Nigerian Times

29 Nov 2013 15:00 Africa/Lagos Award-winning 'Silent Retreat' punctuates prolific year for Canadian casting ace Justin Turner LOS ANGELES, Nov. 29, 2013 /PRNewswire/ - A Film Monkey Production's horror film "Silent Retreat" received this month the Best Canadian Feature Film award at the 8th annual Toronto After Dark Film Festival. The award underscored a banner 2013 for Justin Turner, a Toronto based casting department extraordinaire who has made a sterling impression in film and television, and who worked under Casting Director Jonathan Oliveira on the project. Directed, written and produced by Tricia Lee, "Silent Retreat" is a creature indie feature shot entirely in Canada. It follows the story of Janey, who is sent to a silent rehab retreat in the middle of the woods. Upon arriving, she discovers the men who run the retreat are brainwashing women to be quiet and submissive. If Janey breaks the rules, she'll discover what evil lurks beyon...

Nigerian Filmmaker Breaks New Grounds with Historical Epic Movie and ABCs of Death Series Lancelot Imasuen. Lancelot Imasuen, one of the most ambitious filmmakers in Nigeria’s Nollywood is breaking new grounds with his historical epic movie Invasion 1897 and for being the only African director among the 26 selected directors making the short horror thrillers of The ABCs of Death series. He is one of the most prolific producers in Africa and his movies have focused on the unexplored aspects of the African experience including tribalism, witchcraft, crime, poverty, religion, and folk beliefs. Lancelot has just concluded his own segment for the Alphabet P with “Prince Venom” in the 26 segments of the horrors of death anthology in Benin. Then he will be in London for the British locations of Invasion 1897 , featuring Nigerian born Charles "Chucky" Venn who is famous for his roles as Curtis Alexander in Sky's "One's Dream Team", Tremaine Gidigbi ...

26 Nov 2013 19:29 Africa/Lagos The 29th Annual Film Independent Spirit Awards Nominations Announced - $75,000 in grants to be awarded to filmmakers - LOS ANGELES, Nov. 26, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Film Independent, the nonprofit arts organization that produces the Film Independent Spirit Awards, the Los Angeles Film Festival and the Film Independent at LACMA Film Series, announced nominations for the 2014 Film Independent Spirit Awards this morning. Film Independent President Josh Welsh presided over the press conference held at the W Hollywood, with actresses Octavia Spencer and Paula Patton presenting the nominations. Nominees for Best Feature included 12 Years a Slave, All Is Lost, Frances Ha, Inside Llewyn Davis and Nebraska. Mud was selected to receive the annual Robert Altman Award, which is bestowed upon one film's director, casting director and ensemble cast. In its commitment to recognizing the importance of below the line contributions to the art of filmmaking, F...

26 Nov 2013 15:26 Africa/Lagos Make-Up Artists and Hair Stylists Guild Awards Set for Saturday, Feb. 15, 2014 Timeline for Awards Announced LOS ANGELES, Nov. 26, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The Make-Up Artists and Hair Stylists Guild (IATSE Local 706) Awards honoring make-up artists and hair stylists outstanding achievements in motion pictures, television, commercials, and live theater will take place on Saturday, February 15, 2014 at Paramount Studios, it was announced today by IATSE Local 706 President Susan Cabral-Ebert. "The members are excited to have the Local 706 Guild Awards return this year," said Cabral-Ebert. For Submissions, Rules and Regulations go to: www.local706.org. (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20131126/PH24072LOGO-a) (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20131126/PH24072LOGO-b) The entry and voting timeline for the 2014 Make-Up Artists and Hair Stylists Guild Awards is: Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2013 - Submissions for motion pictures, television...

Avon Foundation Launches Campaign to Help People #SeeTheSigns of Domestic Violence During 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence Megan Fox, Lucy Hale and Chris Paul support the Avon Foundation as it helps people #SeeTheSigns of abuse through a powerful global social media campaign Actress Megan Fox in New York City where she helped Avon launch the #SeeTheSigns of Domestic Violence global social media campaign. New York, NY – November 25, 2013 / PRNewswire / — Today, on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women , actress Megan Fox, the face of Avon Instinct fragrances, supported the Avon Foundation for Women  in its launch of #SeeTheSigns, a global social media campaign that will educate the public on recognizing the signs of domestic violence. Part of the Avon Speak Out Against Domestic Violence program, #SeeTheSigns will run throughout the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence , an international human rights-based movement...

