* Why we are showcasing ‘Nollywood Classics’ – Ohikhuare
THE 2022 Realtime International Film Festival begins today with a new and unique session named ‘THE RTF-SONY LENS & LIGHT PARTY’ from 11 am – 2 pm at the Space Hub by WEP, Lekki, Lagos.
Founder-director of the festival, Stanlee Ohikhuare said the Party, a partnership between the RTF and SONY, the global film equipment company, is “exclusively for seasoned cinematographers and Lighting designers.”
SONY is “giving us their best camera to train some of our filmmakers and bring them up to speed with the latest in technology as far as production is concerned.”
Ohikhuare also disclosed that the main juice of this 7th edition of the yearly festival, which attracts a large following among young filmmakers, is the showcasing of “Nollywood Classics”, which the Festival curators believe, are the “path-markers and destiny-shapers” for the Nigerian film industry of today.
The films have been specially selected to show the various tendencies of the basis of what is today known as the Nollywood film production aesthetics, stated the multi-skilled filmmaker and festival director.
Importantly, the selected films are to serve as educational and mentoring tools for the pool of young filmmakers who may never have encountered them or their makers, and who form the bulk of the festival’s participants and patrons.
Continued Ohikhuare: “The plan is to use the edition to pay tribute to “labour of the heroes past”, by showcasing high points of the glorious moments in the chequered journeys of the Nigerian cinema.
“This will be done through the showcasing of some of the films that made a huge and impactful impression in the 90s through the 2000s before the now famous ‘Nollywood’ came to formally acquire its name and current character.”
The classic films will be showcased mostly at Freedom Park, the old historical colonial prison, which has become the most important centre for cultural production and expression in the city of Lagos. This is a deliberate move by the organisers to properly locate the films in the glorious past of then Nigerian films.
Among the “classics” featuring in the session which will begin screening on Sunday, August 21 at the Freedom Park, Lagos, are:
- Hostages, (1 hr. 56 mins; 1997); directed by Tade Ogidan for OGD Pictures;
- Vigilante (16mm; 106 mins; 1988); written by Afolabi Adesanya; directed by Adedeji Adesanya; produced by Afolabi Adesanya for A’ Productions
- Ose Sango, (104 mins, 1991); written by Afolabi Adesanya; directed by Afolabi Adesanya; produced by Adedeji Adesanya for A’ Productions
- Maroko, (120 mins; 2006), written, and produced by Yinka Ogun; directed by Femi Odugbemi
- Across the Niger, (82 mins; 2004); written by Kabat Esosa Egbon; directed by Izu Ojukwu; produced by Kingsley Ogoro for Kingsley Ogoro Productions
- Heritage, (89mins; 2003); written, directed, and produced by Ladi Ladebo for Ladi Ladebo Productions
- Saving Alero, (110mins; 2001); written by Francis Onwochei; directed by Tade Ogidan; produced by Francis Onwochei
- The Kingmaker, (2002; ) directed by Fred Amata, produced by Olu and Joke Jacobs, for Lufodo Productions
- Also showing are two films — Campus Queen and Thunderbolt from the rich stable of the ace filmmaker, Tunde Kelani.
Other venues for the festival, which is showing over 100 films are the Blue Pictures Cinema located in the City Mall at Onikan and the British Council in Ikoyi, stated Ohikhuare.
*******
ACROSS THE NIGER
Duration: — 82 minutes
Year of Release: 2004
Directed by — Izu Ojukwu
Produced by — Kingsley Ogoro
Production company — Kingsley Ogoro Productions
Synopsis: Before the start of the conflict, Major Dubem, a prince from the east, served as a soldier in northern Nigeria. He also married a northerner named Habiba while he was there. Dubem fled to the east with his wife because his life was in danger in the north. Even though she is pregnant for him, his father, the king, and the village elders refused to accept Habiba as one of them. He must wed the lady that they have chosen for him on their own. Contrarily, his uncle, a liar and a cheat sells his people out to their enemies.
