Phoenix Fry, Creative Director
[email protected]
Nollywood Now! is organised by Deptford Film Club. Our thanks go to:
Funders
- Lewisham Council, funders of the festival
- Deptford Challenge Trust, who provided funding for equipment
Advice and support
- Alessandro Jedlowski at SOAS, University of London
- Dr. Gareth Stanton, Head of Media and Communications at Goldsmiths, University of London
- Moses Babatope at Odeon Cinemas
- ‘Yinka Mayungbo at the African Movie Channel
- Alfred Soroh at Nollywood Movies Sky 329
- Anna Kime at Film London
Press
- Calle 20, 24 November
- Financial Times, 2 October
- Guardian Guide, 2 October
- East London Lines: Q&A, 2 October
- East London Lines: Nollywood Now, 30 September
- The Guardian, 21 September 2010
- Krystal magazine, 16 September 2010
- South London Press, 20 August 2010
- London Evening Standard, 20 August 2010
Online networks
- Wisconsin University Cinemateque: Nollywood Rising
- The Afro News
- Lewisham: Be More
- Brockley Central
- Brockley Jack
- Shadow and Act
- To Sow Stars
- Sify News
- Black Book News
- The Africa Channel
- Transpontine, 26 August 2010
- Catch a Vibe, 29 August 2010
- Naija Network News, 24 August 2010
- Voice of Nigerians, 24 August 2010
- Deptford Dame, 25 August 2010
- Lewisham Film Initiative, 16 August 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
14 September 2010. Updated 28 September 2010
Nollywood Now! film festival launches in London, 6-12 October 2010
Tickets sales are now open at www.nollywoodnow.co.uk for the UK’s first ever festival of Nigerian film, known as Nollywood.
The festival, a week-long celebration of the world’s second largest film industry, will feature six film screenings introduced by talks from industry experts including Nigerian actors, film academics and representatives from Nollywood TV broadcasting.
The film programme takes in five of the best-loved popular Nigerian films, along with the Canadian documentary Nollywood Babylon.
Phoenix Fry, creative director of Nollywood Now! said: “I hope this festival is just the beginning of a more widespread recognition of Nollywood as a global cinema phenomenon. Ten years ago India’s popular cinema was dismissed by the mainstream, but is now a vital part of our shared culture. The dramatic and exciting films coming out of Nigeria, enjoyed by so many people here in the UK, deserve a similar place in Britain’s cultural life.”
Adekunle Detokunbo-Bello, the Nigerian actor, film-maker and academic said:
“For Nollywood fans and people new to Nigerian film, this festival is an amazing opportunity to enjoy some of the best films from Nigeria. Nollywood Now! showcases the evolution of the most popular films within Africa, from the early guerrilla shoots in Lagos to recent festival-acclaimed productions.”
Moses Babatope, Odeon Cinema’s special projects manager for Nollywood said:
“This festival marks an important moment for Nigerian cinema in the West. With production values approaching European and Hollywood standards, audiences in Britain – who have traditionally watched Nollywood films at home on TV – are now demanding cinematic screenings of new films.”
Mayor of Lewisham, Sir Steve Bullock said:
“I’m immensely proud that Lewisham Council has funded the UK’s first ever festival of Nigerian film. The borough is home to one of the largest Nigerian populations in the country, and this festival is a great opportunity for us all to celebrate the outstanding global success of Nollywood film-making.”
Venue
Deptford Town Hall, New Cross Road, London SE14 6AF.
Festival progamme
7.30pm, Wednesday 6 October
Nollywood Babylon (Ben Addelman and Samir Mallal, 2008), a Canadian documentary which goes behind the scenes and puts the industry into cultural and political perspective. Launch night panel discussion will include:
- Alfred Soroh, Managing Director of Nollywood Channel (Sky 329)
- Dr. Gareth Stanton, Head of Media and Communication at Goldsmiths, University of London
- Moses Babatope, the Odeon Cinema’s special projects manager for Nollywood
- Adekunle Detokunbo-Bello, Nigerian film-maker and academic
7.30pm, Thursday 7 October
Osuofia in London (Kingsley Ogoro, 2003), one of the most popular Nigerian films of all time. Introduced by the film’s co-producer, Dr. Kola Munis.