"The Hunger Games: Catching Fire" exploded into movie theaters over the weekend, burning up box office charts with $161 million in U.S. and Canadian ticket sales, distributor Lions Gate Entertainment Corp said. Tweet

ESoDoc - European Social Documentary 2014 The training initiative for documentary and cross-media projects with impact! Application Deadline: December 2, 2013 ESoDoc is a project-based course offering three one-week sessions held over a period of six month. ESoDoc focuses on new ways of producing, funding and distributing documentaries on social themes.  During the workshops, participants are tutored by a network of international experts on the development of their projects. Emphasis is placed on building up strong storytelling along with new production possibilities. WHO SHOULD APPLY Intermediary and senior documentary filmmakers, authors and producers, NGO-communication representatives and professionals from the new media sector. To apply for ESoDoc 2014, please fill the online application form on  www.esodoc.eu . DATES Application Deadline: December 2, 2013 Session #01: March 2014, The Netherlands Session #02: May/June 2014, Italy (t.b.c.) Session #0...

The 35th Festival des 3 Continents from November 19-26 is honouring South African Cinema. The annual international film festival has been held since 1979 in Nantes, France, solely devoted to the promotion of cinemas of Asia, and Africa and Latin America. Nigerians Report was invited to cover the 2013 edition. Official Selection - International Competition What cinema can do Harshness and sensitivity: the films selected for 2013 blend, somewhat paradoxically, a porosity to the world and its violence with a sophisticated taste for oblique approaches and the joys of indirectness. State corruption with consequences that worm their way into the family core ( El Mudo ), one generation oppressing another ( Bending the Rules ), the confusion between the psychiatric institution and mental confinement ( Til Madness Do Us Part ), gangsterism ( Poor Folk ), the forced clandestinity of migrant life ( L’Escale , Rêves d’or ), teenage violence misunderstood ( Leçons d’harmonie ): but the...

The Nigerian Premiere of the new award winning awesome film "FEMME: Women Healing the World" is coming up in Lagos for the celebration of Christmas. With Special Guest of Honour Emmanuel Itier, the famous director of the film. Emmanuel Itier and Sharon Stone. Eeefy Ify Ike.  FEMME was filmed all around the World including Nigeria and also featuring Eeefy Ify Ike, the famous Nigerian born US based model, actress, motivational speaker and the author of Peering Through The Depths of life . Read more about her on http://lindaikeji.blogspot.com/2012/01/introducing-eeefy-ike-us-based-nigerian.html FEMME is the first Feminist movie made by a macho man! This will empower Women and educate our Men as well! FEMME is an inspirational voyage about women around the world who are actively transforming and healing global society of a daily basis. Starring Sharon Stone (Casino, Total Recall, Basic Instinct), Jean Houston, Marianne Williamson, Jean Shinoda Bolen, Riane Eisler, ...

21 Nov 2013 17:41 Africa/Lagos 12-year Secret Service Agent Resigns During Obama Administration; Warns American People About 'Life Inside the Bubble' WASHINGTON, Nov. 21, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Why would a successful, 12-year Secret Service agent resign his elite position in the prime of his career to run for high public office and blow the whistle on what goes on at the highest levels in Washington DC? Dan Bongino's Life Inside the Bubble: Why a Top-Ranked Secret Service Agent Walked Away From It All (WND Books, Nov 19) is a look at life inside the presidential "bubble," a haze of staffers, consultants, cronies, acolytes, bureaucrats and lobbyists that creates the "alternate reality" in which monumental policy decisions are made. And it is the story of a dedicated Secret Service professional who, after years inside the "bubble," walked away in favor of sounding a clarion call to the American people in defense of sane governmen...

2013 Print Comp winners line up. (L-R: Danielle Riley, Enrique Oliver, Rocco Ancora, Kelly Brown, Kaupo Kikkas, David Edmonson, Jerry Ghionis). 21 Nov 2013 19:53 Africa/Lagos Wedding & Portrait Photographers International (WPPI) Now Accepting Submissions for Annual 16x20 Print, Album, and Filmmaking Competitions Jerry and Melissa Ghionis Named Competition Directors of 2014 Honors of Excellence Competitions to Be Judged Live During Annual WPPI Conference Competition Offers Chances to Win Thousands of Dollars in Prizes and Awards Growth, Honor, and Prestige 10 reasons why you should enter the competition: It encourages excellence, educates and motivates you to be constantly committed to your craft. Share your work with your peers for mutually beneficial inspiration and learning. Receive priceless feedback from respected photographers and judges. Be recognized by your peers for your achievements. Attend the live judging for an invaluable learning experience. The new r...