Nigerian Times

1 Feb 2012 22:12 Africa/Lagos Fans Crash Servers for Early Preview Screenings of "TITANIC" in 3D SELL-OUT CROWDS IN THE U.S. AND ACROSS THE WORLD WILL BE AMONG THE FIRST AUDIENCES ANYWHERE TO SEE THE RE-MASTERED MOVIE ON VALENTINES DAY, FEBRUARY 14th, IN ADVANCE OF THE FILM'S WORLDWIDE RE-RELEASE ON APRIL 6th HOLLYWOOD, Calif., Feb. 1, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Fans the world over rushed the web in the last 24-hours - crashing multiple servers in the process - to secure advance tickets for the now sold-out February 14th preview screenings of TITANIC in 3D, Paramount Pictures and Twentieth Century Fox International jointly announced today. In a matter of hours, sell-out screenings were reported throughout the United States and in countries around the world, following the launch of the special screening program on January 31st. Moviegoers who were lucky enough to secure a seat will now be among the first people anywhere to see the newly re-mastered TITANIC in 3D, in advance of t...

1 Feb 2012 16:06 Africa/Lagos The CineCause Spotlight Tour Kicks off 2012 with Happiness Festival favorites screen for causes in Los Angeles LOS ANGELES, Feb. 1, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A new venture connecting films, celebrities and news to related charities, CineCause will kick off their 2012 Spotlight Tour with the theme of Happiness, presenting 3 award-winning films to audiences in the Los Angeles area, February 10-12. The event will take place at the Edgemar Theatre (http://www.edgemarcenter.org) in Santa Monica, featuring: The Economics of Happiness, Happy and Project Happiness. The Spotlight will provide local audiences with information and creative opportunities to donate and/or get involved with related causes. "With dedicated college courses, books being published and films being produced, the subject and science of happiness is finally getting the attention it deserves. We're excited to present local audiences with these terrific films that creatively exp...

Lucky Ejim Pastor T.B. Joshua The Nigerian Actor Who Looks Like Pastor T. B. Joshua Lucky Ejim is the only well known Nigerian actor who looks like the famous Pastor Temitope Balogun Joshua , popularly known as T. B. Joshua, the Nigerian minister, televangelist and faith healer who is the founder and leader of The Synagogue, Church of All Nations (SCOAN). So, Lucky should fit the lead role of a biopic on the present life of the pastor. Onyekachi 'Lucky' Ejim is a world class actor who is based overseas and popularly known for his lead role in The Tenant , the film he directed himself and he has also excelled in other roles on TV and the big screen. A biopic on Pastor Joshua will definitely attract millions to the cinemas in Nigeria and other countries and can be a very effective vehicle for evangelism worldwide. ~ By Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima, author of Children of Heaven , Scarlet Tears of London , Bye, Bye Mugabe, In the House of Dogs , and other books . Top Topics The 10 ...

MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – GHOST PROTOCOL THE IMAX Experience Explodes Into IMAX® Theatres Across North America Five Days Early On Friday, December 16 Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol The IMAX Experience One-Sheet Art Highly Anticipated Fourth Installment Marks the Widest Early IMAX Engagement for a Domestic Feature; Film to Also Release Early in IMAX in Key International Territories Film Features Approximately 30 Minutes of Footage Shot with IMAX Cameras Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol Director Brad Bird with IMAX® camera (Photo credit: David James(c) 2011 Paramount Pictures. All Rights Reserved). Los Angeles, CA — Dec. 6, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — IMAX Corporation (NYSE:IMAX; TSX:IMX) and Paramount Pictures today announced that Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol The IMAX Experience will begin previews in IMAX on Friday, Dec. 16, five days in advance of the film’s North American wide release on Dec. 21. Domestically, the film will open in approximately 300 IMAX® theatres and play thro...

12 Dec 2011 14:30 Africa/Lagos From Universal Studios Home Entertainment: DEATH RACE 3 THE STAKES ARE HIGHER THAN EVER FOR THE ULTIMATE ROAD WARRIOR IN AN ALL-NEW DEADLY RACE CURRENTLY FILMING IN SOUTH AFRICA PR Newswire UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif., Dec. 12, 2011 UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif., Dec. 12, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Death Race 3 , the latest heart-pounding entry in the high-octane franchise, is currently filming in and around Cape Town, South Africa. In this all-new original feature film from Universal 1440 Entertainment, hardened criminals race for their freedom in vicious new vehicles and face-off in the ultimate blood sport, when the popular Death Race is transported across the globe to the unforgiving and rugged terrain of South Africa. Forced against his will to participate in this global TV spectacle, Frankenstein - the greatest Death Race driver of all time - takes on this ultimate challenge to not only save himself, but his pit crew as well. Inspired by Roger Corman's cult c...

