The Contract Wins Major Awards at 2014 Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards

Ghana’s Contract wins major awards at the Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards
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List of winners
Best Movie Director
Shirley Frimpong-Manso – Contract

Best Movie 2013
Shirley Frimpong-Manso, Yvonne Okoro and Ken Attoh – Contract

Best Documentary
Dr Gilbert Chigbo – The Deadwood

Best Short Film
Walter ‘Waltbanger’ Taylaur – The Wages

Best Television Series Comedy / Drama
Fred Phiri – Love Games Episode 6

Best New Media – Online Video
Amarachukwu Onoh – Mother Tongue

Best Actor in a Drama
Tope Tedela – A Mile from Home

Best Actress in a Drama
Nse Ikpe-Etim – Journey To Self

Best Supporting Actress in a Drama
Bikiya Graham-Douglas – Flower Girl

Best Supporting Actor in a Drama
Desmond Elliot – Finding Mercy

Best Movie (Drama)
Frank Rajah Arase – The Price

Best Actor in a Comedy
Osita Iheme – The Hero

Best Actress in a Comedy
Funke Akindele – The Return of Sheri Koko

Best Movie (Comedy)
Elvis Chucks – A Wish

Best Make-Up Artist
Elayne Okaya – Nairobi Half Life

Best Costume Designer
Chiemela Nwagboso – The Kingdom

Best Lighting Designer
Mohamed Zain – Nairobi Half Life

Best Video Editor
Shirley Frimpong-Manso – Contract

Best Sound Editor
Obi Emelonye and Luke Corradine – Last Flight to Abuja

Best Art Director
Barbara Minishi – Nairobi Half Life

Best Cinematographer
Christian Almesberger – Nairobi Half Life

Best Writer (Comedy)
Jigi Bello – Flower Girl

Best Writer (Drama)
Shirley Frimpong-Manso and Hertey Owusu – Contract

Best Indigenous Language (Hausa)
Abba Muko Yakassai – Habib

Best Indigenous Language (Yoruba)
Mercy Aigbe – Komfo

Best Indigenous Language (Swahili)
Njoki Muhoho – Mama Duka

New Era Award
Rita Dominic – The Meeting

Trailblazer Award
Michelle Bello

Industry Merit Award
Pete Edochie

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Lady Gaga Confirmed as Keynote Speaker for SXSW Music 2014

AUSTIN, Texas, March 9, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The South By Southwest (SXSW) Music and Media Conference and Festival proudly announces multi-platinum selling, five-time Grammy-winning artist Lady Gaga as the keynote for the 2014 event. The keynote conversation, to be led by John Norris of Fuse, takes place on Friday, March 14, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. in the Grand Ballroom of the Hilton Austin – Downtown.

Lady Gaga's contributions to the music industry have garnered her numerous achievements including five Grammy Awards amongst fifteen nominations, thirteen MTV Video Music Awards amongst twenty-six nominations, and the estimated sale of 27 million albums and 130 million singles worldwide. The annual keynote is one of the most highly anticipated events at SXSW, and with this Lady Gaga joins an impressive roster of past keynote speakers including such music legends as Lou Reed, Dave Grohl, and Bruce Springsteen.

Lady Gaga's keynote will be open to Music and Platinum registrants and Showcasing Artist wristbands, and follows her prior night's performance on the Doritos #BoldStage at Austin's legendary Stubb's benefitting the Born This Way Foundation.

Lady Gaga came to prominence following the release of her debut studio album The Fame (2008), which sold over 15 million copies worldwide. She has travelled the world on numerous tours including 2008's The Fame Ball, 2009-2011's The Monster Ball and 2012-2013's Born This Way Ball. An HBO television special titled Lady Gaga Presents the Monster Ball Tour: At Madison Square Garden earned an Emmy Award amongst its five nominations. Her third studio album, Born This Way, broke the iTunes record for the fastest rise to the #1 on release day.

In 2013, Time Magazine named her the second most influential person of the decade. With over 2.7 billion combined views of all her videos online, Lady Gaga is one of the biggest living forces in social media with over 63 million likes on Facebook and over 41 million followers on Twitter. She is also a global activist and philanthropist, having been an outspoken supporter of many important issues including LGBT rights, HIV/AIDS awareness, body image issues, and youth empowerment. In 2011, she launched her own Born This Way Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to empowering youth and creating a kinder and braver world. In 2011 she also built & launched a social network just for her fans, LittleMonsters.com.

