This documentary is based on a journalist’s personal experience who, after travelling to Haiti in 2004, decides to erase this country from his memory after having witnessed terrible violence. However seven years after this first and terrible foray, and despite having vowed never to return, he goes back to Haiti. The position that the country is in after the 2010 earthquake is tragic. But the quake, which had destroyed many things, may have helped in raising many others.
Light chooses to enter. Alejandro has led him there. He has a goal but does not know it yet.
Decide to come in light. Alexander led her there. He’s got a goal but she still does not know.
Directed by Ivan Ruiz Flores
IVAN RUIZ FLORES (Madrid, Spain, 07/26/1979) Graduated in Information Science, branch Journalism, at the Complutense University of Madrid (2002). He furthered his studies with various courses of writing, directing and film production in different schools in Madrid. In 2008 found AniuR Creative Audio Visual. He’s writer, director and producer of short films The fault of the other (2009), Wed ² (2010) and Sweet (2011), totaling more than 130 awards Nationally and Internationally Recognized by prestigious international jury Such as Francis Ford Coppola, Ridley Scott, Robert Rodriguez, Charlotte Rampling, Rutger Hauer and Vladimir Cruz, among others.
SYNOPSIS
Jivenson, Malaika, Lovena, Jonase or Nahomie, kids Between 9 and 13, show us camera in hand under an intense staff view, how Their life in Haiti is: their school, friends and families, or How They Spend Their Leisure. Shown as Their stories tell children, in an optimistic and natural way.
Bom Dia Inhambane (Documentary Feature) – Mozambique/Austria
SYNOPSIS
BOM DIA INHAMBANE is a documentary film about the music scene around
Mozambique´s province-capital of Inhambane. The austrian musician Roland Pickl is running the small recording studio Bom Dia where he produces and records local bands and music projects. Together with his friend the mozambican rapper and musician Helio D., he takes us to numerous musicians of the area. At spontaneous jam sessions, rehearsals and organized concerts an extremely vivid music culture is presented. Against all odds a great range of virtuosity and a groovy lust for life unfolds. We meet a legendary traditional timbila orchestra, a local party band, Inhambane´s most prominent reggae rasta prophet, a singing shoemaker they call the „Big Boss of Marrabenta“ as well as a group of swinging elderly ladies shaking off their trials and tribulations. In addition the two are the initiators of Positivo Moçambique, an association that conducts HIV/Aids awareness work in schools.They use music as an effective medium to promote awareness and fight taboos.
Directed by Falko Purner, Daniel Jarosch
Jim & Joan: A Voodoo Tale (Feature) – Nigeria
SYNOPSIS
A runaway Voodoo priestess is led to a young man. They become a couple and he is trapped in her snare of black magic, lost in her seduction, and supernatural domination he becomes helpless and finds himself a mere instrument in the hand of a higher, darker force and an even more sinister agenda, beyond his wildest imaginations.
Directed by C.J. ‘Fiery’ Obasi
Heroes & Zeros (Feature) – Nigeria
SYNOPSIS
Heroes and Zeros is the story of destructive pursuance of Tonia (Nadia Buari) by Amos Fele (Bimbo Manuel). Ten years ago, Amos Fele was a wealthy celebrity director in the Nigerian film industry. Now he lives in a ramshackle flat, doing occasional low-paying TV commercials for nameless products. He’s a daily comic relief on the local soccer practice pitch: because though he’s already 45 years old, he nurses a new, insane dream of making it into the dollar-soaked world of international soccer! His joyless marriage to Tinuke (Tina Mba), a junior bank worker, is crumbling fast, especially after the death of their only child.
Directed by Niji Akanni
TRANSTHREEDED – A transformers spoof (Short Animation) – Spain
Universe, the last frontier. Conquest, the only reason to function. Earth, the next target. However, sometimes size matters, especially if you’re an alien invader robot.
In Palma de Mallorca, 5 year old kid through innocence, and common life coincidences, an African-American homeless non-sense remember his life going back 45 years in New York. All together makes change his life at last to find the way to happiness.