Goethe-Institut Nigeria in cooperation with iRep Documentary Film Forum (iREP) and the Nigerian Film Corporation (NFC) cordially invites you to the December edition of the Monthly Film Screening. The choice film for the month is PINA, a feature-length dance film in 3D, based on the life and works of Pina Bausch, directed by acclaimed German director Wim Wenders (Buena Vista Social Club). It features the unique and inspiring art of the great German choreographer who died in summer 2009. Together with the ensemble of the Tanztheater Wuppertal, Wenders takes the audience on a sensual, visually stunning journey of discovery into a new dimension: straight onto the stage with the legendary Tanztheater Wuppertal ensemble– the place which for 35 years, was the home and centre for Pina Bausch’s creativity. Date: Saturday December 10 Venue: SilverBird Galleria, 133 Ahmadu Bello Way, Victoria Island, Lagos. Time: 3pm ENTRY IS FREE For more information, please visit www.goethe.de/lagos or www.fac...

The Eko International Film Festival and the Goethe-Institut Lagos will host the press conference and screening of Iara Lee's Cultures of Resistance on Wednesday November 9, 2011, at the Goethe-Institut Lagos, Nigeria, at 3 pm. Goethe-Institut Nigeria Location Lagos Lagos City Hall, Catholic Mission Street opposite Holy Cross Cathedral Lagos Island Cultures of Resistance features the recollections of the socio-political resistance of the legendary Afrobeat king Fela Anikulapo Kuti, the Niger Delta Militants of contemporary political struggle in Nigeria and other forces of resistance in other parts of the world. Iara Lee is a Korean Brazilian film producer and director based in New York City. She is better known as the director of the documentaries Synthetic Pleasures and Modulations, as well as for her involvement with the "Gaza Freedom Flotilla", in which at least nine pro-Palestinian activists were killed by Israeli naval forces. She is the founder of the Caipirinha Fo...

SYDNEY FESTIVAL 2012 THIS IS OUR CITY IN SUMMER JANUARY 7-29 SYDNEY, November 2, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Sydney Festival has announced the 2012 program for its next annual three-week celebration, January 7-29. Sydney Festival is an explosion of exceptional theatre, dance, music, exhibitions, film and talks that takes over the city, celebrating uniquely Australian work as well as welcoming companies from all over the world. The Festival prides itself on its free large-scale outdoor events including concerts and performances and even a ferry race on Sydney’s iconic harbour. Sydney Festival is the most wonderful summer festival in the world – a claim underpinned by the city’s lustre and charisma, making it an ideal showcase for the world's great artists. In 2012, Sydney Festival welcomes back some favourites of Sydney audiences – choreographer Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, legendary theatre director Declan Donnellan, the acclaimed National Theatre of Scotland, two-time Mercury Prize winner PJ Har...

With over 800 million users, the world's largest social network is making it easy for film advertisers to target the perfect consumer with the perfect message to get them to show up at the box office. WASHINGTON, Oct. 31, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- For the filmmakers of The Mighty Macs , last weekend's highest grossing limited release film, Facebook put a new spin on film marketing by offering advertisers the ability to target consumers based on their 'Favorites.' The strategy is simple: target an audience based on the 'Favorite films' posted on their Facebook page, then deliver a compelling message that informs them that there is a new film that is just like their favorite movie. "If you know what a Facebook user's favorite films have been in the past, you can predict what their favorite films will be in the future," said Sean Wolfington, owner of Tier10Marketing.com, the marketing company that worked with Facebook executives to conduct a laser targeted...

Famous American actress Angelina Jolie 's thrilling new film In the Land of Blood and Honey, which she admits has changed her view on acting is her baptism of fire as a director and screenwriter. She said her beau Brad Pitt thought she was going to have nightmares on location. But “I had such a good experience he thinks I'm going to be impatient with directors, which I already am. I get impatient with people working on a film that have their head in their hands like it's the most complicated thing in the world." I had the flu," Jolie says. "I had to be quarantined from the children for two days. I was in the attic of a house in France. I was isolated, pacing. I don't watch TV and I wasn't reading anything. So I started writing. I went from the beginning to the end. I didn't know any other way." Angelina Jolie having her baptême du feu directing In the Land of Blood and Honey . "I've never felt more exposed. My whole ca...

Ms. Peace Anyiam-Osigwe The CEO of African Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) Peace Anyiam-Osigwe was one of the notable guests at the Wednesday screening of Joseph Ugochukwu Ubaka’s Lilies of the Ghetto on the fifth day of the 2nd Eko International Film Festival at the Silverbird Galleria in Lagos. She was introduced to the organizers by top journalist and film critic Shaibu Husseini who is also the Chairman of the AMAA Selection Committee. They met with special guests from the United States of America and discussed the challenges and achievements in Nollywood. The film festival wraps on Thursday July 14, with the screening of two features, Emmanuel Itier's multiple award winning film The Invocation narrated by the famous Hollywood actress Sharon Stone and Chike Ibekwe’s award winning movie Eternal .

