“The Lagos State government is happy to confirm the selection of eight Lagos-made feature films at the Toronto International Film Festival coming up in September as well as Mr. Kunle Afolayan’s The CEO, which will enjoy a Special Industry Screening on the 12th of September.”
With those words, the Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Steve Ayorinde, confirmed that nine Nigerian productions will be screened to global audience at one of the Top 5 film festivals in the world.
They will be going to Toronto for the City to City segment of the festival which is focusing on Lagos – a first for Africa in the history of the festival.
Below are the things you need to know about the Lucky 9.
The Arbitration
Synopsis
The Arbitration tells the story of Gbenga (OC Ukeje) and his worker Dara (Adesua Etomi) and their doomed love affair. After the affair comes to end and Dara leaves the company, she accuses Gbenga rape. A panel is then set up to find out the truth.
Cast
OC Ukeje, Adesua Etomi, Sola Fosudo, Ireti Doyle, Somkele Iyamah, Beverly Naya, Gregory Ojefua and Lota Chukwu.
Director: Niyi Akinmolayan
What to look out for
This film is full of brilliant actors. It has everything from ‘A’ game to acting goodies, experience and potential.
76
Synopsis
Six years after the civil war, a young officer (Ramsey Nouah) from the middle belt gets entangled in a romantic relationship with a beautiful O-level student (Rita Dominic) from the south-eastern part of Nigeria. Their budding romance is almost ruptured by endless military postings. Now heavily pregnant, her walls comes crumbling when the news of her husband’s involvement in a botched coup attempt hits the headlines.
Cast
Ramsey Nouah, Chidi Mokeme, Rita Dominic, Ibinabo Fiberesima, Daniel K. Daniel, Memry Savanhu, Adonai Owiriwa, Pat Nebo, Nelly Ekwereogu, Shuaibu Ebenesi Adams and Debo Oguns.
Director: Izu Ojukwu
What to look out for
It is a story told from a dual point of view – from the soldier’s patriotic perspective and from that of the officer’s wife. 76 is set six years after the Nigerian Civil War and according to the director, this was an era when the Nigerian people started playing down on all forms of discrimination and saw themselves more as brothers and sisters.
93 Days
93 Days is the story of men and women who risked their lives and made sacrifices to save Nigerians from the consequences of the Ebola Virus outbreak. It is a compelling human story of dedication, sacrifice, resilience and survival. The movie demonstrates the bravery of the late Dr. Ameyo Stella Adadevoh and her colleagues from their encounter with the late American-Liberian, Patrick Sawyer, the index case of the Ebola Virus.
Cast
Bimbo Akintola, Bimbo Manuel, Charles Okafor, Danny Glover, Gideon Okeke, Keppy Ekpeyong Bassey Somkhele Idhalama, Tim Reid, Sola Oyebade Charles Etubieb.
Director: Steve Gukas
What to look out for
This is a marriage of Hollywood and Nollywood. See how actors transform into lifesavers in a race against time.
Green White Green
Synopsis
The movie is about three young boys from the Hausa, Yoruba and Igbo ethnic groups with different social classes; the ‘1 percent’ – if you may -the middle class, and the working class, who are inspired by a novel (also fictional) written by a radical professor about the history of Nigeria. They decide to go and shoot a short film. The rich kid is the one who comes up with the idea in order to show his parents why he should be allowed to pursue his artistic inclinations, rather than be sent abroad to study.
Cast
Ifeanyi Dike Jr, Samuel Robinson, Jamal Ibrahim, Crystabel Goddy, Bimbo Manuel, Okey Uzoeshi and Meg Ontawa.
Director: Abba Makama
What to look out for
The movie is targeted at a young audience. Its lead character is a painter, and it shows the creative minds of African youths.
Taxi Driver (Oko Ashewo)
Synopsis
Adigun, played by AMVCA winner Femi Jacobs, is a 31-year-old naive village mechanic coming to Lagos for the first time. His decision comes following the sudden death of his father, a man he never truly knew, yet very popular in his village as the iconic Lagos ‘Oko Ashewo’ (Taxi Driver). Adigun’s coming to Lagos is on the invitation of Taiwo, his father’s fellow taxi driver, who is dangerous and as shady as Lagos at night.
