Nollywood movies making waves home and abroad

Source: Dupe Ayinla - Nigeriafilms.com

Figurine

Figurine which won four awards in AMMA 2010 is one of the movies that have raised the bar of Nigerian filmmaking. Produced by Kunle Afolayan, the movie portrays the advances made in the Nigerian movie industry. The film has a plot that represents the reality of the different facets of the lifestyles of Nigerians.

The film's quality is largely a result of the impeccable audio-visuals and attentive performance by the actors. Women are dressed in colourful African creations, showing off the lifestyles of the middle class, upwardly mobile Nigerian female who is educated, entrepreneurial and interested in marriage and family.

The Figurine is set to exceed Kunle Afolayan's first production, Irapada, which positioned him as an actor and producer of high standing in the Nigerian movie industry. Irapada was screened at The Pan African Film Festival, Los Angeles, lined up at the 51st London Film Festival in 2007 and it won The Best Indigenous Nigerian Movie at the African Movie Academy Awards, AMAA 2007, amongst other accolades.

With the Figurine, Kunle has been able to prove to the globe, that quality films can be produced and directed in Nigeria, to fit into the standard of the foreign movies too.

The movie has been placed in the first category because it is an all- Nigerian cast film, which stands as a plus to the awards and nomination it has received so far and it was also screened on Saturday 28, August 2010 as a special Premiere and in London, United Kingdom as part of prelude activities ahead of the Nottinghill Carnival 2010 by First Bank of Nigeria Plc and Lagos State Government.

Ije

Ije, recipients of several awards is coming in as second position because it was produced outside Nigeria with just three Nollywood stars, and majority of Hollywood stars. It is not seen as a Nigeria film.

Though it topped the charts for several weeks in the cinemas, and has won awards like Canada International Film Festival in Excellence in Filmmaking 2010, Treasure Coast International Film Festival Best Editing 2010, Hawaii International Film festival Excellence in Filmmaking 2010, Arizona Black Film Showcase Best Feature Film 2010, Las Vegas International Film Festival Golden Ace Award 2010.

Produced by Award Winning Movie Director and Producer, Nigerian born Chineze Anyaene, in collaboration with top Hollywood film producers, directors and actors, the movie was shot on 35mm.

And the film is as a result of the producer's dissertation from the New York Film Academy where she spent years training on in-depth subjects in the movie industry.

The Tenant

Almost a flawless movie, the international award-winning film is a movie written, produced, and directed by Jude Idada and Lucky Ejim, two Nigerian emigrants in Canada, and was shot at various locations in Canada and Nigeria with Dare 'BabaDee' Fasasi as co-director.

It is in the third position, due to the fact that it was only able to draw large audience when it first came to the cinemas.

The movie won international accolades that included: Audience Choice Award, Best Feature Film(Hollywood Black Film Festival 2009), Beverly Hills, California; Best Feature Film (Moving Image Film festival 2008), Toronto Canada among others.

Grey Focus

Grey Focus is at this position because it has just been brought out from the oven, so it is still a baby and can not be predicted yet. So we are still waiting and watching if it will outrun the ones mentioned above.

It is really amazing, because most of these films are basically the work of Nigerians based abroad. Grey Focus is produced and directed by US based Nigerian born Imeh Esen and was first screened in 2009 at the Pan African Film Festival. And it's currently taking a blossom shine at the cinemas and this new development, we can say, is a great welcome to the industry.

Grey focus shocks the viewer with its blatant exposure of an ever increasing phenomenon in Nigerian University campuses. And stars the likes of Yemi Blaq, Baba Dee and Curtis John Miller among others.

Kajola

Too much can be said about this movie which hit the cinemas in July and is Nigeria's first sci-fi film. Though there was an argument about its pioneering claim in Nigeria but what is certain is Kajola is a noteworthy and quick to be tagged trailblazing effort from Niyi Akinmolayan.

Besides being a CGI movie, the movie was said to have gulped up to 130 million naira.
The characters were not just called on set. Desmond Elliot who played the power drunk Inspector General of Police, less known acts Adonijah Owiriwa, TJ Morgan, Cassandra Odita and Keira Hewatch of 'Dear Mother', 'Tinsel' and 'Just the two of us' soap opera fame starred in Kajola. They were all trained in professional martial arts for one month .

It's too early to talk about its chance at the cinemas, and that is the reason it is in this position.

This year has witnessed lots of development in Nollywood , and it is our hope that this is maintained to encourage viewers who spend their time and money on these movies. Kudos to all who have made motion picture in Nigeria what it is currently. Hope next year will be better.