with his father's move to America to study and his meeting with Barack Obama's mother, before covering the events of the young Obama's life.

Mr Orido says he came up with the idea of the play three years ago, as Mr Obama rose to prominence.

"Music is the universal language and Obama is a universal figure," he said.

"If you want to tell his story, you have to tell it in a universal language so that everyone can understand."

A variety of musical genres are used - traditional and contemporary Kenyan music, as well as some country songs.

The lyrics of some of the songs have been changed to suit the story line.

The play ends with an enactment of Mr Obama's acceptance of the Democratic nomination, shying away from predictions about who will emerge victorious after the 4 November elections.

But Mr Orido is not quite so reserved about Mr Obama's prospects.

"He's going to win, why not?" he says. "Americans cannot be cheated, they know the right thing to do."

He says he wants everyone who watches his play to understand Mr Obama's story and learn about the virtues of hard work, selflessness, democracy and public service.

The message is especially important for Kenyans, he stresses.

In January, Kenya was rocked by post-election violence that left more than 1,500 people dead and 300,000 homeless.

"We were fighting each other because some of us thought certain people from certain communities could not be leaders... [Obama's story] is a big lesson for us," Mr Orido says.

The play will run until 5 November, and Mr Orido does not rule out a sequel.

He says there have already been invitations to perform in the UK and South Africa.

"This is just the beginning," he says.

Your Monthly Dose of Nollywood

Misunderstanding, Energy consumption, wife from village, respect me O! etc

Documentary on Nollywood

...appropriately entitled "Welcome to Nollywood"



Where there is will there is a way!

Coming to a Theatre Near You...

...or maybe not. It was just a matter of time, right?

Starring Jim Iyke, Omotola Ekeinde, and Nadia Buari

"August the First"

check out this movie tosin just told me about. looks interesting.

"Crazy Like A Fox" starring Angela Lola

We heart her, Angela is from Washington, DC by way of Ethopia co-starring Karibi Fubara from NYC by way of Nigeria. Nigeria has to be involved some how, some way...



"Crazy Like A Fox" coming out this summer

NY: "A Celebration of Sistas in Cinema, Art and Politics"

Click image for a larger view.

african movies continues to grow...fast

Dey-dey is still addicted to African films. Apparently, so are folks in Florida. Toks sent this to me this morning...



FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla.—They’ve never walked along the dusty roads of Lagos, Nigeria, or set foot in an extravagant mansion in Ghana.

But fans of African movies now being sold in South Florida say they find themselves glued to their screens because in so many ways, the faraway continent feels so familiar.

“It’s everything from the drapes hanging at the entrance door in the kitchen to the way people go down on their knees before saying good morning to their elders,” said Hermante Leonard, who sees similarities to her Haitian culture in the movies.

Here's the full article.

Film: Ghosts of Cité Soleil

We are currently reviewing this film for our next issue. I couldn't wait to show you...because we probably won't be able to go into details in the magazine. Asger Leth's intense new film "Ghosts of Cité Soleil" is about life and death in Port-Au-Prince, Haiti's most desperate slum. The website has a lot of information, pictures, etc.

Ghosts was co-executive produced and scored by Wyclef Jean and Jerry "Wonda" Duplessis.

The images and sounds might be too violent for some.

Morgan Freeman to play Nelson Mandela in new film.

The film is title "The Human Factor." Freeman will co-produce the film, which is based on John Carlin's book of the same name.

It is set during the 1995 Rugby World Cup, when Mr Mandela used the country's hosting of the tournament to help heal divisions between blacks and whites.

Freeman travelled to South Africa last year to discuss the project with the former president.
"I have known Nelson Mandela personally for quite some time, and am continually in awe of his enormous presence in the world," Freeman - who won a best supporting actor Oscar for Million Dollar Baby in 2005 - said.

The film is being made by Freeman's production company, Revelations Entertainment, with a script by South African writer Anthony Peckham.

SUFFERING AND SMILING (New York Premiere). Coming soon.

SUFFERING AND SMILING (New York Premiere)

Dan Ollman, Nigeria/US, 2007, 65m, video, doc, In English and Yoruba with English subtitles

Focusing on the legendary African singer and activist Fela Anikulapo Kuti and his son Femi, Suffering and Smiling depicts the impact of their politically charged music. Following Nigeria's independence in 1960, Fela used his songs to speak out against the country's corrupt leaders. Since independence the military and political elite have enriched themselves by allowing Nigeria's oil and natural resources to be stripped by multinational corporations with little benefit to ordinary Nigerians. Fela gave voice to Nigeria's disenfranchised underclass and sang of a free and united Africa. Upon his death in 1997, Femi has continued his father's legacy. Equally passionate and charismatic, he sings about the dire situation in his country, asks why the world's most resource-rich continent has the poorest people, and struggles to maintain a vision of better days ahead for the common people of Nigeria. *Presented in association with Film Aid International, http://www.filmaid.org/

SHOWTIMES:

Wed June 20: 2

Fri June 22: 4

Sat June 23: 9

Sun June 24: 1:30

Running from June 15 to 28 at the Walter Reade Theater, the 18th edition of the Human Rights Watch International Film Festival features 21 films and three shorts from 17 countries and includes 16 New York premieres. Tickets for the 2007 Human Rights Watch International Film Festival are available at both the Walter Reade Theater box office (212)875-5600 and online at http://www.filmlinc.com/

Special screening on May 19th.

