Plans For The Second Edition Of Nollywood Film Festival Germany Are Gathering Momentum

By Izoya Isaac

Nollywood Film Festival Gathers Momentum
While the organizers Ehizoya Golden Entertainment and its partners are putting finishing touches at the various locations where the events will hold in the city of Frankfurt Am Main in Germany. There is high expectation from the members of the African film loving community both in Diaspora and within Nigeria.

This frenzy and anxiety is not uncalled for because NFFG/NEGA is in its third year.

Since it started in 2012 as Nollywood E Golden Awards till when the film festival was berthed in 2014, NFFG has always ended in a grand gala night featuring top artistes from Nigeria and 2015 will not be an exception’

Nollywood Europe Golden Awards NEGA 2015, a platform designed to honour Nollywood stake-holders, Nollywood stars, comedians, musicians (both in Africa and in the Diaspora) has been expanded to recognize the artistic bias of outstanding politicians and business men whose actions have directly or indirectly impacted upon the industry, thereby shaping what it has grown to become today.

NEGA Awards, is the climax (awards and gala-night) marking the closing ceremony of Nollywood Film Festival Germany – NFFG, a viable platform designed for Nollywood film makers to showcase their movies to Europeans and Nollywood fans in the Diaspora which is in its second edition. The event is scheduled to hold at the prestigious Filmforum Höchst VHS Cinema, Emmerich-Joselstr, Frankfurt am Main, Germany, from September 11 through September 12, 2015,

Already, there is good news that notable Nigerian business men and politicians including former Vice president His Excellency, ex-vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of The Federal Republic of Nigeria, Gov Ibramin Dankwambo of Gombe State, Gov Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole of Edo State, His Excellency, ex-Gov Alhaji Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko, the immediate past governor of Sokoto State, Sir Mike Mbama Okiro, IGP retd, and Mr. Steve Olu a top security expert as well as a Senator of the United states of America, Senator Donzella James, Democratic senator representing Metropolitan Atlanta's 35th District of Georgia, will grace the occasion. She is invited as Special Guest of Honour in recognition of what she does for the Africa people in the State that led to her being honored by the Nigerian Community in the USA, including the 2014 Friend Of Nigeria award, by the Nigerian Women Association of Georgia, NWAG, and having Queen Blessing O. Itua as Her International Liaison - Adviser, to name a few, are testaments of her love and support for the Nigerian people in particular and Africans in general.

Meanwhile, organisers of the festival known to many as one of the biggest Nigeria film festivals in the whole of Germany, has named Hollywood actress and producer, Queen Blessing Itua as the host of the 2015 edition of Nollywood Europe Golden Awards. The Edo State born artiste, who is also an author and motivational speaker, has vowed to make the event spectacular.

On their own, the artistes on parade namely; Grand master comedian Gandoki, screen actor Ime Bishop, very delectable Ngozi Ezeonu who all will receive the NEGA award for their contributions to the growth of Nollywood as well as showstopper, Cossy Orjiako and the former Miss Lagos State Nollywood star, Cynthia Agholor are all looking forward to the festival.

One thing that NEGA has done over the years is to also honour journalists who have made Nollywood a popular brand worldwide. Two journalists - Ngozi Emedolibe (National Mirror) and Victor Akande (The Nation) are set to receive NEGA 2015 just like Fred Iwenjora, Shaibu Hussieni, Charles Nwagbara have done in the years past.

It is therefore of no wonder that many corporate organizations have been showing interest in taking advantage of the platform to showcase knowledge.

According to the event Director, Isaac Izoya – Cultural Ambassador actor/producer, who made himself popular by the integration shows he put together across Europe featuring Nollywood stars since 2003 said “we are thankful to all who are helping in the realization of this dream of continuously honouring those who contribute to the growth of our brand of film making called Nollywood. What we are doing with NFFG/NEGA is to create an opportunity for film makers to excel and excitement for Nollywood and its practitioners in Germany in particular and Europe in general. We use the three days programme to gather together and make merry with our European friends watching our Nigerian films which the world has started to recognize gradually. The expectations of meeting the stars are high. Fans are shopping, awaiting the festival and those from other European countries are booking their hotels for the event.

10th September, 2015;
Arrival of stars and special guests._________________________________________________________

11th September, 2015
NFFG Cinema; Frankfurt FilmForum Höchst
Emmerich-Joselstr 46A
65929 Frankfurt am Main
17:00 Uhr; Opening ceremony – Free African food and drinks

18:00 Uhr; Screening of “Stigma” by Dangogo,

1) FILM FOR THE OPENING OF NFFG; 11/09/2015
TITLE OF THE FILM: STIGMA
LANGUAGE; ENGLISH
TOTAL RUNNING TIME; 119MINS, 31SEC
MAIN CAST:
Jackie Appiah, Emake Ike, Hilda Dokubo, Francis Duru, Clem Ohaimeze, Soibifaa Dokubo and Ngozi Nwosu,

MAIN CREW
Director, Producer: Dagogo Diminas
SYNOPSIS:
STIGMA tells the story of a mother and daughter ( Ibiso and Vanessa ) who contracts HIV from the kind of job they do as traditional birth attainder in a village. Ibiso and Vanessa were then ostracised by family members and community to die. Ibiso could not stand the stigma, loneliness, financial constrain and she dies. But Vanessa fight stigmatisation, rejection and triumphs over death.

2) 2nd film of the opening day; 11/09/2015
Time; 20:00uhr
TITILE; LAST SLAVE
LANGUAGE; ENGLISH
RUNNING TIME; 90mins. 55Sec
PRODUCED/DIRECTED BY,
HENRY OZULUONYE
MAIN CAST;
FRANCIS DURU, NUELLA NJUBIGBO, ZULU ADIGWE
SYNOPSIS:
There was a birth of a mystery child who parents died during her birth and later sold to a slave merchant out of wickedness and greed._____________________________________________________________

3rd DAY;
SPECIAL GUESTS COURTESY VISIT TO THE CONSULATE GENERAL, FRANKFURT****

DATE; 12th September, 2015
TIME; 2pm (14:00 Uhr) – 3:30pm (15:30Uhr)_______________________________________________

3rd AND THE ONLY FILM FOR THE 2ND DAY 12/09/2015

Time; 17:00Uhr
MOVIE TITLE: THE GRAVE DUST
LANGUAGE: English:
RUNNING TIME; 90 Mins
CAST: RAMSEY NOUAH, JOKE SILVA, JOSEPH BENJAMIN
DIRECTOR: IKECHUKWU ONYEKA
SYNOPSIS
Movie Description : A successful young stockbroker's mental health slowly begins to fall apart when the woman he calls his rib returns his engagement ring with no explanation, leading to devastation for all involved.

NOLLYWOOD EUROPE GOLDEN AWARDS 2015 – Gala-night/After-Party

Date; 12/09/2015
Time; 20;00 Uhr Till Dawn
Venue; NEGA-Venue; KulturZentrum Höchst

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