*****
MAROKO
Duration: 111minutesYear of Release: 2006
Written & Produced by: Yinka Ogun
Directed by: Femi Odugbemi
Production company: Nigeria’s Oil & Gas Publications
Synopsis: In July 1990 Maroko a bustling slum settlement in the heart of Lagos faced a mass eviction by the government. Over 300,000 people were rendered homeless at dawn by roaring bulldozers. With nowhere to go a family must find desperate means for their survival.
******
HOSTAGES
Duration: 116 mins)
Year of Release: 1997
Directed by: Tade Ogidan
Produced by: OGD Pictures Ltd.
Produced in 1990-1991 but released in 1996, Hostages featured extensive police action and a great story line full of chair-edge suspense. A story with great twists and turns, it stars Tope Idowu, Ofuafo Otomewo, Richard Mofe Damijo, Yomi Obileye, Ebele Okaro, Bimbo Manuel, Lanre Balogun, Antar Laniyan, Tunji Sotimirin, Danjuma Mohammed, Layi Ashadele, Tunji Olugbodi and Zainab Buky Ajayi. It won several awards at the Nigerian Movie Awards, including BEST FILM, BEST ACTOR, BEST ACTRESS, BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR & ACTRESS, BEST DIRECTOR, BEST SCREENPLAY, etc. The film has featured in a number of international film festivals. The TV serial version has also been broadcast on TV in and outside Nigeria.
********
SAVING ALERO
Duration: 110mins
Year of Release: 2001
Directed by: Tade Ogidan
Produced by: Francis Onwochei/OGD Pictures
Synopsis: A powerful film that tackles the problems African women go through when their husbands die. The rites of widowhood, in-law problems, and complex African inheritance issues, are dealt with in this film which has gone to a number of international film festivals and screenings. The movie won a number of awards, including BEST ACTRESS, BEST DIRECTOR, and BEST FILM.
********
HERITAGE
Duration: 89mins
Year of Release: 2003
Writer & Directed by: : Ladi Ladebo
Produced by: Ladi Ladebo Productions
David, a young Métis researcher arrives from England to study the archaeological treasures of Nigeria at the University of Ibadan. He tries to get in touch with the old professor Fatu, imprisoned following the theft of sacred objects from the tomb of the Yoruba hero Oduduwa. Professor Fatu refuses to deliver the heavy secret because of which traffickers of works of art succeeded in having him imprisoned by corrupting judges and policemen.
********
VIGILANTE
Duration: 106 mins
Year of Release: 1988
Written by: Afolabi Adesanya & Adedeji Adesanya
Directed by: Adedeji Adesanya
Production company: A Productions
Story Idea: The film takes a look at the contemporary Nigerian society gripped with the fear of and cowed by the terror and horror of ARMED ROBBERS, and their nefarious activities. Consequently, society is forced to live “behind bars”, a prisoner of its own environment and socio-economic disparity. However, a people pushed to the wall fight back to break the stranglehold of the Armed Robbers by forming a VIGILANTE group.
*******
OSE SANGO (SANGO’S WAND)
Duration: 104 minutes (16mm)
Year of Release: 1991
Written by: Afolabi Adesanya
Directed by: Afolabi Adesanya
Produced by: Adedeji Adesanya
Production Company: A – Productions
Synopsis: A middle-aged couple, Chief and Mrs. Adeleke, while shopping for home decors in Oyo come across a young hawker of sculptures and gourds, which includes a facsimile of Sango’s wand. Chief Adeleke buys the wand. Back home in Lagos, the wand becomes part of his dressing; he swears and curses in the name of Sango, the Yoruba deity of thunder and lightning. His prowess and fearsome reputation precede him anywhere he goes. Eventually, this engenders an acrimonious rivalry between him and Magba, the reigning High Priest of Sango. Magba covets Adeleke’s ose (wand), which is said to possess omnipotent power, in order to reign supreme. The resultant battle between them is an epic duel of wit, juju, thunder, rain, storm, lightning, and sorcery.