The Swiss film Operation Libertad has been selected as the Opening Film of the third Eko International Film Festival from November 5-10, 2012, at the Silverbird Cinemas of the prestigious Silverbird Galleria on Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria. The film was premiered at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival with good reviews. 26 other films including features and short films, short and long documentary films and short animations have also been selected for public screenings at the 6 day film festival. The following are some of the films of different genres and from outstanding filmmakers in Nigeria, Switzerland, France, Austria, Mozambique, Spain, UK, Germany, USA, Argentina, Korea, Brazil and other countries.
“The film is based on a fundamental concept that was fuming within small sub societies in Switzerland some 30 years ago. I experienced the film as so real that it leaves you with the question; it might still be a totally true story… Brilliant camera work and visual design was done, to give the viewer the idea that most of the film that existed of a flashback was shot indeed at the end of the Seventies. The characters in the film were each of them very typical in their own rights, which gave the group together the image of a spicy revolutionary group that started out pretty innocent, but got too destructive in the end.”
In 1978, the members of a small revolutionary group break into a Swiss bank near Zurich. They film the entirety of the action so as to prove the collusion between the Helvetic financial system and dictators. Thirty years later, the tapes of the Operation Libertad resurface…
Directed by Nicolas Wadimoff
THE SUFFERING GRASSES: when elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers (Documentary Feature) – Korea/Brazil
SYNOPSIS
Over a year later, with thousands dead and counting, the ongoing conflict in Syria has become a microcosm for the complicated politics of the region, and an unsavory reflection of the world at large. Against the backdrop of the Arab Spring and the complicated politics of the region, this film seeks to explore the Syrian conflict through the humanity of the civilians who have been killed, abused, and displaced to the squalor of refugee camps. In all such conflicts, large and small, it is civilians—women and children, families and whole communities—who suffer at the leisure of those in power. When elephants go to war, it is the grass that suffers.
Directed by Iara lee
Iara Lee, a Brazilian of Korean descent, is an activist, filmmaker, and founder of the Cultures of Resistance Network, an organization that promotes global solidarity and supports peace with justice projects. Iara is currently working on a variety of initiatives, grouped under the umbrella of CulturesOfResistance.org, an activist network that brings together artists and change-makers from around the world. At the center of these initiatives is a feature-length documentary film entitled CULTURES OF RESISTANCE, released in 2011, which explores how creative action contributes to conflict prevention and resolution.
Iara’s most recent project is a short film entitled THE SUFFERING GRASSES, which explores the Syrian conflict through the humanity of the civilians who have been killed, abused, and displaced to the squalor of refugee camps. The film premiered in Kuwait in June 2012.
Foreign Love (Feature) – Nigeria/USA
SYNOPSIS
Jason has always been the smartest guy in his classes. He was always confident he would be the valedictorian of his graduating class until he met an equally brilliant girl from West Africa, Funmi, who came to America to get her college education. What Funmi doesn’t count on was finding lasting love with Jason a Caucasian boy in her college. But with strong opposition from their friends and then their families, is their relationship strong enough to overcome the challenges?
Foreign Love is a romantic drama filled with relationship trials and how two people who truly love one another eventually overcame their challenges.
Jay on September 4, 2012 at 10:29 pm said: Voting for queen Ini edo till my battery dies off.
The contest for who will be crowned the first ever Nollywood Diva of the Year is fast becoming the battle of the fans of the top 20 nominees with Genevieve Nnaji, Ini Edo and Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde attracting more fans so far.
david on September 5, 2012 at 3:58 pm said: nice one, i can’t wait to vote my sweet and loving omotola, who truly deserves it.
Nigeria’s Leading International Film Festival Honours Nollywood Divas
The annual Eko International Film Festival (EKOIFF), Nigeria’s leading international film festival is honoring Nollywood divas with the launch of the annual Nollywood Divas Awards to be unveiled at the 3rd Eko International Film Festival which opens on November 5, 2012, in the coastal mega city of Lagos in south western Nigeria.
“The Nollywood Divas Awards is a celebration of the accomplished actresses in Nollywood, the Nigerian film industry,” said Mr. Hope Obioma Opara, the President of Eko International Film Festival and CEO of Nollywood Divas Awards as he released the maiden NOLLYWOOD DIVAS AWARDS MAGAZINE ® with the announcement of the 20 nominees for the inaugural Nollywood Divas Awards in Lagos.