Lady Gaga is the only artist in the digital era to top the 5 million sales mark with her first two hits. Lady Gaga's fourth studio album, ARTPOP, was released on November 11, 2013 and debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 with 258,000 copies sold in its first week, earning Lady Gaga her second consecutive number-one album; to this date it has sold 2.3 million copies worldwide. For Lady Gaga, ARTPOP is a self-described reverse Warholian expedition. Later this month, Lady Gaga is scheduled for a hometown residency, playing a record-setting number of shows at New York City's Roseland Ballroom before it closes its doors forever. Starting in May, Lady Gaga will once again travel the world embarking on her fourth world tour entitled: artRave: The ARTPOP Ball.


South By Southwest (SXSW) Music Conference and Festival, the world's leading music industry event, offers attendees the opportunity to explore the future of the music industry during the day at panels, talks, the Trade Show, Music Gear Expo and other conference activities at the Austin Convention Center. At night, the absolute best mix of musical performances from over 2,200 regional, national and international acts will take place at the nighttime music festival. Altogether, SXSW presents unmatched networking opportunities, career-building conference programming and over 100 stages of music for showcasing bands and conference attendees. SXSW Music takes place Tuesday, March 11 - Sunday, March 16, 2014 in Austin, Texas. For more information on every aspect of SXSW, please go to http://www.sxsw.com.

SXSW Music 2014 is sponsored by Miller Lite, Sonicbids, Monster Energy, Esurance, Chevrolet, AT&T, IFC, Subway and The Austin Chronicle.



For more information about this announcement, please contact Elizabeth Derczo at [musicpress@sxsw.com] or 512/467-7979 x 209

SOURCE SXSW

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World Premiere of "When Dreams Fall Apart" is on Sunday March 9

Nollywood divas led by star actress Uche Jombo Rodriguez will grace the red carpet at the world premiere of Chico Ejiro's award winning film "When Dreams Fall Apart" on Sunday, 9th March, 2014, at the 33 Social Place, off Ajose Adeogun Street, Victoria Island, Lagos.
Red Carpet starts at 5pm.

“When Dreams Fall Apart” also stars popular U.S based actor Emmanuel Mensah, Maureen Okpoko and Nonso Odogwu.

When dreams fall apart is a story about a girl on the run, to save her life. When her uncle whom she's living with died, the death was framed on her so she ran away to stay with a group of friends who are into big time runs. One night they set out to hustle and she meets a rich expatriate guy who pays to sleep with her. In the process of their love making the guy had a heart attack and died instantly. The girl takes off again, a fugitive running from the law. She gets knocked down by a moving car and she's rushed to a nearby hospital. The rich young man who hit her falls in love with her and her romance kicks off against the will of the guy's parents who have a rich and influential background. They begin to dig into the girls past and expose her dirty secrets but the guy is blinded by love still goes ahead with the wedding plans

On the wedding day as they were about to be joined as husband and wife, we see a band of policemen who surrounds the venue and arrest the bride to be. When dreams fall apart is an intriguing story of love, betrayal, murder and pain.

"When Dreams Fall Apart" opens at the cinemas in Nigeria and Ghana from March 14. 2014.

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Lupita Nyong'o, Everyone's Cinderella from Africa To Hollywood

Lupita Nyong'o, Everyone's Cinderella

Lupita Nyong'o won the Academy Award for best supporting actress and women and girls all around the world exhaled with relief and cheered with delight. The beginning of Nyong'o's fairy-tale rise to Hollywood's ...

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Lupita Nyong'o and Steve McQueen Make History As "12 Years a Slave" Wins 3 Oscars!

Kenyan actress Lupita Amondi Nyong’o has become the first Kenyan to be nominated and also win an Oscar by winning the Best Supporting Actress Oscar at the 86th Academy Awards held in Los Angeles, California on Sunday night for her role in the movie "12 Years a Slave" that won the Academy Award for Best Picture and also making history as the first movie from a black director to do so in 86 years of the Oscars. Steve McQueen, the British director was ecstatic as his film also won Best Adapted screenplay.

