This is a powerful story of murder, greed and corruption in the unsettled Niger Delta Region of Nigeria. The film speaks of environmental injustice and the fight over control of the oil resources and its revenue largely generated from this region.

It is the story of one local community’s struggle against big-oil corporations and their determination to win the rights for their land and their livelihood. Locals are caught between the crossfire after a devastating Warri pipeline explosion and are forced to choose either protest and action or resorting to violence and kidnapping.

Inspired by true events, Black Gold tells the story of the Niger Delta and its long and on-going crises. The Niger Delta region of Nigeria has 606 Oil-fields and exports 50% of all its oil resources to the United States and is the worlds capital of oil pollution.

Fifty years of uncorrected oil spills and lack of clean-up has destroyed the environment and ecosystems leaving the area almost uninhabitable while obliterating the livelihood of its residents costing them basic human rights such as health, access to food, clean water, and an ability to work..

The film has an impressive cast, starring
Mbong Amata,
Tom Sizemore,
Vivica Fox,
Billy Zane,
Hakeem Kae-Kazim,
Sarah Wayne Callies,
Razaaq Adoti,
Dede Mabiaku,
Eric Roberts,
Larry Manetti and
Michael Madsen.

Black Gold was also produced in collaboration with Wilson Ebiye of Rock City Entertainment and Ori Ayonmike of Starkid Inc. The film was shot on location in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria and in Los Angeles, California.

The Trailer

Written, produced & directed by Obi Emelonye, an award winning UK based Nigerian filmmaker and starring Genevieve Nnaji and Osita Iheme – the biggest screen talents Africa has to offer – The Mirror Boy is soon set to captivate global audiences & become the blockbuster that fans of Nigerian cinema have been waiting for.

It was in 2010 that the world finally became aware of the enormous growth in the fledgling Nigerian film industry, now popularly known as ‘Nollywood’, as it surpassed Hollywood to become the world’s 2nd biggest movie producer. Nollywood already holds the position of being the No. 1 cinema art form across Nigeria, Africa and the global African Diaspora, with many millions of eager fans worldwide.

The Mirror Boy is a universal family adventure film that tells the uplifting story of a young teenage African British boy taken back to the land of his mother’s birth, but then gets mysteriously lost in a foreboding forest and embarks on a magical journey that teaches him about himself and the mystery of the father he has never seen.

Shot in the truly beautiful terrain of the Republic of The Gambia and boasting high quality production values, despite its low (by international standards) budget, The Mirror Boy is said by many in the international movie business to be the Nollywood movie that can finally match it’s industry’s new found status,

The Mirror Boy’s much anticipated success is hoped will elevate and redefine Nollywood and turn international curiosity into a bold statement of cinematic identity, creating a landscape where new Nollywood will ‘crossover’ and become more widely recognised within mainstream channels.

The Mirror Boy was produced by The Nollywood Factory in association with Akin Salami and Patrick Campbell of OH Films, the film arm of OH TV (SKY199), the UK’s fastest growing channel for African Caribbean audiences.

The Mirror Boy is set to be released across Odeon cinemas in April, with international premieres scheduled for Gambia, Nigeria and Ghana over the coming months.

END

For further information please contact;
GLYNIS KUFFUOR
Email: press@thenollywoodfactory.com

NOTES TO EDITORS

- Red Carpet arrivals from 7 – 8pm

- The evening commences with an exclusive VIP Cocktail Reception together with presentations and interviews attended by a galaxy of top UK based African heritage film, television & music entertainment stars plus influencers from the worlds of fashion, media, sport and politics from the international cultural arenas.

- The film program commences at 8.30pm and includes a Q&A with the stars and filmmakers led by top popular host..

- Limited Tickets for this exclusive event are available to be purchased online from; http://themirrorboypremiere.eventbrite.com and at various African ticket outlets.
- Journalists and Press photographers are invited to cover the arrival of invited guests as well as conduct filming and radio interviews. Press accreditation is open until 20th February. Please confirm your interest at press@thenollywoodfactory.com
- Image requests – Please email us your request by 1pm Friday 25th Feb, for next day delivery of official event photography for publication.

