IF you are looking for any Nollywood actor who has been missing in action, sultry actress Benita Nzeribe is one.  The Ihiala, Anambra-born actress who used to be a top player in Nollywood, has curiously taken a back seat in the scheme of things. There was a time she grabbed the lead role easily and was the face on nearly eight out of 10 posters released in Nollywood. Although observers said she staged a come back a few years back when she played lead in a movie on child trafficking titled ‘St. Mary’ and when she secured an endorsement deal with the Civil Aviation Authority of Nigeria, Benita couldn’t assure her fans with those stint that she was staging a come back. “She fizzled out so soon,” observed a film journalist.

Born to Chief and Mrs. H. C. Nzeribe, Benita whose favourite colors are brown and blue is the third child of a family of four. Acting for the actress, generally regarded as one the hottest talents working on the movie circuit, came naturally. Indeed, it was for her a child’s dream fulfilled. But Benita never took acting, which made her so popular both at home and abroad, seriously until she left the convent school about 16 years ago. She had visited a film location with a friend to watch other actors at work. It was just that encounter that ignited that long held passion for the world of make believe. It was with that passion and zeal which germinated after her early school days that drove her into the A-list of the industry’s unofficial top 10 actresses. Indeed, since then, Benita who has so far shot three international movies, two in France and one  in Abidjan apart from her countless home movie credits, has not looked back. The actress, who sources disclosed has relocated to the United states, has risen through the ranks to become one of the popular faces on the Nigerian home movie turf.

*******

 REVIEW

Title- Twist

Producer- Pius Emelionwu

Director- Ikechukwu Onyeka

Actors- Emeka Enyiocha, Innocent Idibia, Caroline Ekanem and others

FRED (Emeka Enyiocha) falls for Tracy (Carol Ekanem), a motivational speaker after presentation at a symposium. The two become one until Richard (Tuface Idibia), Fred’s younger brother came into the picture. Tracy falls for the pop singing sensation and Fred would not take it lightly. An attempt to settle their differences leads to a revelation that Richard and Tracy were related. The flick ends when all agreed to get married but to different people. This didn’t hit the right note but fans of the pop singing sensation Tuface Idibia would find it a joy to watch. It boasts of some of the recognisable faces in the movie industry but it’s too predictable and; it ran low on acting, sound, photography and lights.

********

Filmdom Notice Board

42^nd Cairo International Film Festival’s winners

WINNERS of the 42^nd edition of the annual Cairo International Film Festival were announced on Thursday December 10 at a colourful closing ceremony held in Cairo. The week-long festival opened on December 2. At the award ceremony, which attracted filmmakers from across the world, the golden pyramid award for best film was presented to the producer Irune Gurtubai for ‘Limbo,’ the movie by Ben Sharrock. ‘Limbo’ also received the award for best artistic contribution and the award of the International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI). Other winners of the night include Julian Vergov, best actor award for his performance in ‘German Lessons’, by Pavel G. Vesnakov. The best actress award was jointly won by Elham Shahin for the film ‘Curfew’ by Amir Ramses and Natalya Pavlenkova for ‘Conference’ by Ivan I. Tverdovsky respectively.  The special jury and Silver pyramid award for best director went to Ivan I. Tverdovsky for ‘Conference’ while the award for screenplay went to ’50 or Two Whales Meet on the Beach’ by Jorge Cuchi (Mexico). Also, Gaza Mon Amour by Arab Nasser & Tarzan Nasser (Palestine, France) got the special jury mention.

********

…Zuma International Film Festival too 

MUDDLED, the movie by Best Okoduwa won the best feature film of Zuma International Film Festival 2020, which kicked off December 1, and closed 7th with an award ceremony held at the poolside of the NAF Conference Centre and Suites, Abuja. ‘Inquest’, by Kester Esirim was voted Best Short film by the six-man jury chaired by film scholar and critic Shaibu Husseini. Zainab Banara’s ‘It’s A Girl’ was declared Best Student film, while Madina Muhammed’s ‘A Girl Against The World’ won Best Documentary film. Other winners are Awal Abdulfatia, Best Director, May 29,;Temilolu Fosudo, Best Actor, In Ibadan; Bimbo Akintola, Best Actress, Masked; ‘A Life in Three Letters,’ Best Foreign Film and ‘Asarailu,’Best indigenous movie.

**********

Filmdom WORD BITES

ALL we have done at ZUMA film festival, 2020, is about improving the output of our film production. Through the various roundtable discussions, presentations, master classes and seminars, as well as the Nigerian Film Corporation (NFC) Annual Film Lecture, we have been able to provide workable and achievable templates that when implemented, will contribute immensely to the development of the Nigerian film industry

– Dr. Chidia Maduekwe, Managing Director of the Nigerian Film Corporation (NFC) at the closing ceremony of the Zuma International Film Festival

*******

YOU see, the issue is beyond that of Hausa that is why it is indigenous African film market festival. But Hausa is providing the platform because the festival is going to be domiciled in Hausaland and the culture and people of Hausa land will be the host of the market. But they will welcome films from other languages of the continent as well so it is beyond Hausa language. 

– Mohammed Abdulkareem, President and Founder of Kano indigenous Language Film Market and Festival (KILAF) 

******

Star Fad & Hobbies

The Actress, Ada Ameh

‘ABSOLUTELY no regret being an actor. I am happy here. This is where I belong. This is where God wants me to be. But it has been beautiful so far. I never knew I would get this far 20 years back. And to be candid, this has taken me before great men and women. I have also travelled outside this country to work. The job has made me popular and has announced me. So I will be ungrateful if I say it is not rewarding’’

**********

The Actress, Adesua Etomi

‘I am happy. It is beyond money for me. I am completely passionate about acting. Acting is a calling in my opinion. It chooses you and you can’t get it off your mind. So, when I talk about my projects it is like I am talking about my baby. The money will come. I just have to be patient and also pay my dues. But it has been rewarding I can’t lie. Theatre has been very kind to me. I have only been here for like three years and God has been so faithful. It has been great.”

**********

Milestones & Rough Cuts

 #APPOINTED- Actress Destiny Etiko as Ambassador of the streaming network Bebuzee. Etiko will join other ambassadors such as Monalisa Chinda, Zack Orji, Oge Okoye and Paul Obazele who had earlier been unveiled as ambassadors of the new free-to-watch online source for Nigerian entertainment and news content. Already, Bebuzee, has been making headlines with the unveiling of its video and content streaming service and social media platform, aimed specifically at the Nigerian and African market with subscription-free movies, series, documentaries, talk shows and more. The actress disclosed that her role as brand ambassador is to spread the word about the uniqueness of Bebuzee services, which according to her will formally take off this December. Based in the UK, the company hinted that it has over 16 million users so far in the African continent and is expanding to more African countries first in its effort to become a worldwide force in video content.

*******

#SCHEDULED– official cinema release of ‘Omoghetto’ the new movie from the stable of Scene One Production owned by star actress Funke Akindele. The movie is set for a nationwide cinema release as from December 25. It stars some of Nollywood’s notable actors such as Chioma Chukwuka and Eniola Badmus.