“Everyone deserves not just to survive but to live, this is the most important legacy of Solomon Northup,” said McQueen in his acceptance speech.

The 2013 historical drama film is an adaptation of the 1853 memoir of the same title by Solomon Northup, a New York State-born free negro who was kidnapped in Washington, D.C. in 1841 and sold into slavery. He worked on plantations in the state of Louisiana for twelve years before his release. The first scholarly edition of Northup's memoir, co-edited in 1968 by Sue Eakin and Joseph Logsdon, carefully retraced and validated the account and concluded it to be accurate.

"12 Years a Slave" received critical acclaim following its release in 2013, and was named the best film of the year by several media outlets. It also proved to be a box office success, earning over $128 million on a budget of $20 million. In 2014, the film won the Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture – Drama and the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) recognized the film with a Best Film award and a Best Actor award for Nigerian born British actor Chiwetel Ejiofor.

Lupita Nyong'o celebrates her Oscar win in Fred Leighton gold jewelry. (PRNewsFoto/LoveGold)

"When I look down at this golden statue may it remind me, and every little child, that no matter where you are from your dreams are valid," she said. 
Lupita Nyong'o made history by becoming the first Kenyan to win an Oscar.

"You are the pride of Africa!" President Uhuru Kenyatta exclaimed on Twitter celebrating Kenya's first major Oscar win by actress Lupita Nyong'o.
"It is our intention that Lupita becomes the first of an endless line of Oscar nominees and winners from Africa and Kenya," he said.

Read full report on Nigerians Report Online.

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When Will Hollywood Get Over Marilyn Monroe?

Marilyn Monroe, (born Norma Jeane Mortenson; June 1, 1926 – August 5, 1962).

When will Hollywood get over the Marilyn Monroe Syndrome?

The quintessential American sex symbol and TV Guide Network named her No. 1 in Film's Sexiest Women of All Time who was the first model to pose nude on the cover of the first issue of Playboy in December 1953, making Marilyn the first Playmate of the Month.

The unforgettable dumb blonde of the silver screen has inspired many Hollywood actresses who have idolized her as the epitome of the classic screen beauty. But not for her acting abilities even though she got some coveted nominations and won the Golden Globe Award for her performance in "Some Like It Hot" (1959). Her sexy pose in the 1955 movie "The Seven Year Itch" with her white skirt blown up by the wind as she stood over a New York City subway grate has been imitated by many other women, including famous female divas Madonna, Mira Sorvino, Maria Carey, Charlize Theron, Rachel Hunter, Anna Nicole Smith and in fact inspired the late disco diva Donna Summer (December 31, 1949, died May 17, 2012) in her 17-minute orgasmic song “Love To Love You” released in 1975. Lindsay Lohan in early spring 2008 posed as Marilyn Monroe for the same famous photographer Bert Stern in similar postures like his 1962 last photographs of Monroe called “The Last Sitting”. Then an Art collector paid $5.6 million for the ivory pleated Travilla dress at the legendary Debbie Reynolds Collections for Profiles in History Auction House in Calabasas, California, on Saturday, June 18th, 2011.

A statue of Marilyn Monroe in the same celebrated pose is now the rave of the moment as reported by Los Angeles Times.

The statue of Marilyn Monroe by sculptor Seward Johnson in downtown Palm Springs, seen in June 2013, has become a tourist attraction. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times / June 28, 2013).


~ By Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima.

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Transerve Disc Technologies: Where PSquare and other Top Nigerian Entertainers Make Their CDs and DVDs

Transerve Disc Technologies: Where PSquare and other Top Nigerian Entertainers Make Their CDs and DVDs

Do you know that PSquare, the famous Nigerian twin brothers Peter and Paul Nonso Okoye, who are the hottest and most sought after singing and dancing duo in Africa has sold over 24 million copies of their music CDs and videos since 2003 to date?

1. P-Square's debut album LAST NITE released in 2003 sold out and launched them to super stardom not only in Nigeria, but in many countries in Africa and made their unique Afro hip hop of western and African rhythms the favourite choice of millions of fans worldwide.