OBI EMELONYE – One of Nollywood’s most visionary filmmakers

GENEVIEVE NNAJI – Africa’s number one movie star

OSITA IHEME – One of Africa’s biggest male movie stars

FATIMA JABBE – Gambia’s biggest movie star

EDWARD KAGUTUZI – Newly discovered UK based Ugandan actor

THE NOLLYWOOD FACTORY – One of new Nollywood’s leading lights

OH FILMS – Film arm of OHTV, the UK’s fastest growing African Caribbean channel

NOLLYWOOD – The world’s second largest producer of movies after Bollywood

PREMIERE PARTNERS: ARIK AIR, NOLLYWOOD MOVIES, HI-TV, OH TV, OBE TV, BEN TV, NAIJA FM, COLOURFUL RADIO, WAKA J, SCREEN AFRICA, NOLLYWOOD FOCUS, SCREEN NATION, FASHIONS FINEST, SWEET LADY

www.thenollywoodfactory.com
www.themirrorboythemovie.com

The Trailer:

Synopsis: Ikem, a prince of Mbaukwu kingdom was thrown into the world of slavery as he escaped from the assassins who killed his father the King of Mbaukwu kingdom.

Prince Okorie, the king’s brother accuses Dike, the king’s bodyguard of the assassination and the disappearance of prince Ikem. This situation forced Dike to flee to another kingdom with his family. There he was before fate brought him to a now grown Prince Ikem after many years. Together they fought to enthrone Ikem as the rightful ruler of Mbaukwu kingdom at the expense of the greedy Okorie who masterminded the killing of Ikem’s father to get to the throne.

Cast
Kenneth Okonkwo
Justus Esiri
David Ihesie
Major Okolo
Vincent Opurum
Adaigbo Okafor
Okechukwu “Sino” Anagor

Writer/Director: E. O’Squires Ogbonnaya
Producer: Ifeanyi Anagor
Co-Producer: E. O’Squires Ogbonnaya
Production Manager: Ekam Flunice

RELEASE DATE 16th JUNE 2008

For Marketing & Distribution:

All inqueries and correspondence about distribution/marketing and publicity of the MOVIE Kingdom of Men should be addressed to:

Movie Premiere: The Asylum

Director: Obi Emelonye  
Venue: Odeon in Surrey Quays (SE 16)

Date: Saturday 17th May 2008

Synopsis: Set against a backdrop of Nigeria’s homicidal political system, The Asylum examines just how far politicians would go to win an election. Here an opportunistic Psychiatrist seeking more funding for his hospital employs thugs to capture mentally challenged people from the streets which uncomfortably coincides with the government’s policy of ridding the streets of the menace of the insane.

But then, not just the mad are captured as other social victims, including armed robbery victims find a home in the psychiatric hospital from hell.

The price for tickets is £10 – but we have arranged a deal for ICSN members with three tickets for £20

Synopsis: The movie is a story of three women from different backgrounds and social standings who were brought together by the fact that each of them had gone through mental and physical torture and discrimination at different times of their lives, just because of their gender.

Directed by: Bond Emeruwa and Fred Amata.

Produced by: Keppy Ekpeyong.

Actors/Actresses: Bimbo Akintola, Alex Lopez, Rekiya Attah, Larry Koldsweat and Ekpeyong.

Written By: AZUH AMATUS.

Neither the downpour nor the sudden change of venue by the organisers of this year’s African Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) could prevent movie practitioners, stakeholders and the glitterati from gracing the grand ceremony.

Although billed for Yenogoa, Bayelsa State, which had hosted AMAA since inception four years ago, the yearly awards ceremony was finally moved to Abuja, at the last minute, due to the current political instability in the state.The high brow Congress Hall of the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja hosted this year’s awards, with an influx of Nollywood stars and dignitaries from both public and private sectors.