Cast
Femi Jacobs, Ijeoma Grace Agu, Odunlade Adekola and Hafiz Oyetoro.
Director: Daniel T. Oriahi
What to look out for
Taxi Driver is as much a funny story as it is an inspiring story about love, greed, betrayal, contradictions and self-discovery.
The Wedding Party
Synopsis
The Wedding Party is the story of Dunni Coker (Adesua Etomi), a 24-year-old art gallery owner and only daughter of her parents about to marry the love of her life, IT entrepreneur Dozie (Banky W). The couple takes a vow of chastity and is looking forward to a ground-breaking first night together as man and wife.
Cast
Adesua Etomi, Banky W, Alibaba, Sola Sobowale, Iretiola Doyle, Richard Mofe-Damijo, Zainab Balogun, AY, Beverly Naya, Lepacious Bose, Somkele Idhalama, Daniella Brown, Ikechukwu Onunaku, Enyinna Nwigwe, Kunle Idowu, Sambasa Nzeribe and Hafiz Oyetoro.
Director: Kemi Adetiba
What to look out for
The movie brings several celebrities together for an all-star fest of comedy and love. It explains those pictures of Banky W and Adesua Etomi that went viral on the internet some months ago.
Okafor’s Law
Synopsis
Chuks (aka Terminator) is an ardent player with the ladies. He enjoys the attention of women, including girlfriends from the past. He believes that once a man has had a woman, he forever has access to her. When challenged by his friends to see if he can prove the universality of that theory with three ex-girlfriends from his school days within 21 days, he accepts it. Turning on his best charm he sets off to try and prove himself, but his quest brings him to three women, Ifeoma (Fifi), Kemi and Ejiro, whose situations in life have changed drastically since school days.
Cast
Richard Mofe-Damijo, Toyin Aimakhu, Blossom Chukwujekwu, Ken Erics, Ufuoma McDermott, Kemi Lala Akindoju, Yvonne Jegede, Halima Abubakar, Mary Lazarus, Uche Nnaji, Betty Irabor, Tina Mba, Gabriel Afolayan and Funke Bucknor.
Director: Omoni Oboli
What to look out
With Okafor’s Law, Omoni is raising the bar and stepping up several inches from where she left off with her past movies. Another all-star production, the movie boasts of actors and actresses of note.
Just Not Married
Synopsis
A movie about the hustle and bustle of living in the hood, Just Not Married centres around Duke (Stan Nze) with a sick mother and an elder brother living as an ex-con. In a bid to do all he could to afford the right treatment for his mother, he invites two of his friends Lati (Rotimi Salami) and Keji (Judith Audu) to start the business of stealing cars and posing as newlyweds in them. The business goes beyond successful until some of them get greedy and everything explodes right before their eyes.
Cast
Stan Nze, Rotimi Salami, Judith Audu, Roland Obutu, Brutus Richard, Gregory Ojefua, Adeniyi Johnson, Perpetua Adefemi, Tomiwa Sage, Dayo Davies and Bucci Franklyn.
Director: Uduak Isong
What to look out for in the movie
Just Not Married is one movie that has proven it is not until we have star actors and an A-list crew before we can have a film extraordinaire. It has proven beyond a doubt that even up and coming stars can make movies that will leave us wanting more.
The CEO
Synopsis
The CEO tells the story of TransWire Communications, a global phone network with major operation in Nigeria, whose chief executive has just retired. To fill the vacant seat, the Paris-based company sends five nominees amongst his most senior level staff across Africa on a leadership course in order to determine who to appoint as the new boss in Africa’s biggest market.
Cast
Angelique Kidjo, Jimmy Jean Louis, Wale Ojo, Fatym Layache, Nico Ranagio, Kemi Lala Akindoju, Hilda Dokubo, Peter King and Aurelia Elium.
Director: Kunle Afolayan
What to look out for
A masterpiece and trend setter, the movie boasts of a very rich Pan-African cast who were prolific in their deliveries.