13 Jul 2011 10:46 Africa/Lagos "Harry Potter" Is Already Fandango's Top Ticket-Seller of the Year, Selling Out 5,000 Showtimes Before Its Friday Opening "Deathly Hallows: Part 2" is Trending to Become #2 Top Pre-Seller in Fandango History PR Newswire LOS ANGELES, July 13, 2011 LOS ANGELES, July 13, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- With two more days before its July 15 release date, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2" has already leaped over the year's previous box office winners to become Fandango's top-selling title of the year so far. (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20061016/LAM046LOGO-b) Fandango has sold more tickets for "Part 2" than it has sold for any other movie this year, including pre-release and post-release ticket sales. Fandango's Top 5 Ticket-Sellers of the Year (as of July 13, 2011): 1. "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2" 2. "The Hangover Part II" 3. "Transform...

The world premiere of Abba Makama's "Direc-Toh" the fastest Nigerian movie shot in one day comes up on Tuesday July 12, the third day of the 2nd Eko International Film Festival (EKOIFF) at the Silverbird Galleria on Victoria Island, Lagos. The film will be screened at 10.30 am. The young Nigerian director is a graduate of New York University film school. A Nigerian Film maker sets out to make a record as the fastest filmmaker on the Planet. Big Ben a.k.a the light speed champion tries shooting a feature film in one day and all hell breaks loose.. Written, Directed, Shot and Edited by Abba Makama. Co Writer-Gabriel Ofor Okafor Producers-Lani Makama, Benedict Aromeh, Abba Makama Starring Benedict Aromeh, Dabis Christopher Genre- Nolly Woody Allen, Comedy Satire, Afro Psycho Pseudo Hipster babble, Mockumentary Format- HDV Budget-All in the magic baby.. Release date. mid 2010.

Due to the heavy rainfall and flooded roads on Victoria Island on Sunday, the African premiere of Emmanuel Itier's multiple award winning spiritual documentary "The Invocation" will now formally take place on the closing day of the 2nd Eko International Film Festival on Thursday July 14, 2011, at 10 am at the Silverbird Galleria, Victoria Island, Lagos. There is no gate fee throughout the film festival. So, it is open to the public gratis. Emmanuel Itier has sent the following message: Dear Friends, Brothers and Sisters: I'm sorry I cannot be with you during the Festival and the screening of our film THE INVOCATION due to the filming of our new documentary: "FEMME: Women healing the World". But I'm with you in spirit and love. And more than anything we need Love, Spirit to forget and forgive about Hate, War and Death. I wish the Festival the Best of Luck and great Success. I know this amazing and daring Film Festival will be around for a long long time...

The African premiere of Emmanuel Itier's multiple award winning movie THE INVOCATION narrated by the famous Hollywood actress Sharon Stone will be at the 2nd Eko International Film Festival (EKOIFF) on Saturday July 9, 2011, at the prestigious Silverbird Galleria, 133 Ahmadu Bello Way, Victoria Island, Lagos. THE INVOCATION is a thought provoking film about God and World Peace. An exploration of the notion of the Divine around the world and through Religion, Spirituality, Science, History, Politics and Arts. It is an invitation to elevate our school of thought and to change the code of human interaction in relation to our perceptions of God. The film proposes answers to universal questions in both a religious and non-religious context: Who am I, where do I come from, and where am I going? Is there something beyond the here and now? What is the global idea of ‘God’ which has presented us with countless conflicts throughout human history? How can we live in Peace? The project was f...

In loving memory of Tayo Aderinokun.the MD/CE of the Guaranty Trust Bank Plc who passed on to eternal glory on Tuesday June 14, 2011, in a Hospital in London, U.K. The Economics of Nigerian Film, Art and Business ~ by Tayo Aderinokun The world has continued to marvel at how Nigerians "manufacture" and "fabricate" scores of movies in a week. It is reported that but for India, Nigeria produces more movies in quantitative terms than any other country in the world. As joint stakeholders in the development of our motherland, I hope that my presentation today on the "social economics" of the movie industry will provoke processes that could move the industry forward. In the course of this presentation, I will be inviting you to join me as we journey through the past, the present and the future of the Nigerian film industry. There is a saying that today is tomorrow’s yesterday, in other words, where we are today is a reflection of our past and a foreshadow of our...

Viva Riva, Beyond the Nollywood Fever and Palaver This weekend as the Congolese gangster thriller Viva Riva opens in theatres in Los Angeles, U.S.A, it should be a wakeup call to Nollywood that what matters most is not the quantity of your movies, but the quality in Art and craft of filmmaking beyond the get-rich-quick syndrome of churning out cheap home videos of Nigerian comedies and tragedies from Idumota to Onitsha. When Djo Tunda Wa Munga’s "Viva Riva" beat the best Nollywood movies at the 2011 African Movie Academy Awards (AMAA), many of the Nigerian filmmakers were humbled. But how many of them learnt the real lessons of the event? They preferred to rush back to their business as usual in Nollywood and having premieres of their amateurish flicks at the Silverbird Cinemas where their posing and posturing on the local red carpet is the best they have been able to achieve so far, while the man from the war torn Democratic Republic of the Congo has gone ahead of them to...