However, the night of glamour and panache, which had Nollywood and African filmmakers jostling for awards in 25 categories opened with the introduction of Osita Iheme and Chinedu Ikedieze (Aki & Pawpaw) as the first set of anchors. But the event lasted till the wee hours of the following morning.

Despite the fact that a Ghanaian movie, Run Baby Run, carted home four key awards in the categories of Best Picture, Director, Screenplay and Child Actor, Nollywood retained two of the most important awards. Star actor Nkem Owoh, and actress Kate Henshaw-Nuttal smiled home respectively with the diadems of the Best Actor and Best Actress, for their excellent and uncommon roles in Stronger Than Pain.

Another revelation on the night of stars, which was chaired by the FCT Minister, Aliyu Modibbo, was the presence of top Hollywood Star Angela Bassett. The pretty star of the classic movie – How Stella Got Her Groove Back was grateful to AMAA and Nollywood for always telling African stories in their movies.

While Bassett, got a rousing ovation after her wonderful speech. White Waters, the Amstel Malta Box Office (AMBO) movie from the stable of Nigerian Breweries Plc, also carted home four awards in the categories of Best Soundtrack, Cinematography, Upcoming Actor (O.C Ukeje / Hoomsuk) and Actress in a supporting role (Joke Silva).

Surprisingly too, fast selling Nollywood movie shot on 35mm, Mirror of Beauty, from the stable of Atlantic Overseas floored other flicks to win in the category of Best Music Score. Also, Mission To Nowhere, another movie directed by Teco Benson, emerged victorious in the Best Upcoming Actress category. The trophy went to Uju Okeke, for her exploits in the historic 35mm movie.

Meanwhile, in the second segment of the awards, which was anchored by the duo of Stephanie Okereke and Ramsey Noah, foremost Nollywood filmmaker – Kingsley Eloho Ogoro- walked away with two diadems. Ogoro’s Across the Niger, which preaches peace and love won in the categories of Special Effect and Heart of Africa. Another Ghanaian movie Princess Tyra, further increased the winning slot for the West African country with two more diadems. They were in the categories of Best Costume and Make Up.

The awards for the most outstanding actress –Indigenous, went to Doris Simon, for her efforts in Onitemi, while that of the male category was clinched by Ayo Akinwale, for his outstanding performance in Iranse Aje.

Divizions, another foreign movie from Uganda won in the Best Editing category. Also, the awards for the Best Documentary and Best Short Documentary went to, Do you believe in Magic? and Not My Daughter (Ghana) respectively. Iranse Aje won the keenly contested prize for best Nigerian film, while that of the best Art Direction went to New Jerusalem.

And for his outstanding role in Checkpoint, pioneer actor Emeka Ossai, smiled home with the diadem of the best Actor in a supporting role. Above-all, two Nigerian tested thespians – Chike Okpala (Zebrudaya), Jide Kosoko and a Ugandan film maker were decorated with the Lifetime Achievement Awards, for their immense contributions to the development and sustenance of the motion picture industry on the continent.

Interestingly, it was not only awards and plaques that were given out during this year’s AMAA, guests were also entertained with good music, comedy and other side attractions.
Basorge Terriah, grand master of comedy in Nigeria electrified the spacious hall with his rich repertoire of jokes and jibes for close to 30 minutes. Klint D’ Drunk too came on stage to thrill the guests.
However, the intermittent performances by popular musicians P-Square, Timaya and Timi Dakolo, further added verve to the night of stars.

In her welcome address, Peace Anyiam Osigwe, the CEO of AMAA, thanked all for coming. She was particularly grateful to UBA and the Bayelsa State Government, for making the event a reality despite initial setbacks. “ Our dream is to make AMAA, a truly pan-African awards and that we are already working towards…”

A total of 304 movies were submitted for this year’s edition, across the African continent and 191 of them were from Nigeria, according to Dr. Hyginus Ekwuazi, the head of Jury, while giving his verdict. Also an art exhibition which, showcased works of different artists, under the theme; Our Culture, Our Heritage, preceded this year’s event. It held for two days at the same venue.

Courtesy: The SUN News