Nigerian Times

Hot Spots: NICB’s Annual Report on Vehicle Theft California Still a Hotbed for Hot Cars NICB's Hot Spots for Vehicle Theft in 2012. Des Plaines, IL, June 26, 2013 /PRNewswire/ — The National Insurance Crime Bureau ( NICB ) today released its annual Hot Spots vehicle theft report and California dominates once again.   Hot Spots is a per capita review of vehicle thefts from the nation’s metropolitan statistical areas ( MSA ).  NICB data is in line with preliminary FBI vehicle theft data for 2012 which appears to end an eight-year downward trend in vehicle theft. Final numbers will be published by the FBI in the fall, but preliminary 2012 FBI figures estimate a 1.3 percent increase in 2012 thefts from the previous year.  Not surprisingly, eight of the top 10 areas are in California with the remaining two from the state of Washington. The West region, defined by the FBI as the states of Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, ...

This is an official Call for Entries for the 10th Abuja International Film Festival scheduled for the 24th-27th September 2013 at the Silverbird Cinemas Abuja, Nigeria. The festival will screen over 60 indigenous and foreign movies in the following genres: Short, Feature, Animation, Documentary and Experimental. All entries must have been produced within the past 24 months and you can download the entry form from our website: www.abujafilmfestng.org.. The festival shall give awards in the following categories: 1. Best Feature Film 2. Best Short Film 3. Most Outstanding Male Act 4. Most Outstanding Female Act 5. Best Experimental Film 6. Best Animation Film 7. Best Documentary Film 8. Golden Jury Award All entries should be submitted in DVD FORMAT. Deadline for submission of entries is July 31st, 2013. For further enquiries you can call 234 08023217673,  234 07055773560 or 234 08023260448 ...

27 Jun 2013 12:30 Africa/Lagos Keanu Reeves' Directorial Debut, Man of Tai Chi™, Spins Into IMAX® Theatres Across China Beginning July 5 LOS ANGELES, June 27, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- IMAX Corporation (NYSE:IMAX; TSX:IMX), in partnership with China Film Group, Wanda Group and Village Roadshow Pictures, today announced that Man of Tai Chi , Keanu Reeves' highly anticipated directorial debut and the first Mandarin-language film to be directed by a Western actor, will be digitally re-mastered into the immersive IMAX® format and released in IMAX® theatres across China beginning July 5, with the possibility of expanding to other territories. (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20111107/MM01969LOGO) This action-packed contemporary drama shot in Beijing and Hong Kong depicts the spiritual journey of a young martial artist as he struggles to maintain his traditional values and beliefs against the pressures of modern society. Targeted for his fighting skill, he is lured i...

OC Ukeje and Beverly Naya Tipped for Lead Roles in New Blockbuster Movie ~ By Orikinla Osinachi Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA) best actor award winner OC Ukeje, whose stellar performances in Blessing Effiom Egbe’s “Two Brides and a Baby”, Charles Novia’s “Alan Poza” and Kenneth Gyang’s multiple award winning movie “Confusion Na Wa" have wowed thousands of people is tipped to play the male lead in Naked Beauty a new blockbuster film to be shot on Bonny Island, Rivers State. And also tipped for the female lead is sexy and sultry Nollywood actress Beverly Naya who was OC Ukeje’s lover in “Alan Poza”. Naked Beauty is co-written by accomplished Nollywood producer and director Christian Chika Onu and Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima, Founder of the annual Eko International Film Festival and also Founder/CEO of Screen Outdoor Open Air Cinema, operators of the recently launched Screen Naija One Village, One Cinema after four years of research and recce on Bonny Island wh...

The film adaptation of Ake: The Years of Childhood is already in progress with the full cooperation and support of Prof. Wole Soyinka, the famous Nobel laureate and author of the autobiography. According to the producers, the film adaptation of "Ake" has taken them over 25 years since the period of the TV series. And the production will last for six months on locations in Abeokuta and Ibadan with a budget of N350m million Naira (2.5 million US Dollars). The world premiere is expected in early 2014. Prof. Soyinka himself on Friday May 31, 2013, met with the main cast and crew including the director Yemi Akintokun, Dapo Adeniyi, Taiwo Ajai-Lycett, Akin Lewis, Tina Mba, Ben Tomoloju, Yinka Davies, Tony Umole, Yeni Kuti, Jimi Solanke, Jahman Anikulapo and Beautiful Nubia. It is a privilege to be directing the autobiography of someone I consider as one of the most enigmatic beings in recent history. There is no better means of demystifying Kongi than to enact his chi...

What's Your Formula For Excitement? Shell believe that all great drives start with a great fuel, but as to the rest of the ingredients, well every driver has a different story. Maybe it's the weather, the road surface, the season, the location - or perhaps something even more personal like a favourite song - each person's formula for excitement is bound to be unique. Shell wants you to create a film that explains just what it is that goes into the formula for an exciting drive. What is your formula for excitement? Taking Shell V-Power as your starting point, this is your chance to let your imagination run wild. For more details, please download the full brief! Don’t forget that you can apply for production grants to help towards the cost of making your entry, and that the winning filmmakers will win up to $8,000 plus a trip of a lifetime to Africa on Safari in the world famous Kruger National Park. If you need help, have any questions or would like fee...

Director: Marc Foster Writer: Max Brooks (Book) Studio: Paramount Pictures Cast: Brad Pitt, Mireille Enos, Daniella Kertesz Release: June 21, 2013 at RealD 3D and IMAX 3D select theaters. World War Z is one of the most awaited thrillers of 2013, because the famous Hollywood icon Brad Pitt is the star actor and producer of this blockbuster. It has been given 80% by Tomatometer critics on Rotten Tomatoes with 99% of the audience convinced to see it. I have been looking forward to the film shot in Glasgow in 2011 and mentioned it in my report on Eunice Olumide: Nigeria's Super Star on the Runway and Silver Screen , but I am not sure if Eunice's role of an office worker in the movie made the final cut. From the gripping trailer, this is a classic Brad Pitt thriller that will certainly be a box office hit. World War Z is the film adaptation of a 2006 apocalyptic horror novel of the same title by Max Brooks. The story revolves around United Nations employee Gerry L...

5 Jun 2013 13:40 Africa/Lagos Marilyn Monroe: The Exhibit - Hollywood Legend The Hollywood Museum Honors Marilyn's Life and Legacy with the Nation's Largest Exhibit of Authentic Memorabilia, Commemorating the 51st Anniversary of Her Passing HOLLYWOOD , June 5, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- " Marilyn Monroe : The Exhibit - Hollywood Legend ," back by popular demand at The Hollywood Museum , celebrates the fabled actress' life with the nation's largest exhibit of authentic memorabilia (including new acquisitions) presenting an intimate look at her life and legacy. If alive, Marilyn would be 87 years old and her legendary image still lives on as superstar and ultimate icon of glamour and beauty. August marks the 51 st Anniversary of her passing. The Hollywood Museum, in the Historic Max Factor Building, is located at 1660 N. Highland Ave. in the heart of Hollywood . (Photo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130605/PH26704-a ) (Photo: http://photo...