The top nominees include the most popular Nigerian actress Genevieve Nnaji, multiple awards winning actresses Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, Rita Dominic, Kate Henshaw, Stephanie Okereke-Idahosa, Omoni Oboli, Monilisa Chinda, Funke Akindele, Stella Damasus, Ini Edo, Mercy Johnson, Bimbo Akkintola, Nse Etim Ekpe, Uche Jumbo, Tonto Dike, Lillian Bach, Fathia Balogun, Ngozi Ezeonu, Joke Silva-Jacobs and Clarion Chukwurah who is the most accomplished Nigerian Nollywood diva to date.
The maiden NOLLYWOOD DIVAS AWARDS MAGAZINE ® will be publicized at local and international film festivals and copies have been distributed gratis to the public and available at Ojez Chinese Restaurant and Bar inside the National Stadium in Lagos, D’Stage on Modupe Johnson Street in Surulere and other major rendezvous of Nollywood celebrities, at the Silverbird Cinemas, Ozone Cinema, Genesis Deluxe Cinemas, Media Hub, and other outlets in Lagos. The digital edition is also available on the Internet for free downloads.
Hope O. Opara, President/Co-Founder of Eko International Film Festival.
Festival President and co-founder of the Eko International Film Festival (EKOIFF), Hope Obioma Opara, says Nollywood industry needs more film festivals to grow, they open and will still open up Nollywood to the rest of Africa and the world. Opara, publisher of Supple Magazine speaks on preparations for the 3rd Eko International Film Festival, which holds later in the year, hinting that entries for the festival opens as from July 1 to September 30.
The experience of the maiden edition
We were still trying to introduce the festival to the world with the first two editions and the process is ongoing because a lot of Nigerians still don’t know how it works. We have spent time enlightening those who care to know that a film festival is an industry of its own aside from preproduction, production and postproduction of movies. The festivals are progressive as the years go by; so, the second edition of the film festival was quite easier than the first in terms of film submissions, venue, publicity and attendance.
Tackling the challenges of the 3rd edition
There are not many challenges in terms of film submissions, publicity and attendance because the festival is registered as a global event. For instance, we have started disseminating information to the world through our platform for film submissions. We have been following some corporate organisations for support.
One thing that is clear is that it is tedious to stage an international film festival because it’s usually a weeklong-multitasking event that includes workshops, panel discussions and film markets. More over, we are introducing the first ever Nollywood Divas Award at the 3rd Eko International Film Festival to celebrate the leading ladies in the Nigerian film industry.
We are ready with 3rd Eko filmfest
The film festival runs from November 5 to10. Entries will open in July and close in September. We are expecting entries from Nigeria, Africa and the rest of the world. Our programmes include international film market for film distributors and commissioning agents, where they can trade on their films and close deals for co-productions. We are introducing the Nollywood Divas Awards, as a way to celebrate the leading ladies in the Nigerian film industry. It is one of the major highlights of the 2012 edition.
We decided to effect a change in the festival hosting month from July to November because of the heavy rains we experienced last year. Movement in Lagos becomes a major problem whenever it rains. We don’t want our visitors to have the funny experience and chaotic traffic problems associated with heavy downpours.
We need film festivals
The fact is a film festival is a good platform to foster the growth and development of film business in the world today. We need film festivals to expose our local filmmakers on new developments in terms of producing films that will attract international distribution and co-production to increase the mileage and patronage of our local movies in the global village. A film festival allows cinephiles to have one to one interactions with filmmakers, which gives room for synergy, co-productions and collaborations.
Film Festivals have film markets where movies are traded thus, contributing to the Nigerian economy. Hundreds of thousands of tickets are sold at major international film festivals and thousands of visitors pay for hotel accommodations, transportations and other services, enriching states and countries hosting them.
I don’t agree with the school of thought that we should stop film festivals, because of poor film distribution. Yes, we have the issue of piracy, but I believe that the Federal Government should not allow the stakeholders to fight pirates all alone. Government agencies authorised to handle the issue have been doing their best, but more still needs to be done in terms of modern applications for distribution through digital technology.
The trademark issue
From the inception of the film festival in 2009, Supple Communications Limited has secured the trademark for the Eko International Film Festival and it has, also been registered on the World Film Festival Network. That is why it will be an aberration for anyone to duplicate the trademark.