2. Their second album GET SQUARED released in July 2005 sold over 10 million copies.

3. Their third album GAME OVER with the bestselling hits songs “Do Me” and “Roll It” also sold 8 million copies worldwide.

4. Their fourth album DANGER released on the 15th of September 2009 sold one million copies in eight days after its release.

5. Of course, "Beautiful Onyinye", the third single from their fifth album THE INVASION, featuring famous American rap sensation Rick Ross sold over 1 million copies in the first four days after the release on July 29, 2011 and the music video has so far recorded over 16,834,874 views on YouTube.

6. Yes, PSquare has sold more millions of albums than any other solo, duo or group of new generation of Nigerian singers, including Innocent Idibia, aka “Tuface” and D’banj, the ‘Kokomaster’.

7. Their CDs are made right here in Nigeria by Transerve Disc Technologies, the biggest producer of audio and video CDs, DVDs and other digital products in West Africa.

Do you know how many millions of CDs D’banj:, the ‘Kokomaster’ or “Mr. Endowed” has sold so far?

Do you know how many millions of CDs Innocent Idibia, aka “Tuface” has sold since he went solo?

The Don of contemporary music in Nigeria Michael Enebeli, famous as Don Jazzy, co-founder of Mo’Hits and now the boss of Marvin Records has also sold millions of his hit singles.

Davido and WizKid have also sold millions of the CDs of their hit singles and albums.

What do most of them have in common?

Millions of their CDs and DVDs are made right here in Nigeria by Transerve Disc Technologies, the biggest producer of audio and video CDs, DVDs and other digital products in West Africa. And Transerve is not only the home of top selling Nigerian singers, but also the hub of the best Nollywood home videos and now in their vision of “Adapting Technology to customers needs with TRANSCENDING EXCELLENT SERVICES”, Transerve has launched its pace setting anti piracy Optical Disc Software that monitors the production and distribution of all products and services from the company to all the customers in Nigeria and the rest of the world.
It is the favorite of many corporate, social and religions organizations who duplicate their CD’s or DVD’s in-house but wants to finish them with high quality waterproof, offset printing instead of costly inkjet printings. Screen/offset printing cost 50% less than inkjet printing and it is water resistant. Transerve Disc Technologies' anti piracy alert system will prevent the rampant cases of piracy in Nigeria and other parts of the world.

"Intellectual property theft is an armed virus that must be fought to a standstill by everybody that loves this industry. In our quest to eradicate this scourge of piracy, we registered with two Label Owners Association, namely: Music label owners and Recording Industries Association of Nigeria (MORAN) and Nigerian Association of recording Industries (NARI). For us in Transerve Disc Technologies Limited, there is no difference between an armed robber and a pirate intellectual property theft is actually worst than bank robbery, because of its capacity to deny not only the present generation of both income and creativity but also future generations of creative community of the exploitation of their God given talents and skills, " said Mr. Cyprian Orakpo, MD/C.E.O of Transerve Disc Technologies Limited.

Transerve Disc Technologies Limited has branches in major cities of the nation to ensure that the products are readily available to her numerous customers.


For more information, contact the head office at the following.
Transerve Disc Technologies Limited
Plot 2 & 3, Block VI, Royalty Place Alakoso Av.,
Odofin Park Est., Ijesha B/Stop, Apapa Oshodi Exp. Way.
Amuwo Odofin. Lagos, Nigeria. P.O Box 17870, Ikeja, Lagos
Tel: +234-08035101966 +234-07029013300
Fax: +234-01-7912803
www.transerveng.com

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Emmanuel Mensah, the Handsome Liberian Born Star of “When Dreams Fall Apart”

Emmanuel V. Mensah is the stuff Hollywood hunks are made of with his charming good looks and designer suits. The Liberian born international actor is also a successful entrepreneur who is based in the United States of America and has also found a comfort zone in Nollywood. And one of the leading stars in “When Dreams Fall Apart”, the must see new thriller by Chico Ejiro, the most prolific filmmaker in Nollywood.

Emmanuel plays the challenging role of Barrister Williams, a very intelligent, handsome and good hearted lawyer hired by Kelvin (Vincent Opurum) for his girlfriend "Nonye", (Uche Jombo) who had been arrested and accused of murder.