7.30pm, Friday 8 October
Dangerous Twins (Tade Ogidan, 2004), a thriller set in London and Lagos starring Ramsey Nouah in the double title role. Introduced by Elizabeth ‘Eff’ Obisanya, screenwriter, film-maker and activist.
7.30pm, Saturday 9 October
White Waters (Izu Ojukwu, 2008) a popular teen sports romance starring Rita Dominic. Introduced by Dr. Gareth Stanton, Head of Media and Communication at Goldsmiths, University of London.
7.30pm, Monday 11 October
Arugba (Tunde Kelani, 2009), a Yoruba language movie which had its UK premiere at the Odeon in Greenwich. Introduced by Dr. Oluyinka Esan, Senior Lecturer in Media and Film Studies, Winchester University.
7.30pm, Tuesday 12 October
Modupe Temi (Daniel Ademinokan 2009), a Yoruba language melodrama featuring just two actors playing a husband and wife. As their marriage falls apart they fight brutally, with some genuinely funny moments. Introduced by Adekunle Detokunbo-Bello, Nigerian film-maker and academic.
NOTES TO EDITORS
Nollywood Now! will be the UK’s first ever festival of Nigerian film. Its aims are:
- to introduce Nollywood film to new audiences
- to bring existing audiences together to celebrate Nollywood film culture in a public space.
The festival will take place in New Cross, south east London – an area with a large Nigerian population. 154,000 Nigerian-born people are resident in the UK, according to a 2009 estimate by the Office for National Statistics.
The festival is sponsored by the Guarantee Trust Bank and funded by the London Borough of Lewisham through its Community Cohesion fund, using equipment funded by the Deptford Challenge Trust.
Tickets cost £3 each or £12 for a festival pass, with an additional 50p online booking fee.
Contact:
Phoenix Fry [email protected]
Nollywood Now! has two aims:
- To invite Nollywood fans to get together and celebrate Nigerian film in a public space.
- To introduce the joy and excitement of Nigerian film to new audiences.
Our launch event on Wednesday 6 October will include a panel discussion featuring industry insiders and representatives from the Nigerian community in London. On the following days, each film will be introduced by a special guest.
In October 2010, Nigeria celebrates 50 years of independence. There will be events celebrating Nigerian culture throughout the autumn, including three Nollywood events in south London:
- Nollywood Now! The UK’s first ever festival dedicated to Nigerian film
- New Nigeria Cinema, a one-day film festival at the BFI Southbank, 30 October 2010
- Nollywood Un-packed, an evening at the South London Gallery, Peckham, 26 November 2010
Diary notice
WHAT: UK’s first ever Nigerian film festival, Nollywood Now!
WHEN: 6 – 12 October 2010
WHERE: Deptford Town Hall, New Cross Road, London SE14 6AF
LAUNCH EVENT: Wednesday 6 October, 7.30pm to include screening of the documentary Nollywood Babylon
SPEAKERS: TBC but to include film academic, British-Nigerian actor and film-maker, Nollywood Movies channel representative, Nigerian community representatives.
The Nigerian film industry, popularly known as Nollywood, exploded at the beginning of the 1990s and is now the world’s second largest film industry in the world in terms of number of annual film production. The industry has an estimated turnover of US$250 million, and produces around 2400 films a year.
Films are rarely released in cinemas, but are distributed in DVD and VCD format in markets and shops for home viewing. In London, many Nollywood fans rent or buy their films from shops in Deptford, Peckham and Dalston. In addition, Odeon cinemas organise occasional late night screenings and popular premiere events.
Nigerian film is popular with audiences from across Africa. In 2006, 42% of Nollywood films were made in English language, 37% in Yoruba and 18% in Hausa. The industry has taken influence from all around the world (including Bollywood melodrama, Latin American soap operas, low-budget American/British horror and Hong Kong gangster flicks) but transform these influences to address local concerns.
Recommended reading: Nollywood: The Video Phenomenon in Nigeria
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