Isaiah Washington donates to Bunce Island project (Sierra Leone)

Los Angeles, CA (March 13, 2007)—Actor Isaiah Washington has donated $25,000 to the computer reconstruction project of Bunce Island, an 18th century slave-trading castle in the Republic of Sierra Leone. Bunce Island—once the largest British slave castle on the Rice Coast of West Africa—exported tens of thousands of African captives to North America, particularly the colonies of South Carolina and Georgia.

According to Washington, who learned of his own ancestral connection to Sierra Leone through DNA testing, “The stories of innumerable Sierra Leoneans that were forced into slavery have yet to be extensively told. I believe this project will begin to shed some much needed light on the region, both past and present.” Washington’s donation to the Bunce Island project—made through his foundation, The Gondobay Manga Foundation, and channeled through the Friends of Sierra Leone organization—is part of the actor’s work to bolster the efforts of the Sierra Leone government to secure international assistance for the preservation of the castle.

Describing the importance of the Bunce Island computer reconstruction, one of the project’s founders, James Madison University (JMU) professor of history, Joseph Opala stated that “Unlike the Jewish holocaust and other terrible crimes of the modern era, the Atlantic slave trade took place before the advent of photography, and thus we can only imagine its horrors. Our computer animation project will allow us to go beyond the imagination, and actually see how the Atlantic slave trade was carried out.”

At the helm of the Bunce Island computer reconstruction project are JMU professors Joseph Opala and Gary Chatelain. Part of a study that Opala began in the 1970s, the Bunce Island project is based on 18th century documents and drawings, as well as Opala and other experts’ archeological studies. Chatelain, a specialist in art and art history, is using his expertise in interior design and computer modeling to fill the rooms of the virtual castle with period furniture and slave trade cargo. The finalized product will present an unprecedented view of the historic castle as it appeared in the year 1805. Eventually, Opala and Chatelain hope to create an educational CD that will allow students to virtually explore the slave castle and see what Africans endured during their forced migration 250 years ago.

In May 2007, Washington plans to host a group of African American celebrities, whose DNA tests also point to Sierra Leone, to the Bunce Island slave castle.

For more information about The Gondobay Manga Foundation, please visit http://www.gondobaymanga.org/. For information about Friends of Sierra Leone, please visit http://www.fosalone.org/.

More about Isaiah Washington:
The award-winning actor presently stars in the hit ABC series, Grey’s Anatomy. Aside from appearing in over 30 films including Spike Lee’s Crooklyn (1994), Warren Beatty’s Bulworth (1998) and Clint Eastwood’s True Crime (1999), Washington has also appeared on many popular TV series, including Ally McBeal, Law and Order, and Touched By An Angel.

Following his trip to Sierra Leone in 2006, Washington created a non-profit organization, The Gondobay Manga Foundation; Gondobay Manga being the name that the Mende people of Ngalu Bagbwe Chiefdom bestowed on Washington when he was inducted as a tribal chief. The organization is aimed at improving the lives of ordinary Sierra Leoneans.

"I Think I Love My Wife."

Hope you enjoyed the free screening. The movie will open nationwide this Friday, March 16th.

Ezra wins top African film prize

The film Ezra has won the top prize at the biennial African Film Festival, Fespaco, in Burkina Faso.

The festival is the major showcase for the continent's films, many of which are not widely distributed.

Ezra, the story of a child soldier in the decade-long Sierra Leone civil war, was a popular winner at a lively closing ceremony.

Read more from the link Sola sent me.

The Director, Newton Aduaka, studied and gained experience after moving to London (from Nigeria) in 1985.

"I Think I Love My Wife" The Story of an African Man.

Okay I made up the 'African Man' part. Check out the preview here, starring Chris Rock.

We have some passes to see the movie before it comes out in the theaters. We will mail them out next week. Send an email to NicoleA@ariztos.com with your name and mailing address. Include in the subject line "movie pass."

Screening details:

Tuesday, March 13
7:30 pm
Magic Johnson Theatre

Synopsis:

I THINK I LOVE MY WIFE, written, directed by and starring Chris Rock, is a sophisticated comedy about marriage and the lure of a new love. Nikki (Kerry Washington) is the exciting free spirit who makes Richard's (Chris Rock) daydreams come true while Richard's wife Brenda (Gina Torres) is so preoccupied with her own career and raising their two children that she has little time for her husband.

I THINK I LOVE MY WIFE will open nationwide on Friday, March 16.