Working with the award winning Nollywood diva Uche Jombo
“I recall my first encounter with her on the set of "When Dreams Fall Apart" I can't quit saying I expected a different behavior or attitude since I've heard from other actors and crew members of her down to earth mannerisms. I didn't have to wait long when she exhibited her sweet nature to me during our scene together. It was hot and I was sweating up a storm and she selflessly took her portable fan and shared it with me so that we could go forward with the production,” Emmanuel said with glints in his starry eyes.

“What I found fascinating about her was her down to earth interactions with the crew and actors, including my humble self. Work wise, she is a walking talent and her ability to bring her character alive is remarkable. Since then, I've had the opportunity to work with her again and it was just as fun.”

Working with Chico Ejiro
 “Working with Producer/Director Chico Ejiro was a very wonderful experience. Chico maintains a very relaxed environment for both crew and actors alike, which enables every member regardless of your position on set to excel; and you are able to work effectively. Despite your reading and understanding of the script, Chico directs you in a way that allows you to visualize the character vividly, which makes it easy for one to embody and portray the best for the viewers. I once read somewhere that a person thinks, reacts, and responds effectively when the heartbeat is functioning at a normal rhythm; as opposed to a fast and out of norm rhythm which causes lack of focus and slow responses. I have worked with a lot of directors over the years and I've come to realize that Chico style of directing or instructing is more subtle and productive. It allows you as a artist to bring out the best in you. Once again, working under the instructions of Director Chico Ejiro was a well learned experience and I look forward to working with him again.”

Emmanuel has an impressive resume from being educated in the US with a Masters in Social Science from Ashford and that really helped as the CEO of Mensah Delivery Service out of Leesburg in Virginia and currently the CEO of Kanneh-Mensah International Nigeria Limited with head office in Abuja. His acting career started in the United States and Canada in 2009, where he first appeared in the movie "Games of the Heart" and "Missing Link". Since then he has featured in other international productions from around the world, including in Sierra Leon, the Congo, Ghana, Canada and a popular face in Nigerian movies working with the famous Nollywood stars; Patience Ozokwor, Olu Jacobs, Desmon Elliott, Ramsey Noah, Jim Ike and others and with Ghanaian stars Kofi Ajololo, Juliet Ibrahim and Nadia Buari.
If you do not find Emmanuel V. Mensah in front of the cameras, you can find him in the hustle and bustle of Abuja business world.



Www.facebook.com/evmfp

Www.youtube.com/emensah32

Www.twitter.com/EmmanuelvMensah

Www.Google.com/EmmanuelvMensah

Www.wix.com/emmanuelmensah/actor

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Afrinolly Awards - Lions Rising On Saturday February 22, 2014

Afrinolly Awards - Lions Rising On Saturday February 22, 2014

On 22nd February, 2014 Afrinolly Awards holds.
We will celebrating the Generation of Digital Film Makers in Africa; awarding winners in the Afrinolly Short Film Competition Season 2 and recognizing some individuals.

Follow the highlights and join the conversation on Google+, Twitter and Facebook using the hash tag #AfrinollyAwards.

Lions Rising is a reminder to all that there is an emerging new generation of digital filmmakers across Africa.
Like Lions they will dominate the Africa movie ecosystem.
Lions Rising signifies that the future is here.
Like Lions they are spread across different parts of Africa. This is not just Nollywood.
Like Lions they move in groups and collaborate in more ways than others.
This is an era of specialization and division of labor.
Like Lions they know their strength.
This is time for Africans to tell the African story for a global audience.

~ Chike Maduegbuna, CEO, FansConnectOnline, makers of Afrinolly apps for African movies on mobile devices.

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Will BAFTA Winners Predict The Oscars?

Will BAFTA Winners Predict The Oscars?

Nigerian born British actor Chiwetel Ejiofor won Best Actor at the Baftas for his role as "Solomon Northup" in Steve McQueen's 12 Years a Slave.

The British Academy Film Awards aired Sunday, and "12 Years a Slave" was crowned the best film. Do the BAFTAs foreshadow what's ahead at the Oscars?

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