The Toronto International Film Festival’s City to City Spotlight this year focuses on the work of Nigerian filmmakers, featuring eight films produced in Lagos.
Anyone who watches Nigerian movies will tell you clearly that there are two Nollywoods, two industries actively thriving in Nigeria’s entertainment space, capturing the hearts and pockets of an audience more than 100 million strong across Africa, the African diaspora and the Caribbean. One is the straight-to-DVD audience which arose two decades ago, an unplanned development set in motion by an electronic marketer who devised a new method to sell off his empty VHS tapes. This would grow into a billion-dollar industry birthing different offshoots, with indigenous movies made up of predominantly Yoruba, Hausa and Igbo movies thriving alongside English content, churning out an average of 50 movies per week, a bigger haul in volume than Hollywood.
And then there is the other arm; the one that stages Hollywood-style cinema premieres with full marketing plans that involve press conferences, social media marketing, advertising and special partnerships. This Nollywood premieres on average two movies per week and sometimes will make international festival rounds with the goal of gaining some critical international validation. This year, they received some of that recognition from the Toronto International Film Festival’s City to City spotlight which will focus on Lagos this year.
The festival artistic director Cameron Bailey explained earlier in the year why Lagos was chosen; “Vital, complex and inspiring, Lagos is entirely unique. The city of Fela Kuti’s music has also given birth to one of the world’s most vibrant film industries. The 1000 low-budget features Nollywood produces each year generate about $1billion at the box office. Now, from that commercial hotbed, a new generation of filmmakers is emerging to both advance and challenge Nollywood. Bigger budgets, greater artistic ambition – the new cinema of Lagos is bold, exciting, and ready to take its place on the international stage. We’re excited to share the creativity of this remarkable city’s filmmakers with TIFF audiences in September.”
When the eight selected films were announced, there was a lot of excitement in the Nigerian blogosphere and social media, with TIFF rising to become the number one trending topic on Twitter. The movies that will feature in TIFF run the gamut from comedy to drama, a biopic and a war drama inspired by true events.
’76 stars Rita Dominic, who has transitioned successfully from Nollywood home video queen to a successful box office actor and producer. In the movie, Dominic plays a heavily pregnant woman whose life crumbles when the news of her husband’s involvement in a botched military coup hits the headlines. The film also stars Ramsey Nouah, and Chidi Mokeme in a gripping drama set against the backdrop of the attempted 1976 military coup against the government of General Murtala Mohammed. Directed by Izu Ojukwu, ’76 is also eligible for selection in the Grolsch People’s Choice award at TIFF.
The Arbitration is a legal thriller /drama that revolves around the topic of corporate sexual harassment. Gbenga, played by OC Ukeje and an employee in his company Dara, played by Adesua Etomi embark on an affair. After the affair ends, Dara leaves the company, and proceeds to sue Gbenga, accusing him of rape. An arbitration panel is constituted to find out the truth. The movie also stars Nollywood actors like Sola Fosudo, Ireti Doyle, Somkele Iyamah, Beverly Naya, Gregory Ojefua and more.
Green White Green, directed by Abba Makama is perhaps the most creatively ambitious movie from the list. The movie, which stars Ifeanyi Dike Jr has very indie leanings even by Nollywood standards, with its comedic focus on a group of nonconformist Nigerian artistes who haphazardly try their hands at a movie about Nigeria. The movie stars fast rising actor Ifeanyi Dike, Jamal Ibrahim, Meg Otanwa and others.
With Taxi Driver, director Daniel Oriahi gives an interesting film noir take on Martin Scorsese’s film of the same name, which starred Robert De Niro. A small-town mechanic turned chauffeur in a crime syndicate is entangled in the troubles of a beautiful sex worker. With its haunting expressionistic view of the Lagos metropolis, the movie has already been warmly received by Nigerian audiences. The movie also stars Ijeoma Grace Agu, along with Odunlade Adekola and Afeez (Saka) Oyetoro.
Kemi Adetiba’s The Wedding Party is a comedy revolving around a 24-year-old art gallery owner, played by Adesua Etomi, and an IT entrepreneur played by Nigerian music star Banky W, and their dysfunctional families, who are from different Nigerian tribes. The Wedding Party premieres on the first night of the festival. The Wedding Party also stars Richard Mofe Damijo, Ireti Doyle and others.
Hollywood’s Danny Glover joins the cast of 93 days, which stars Bimbo Akintola as Ameyo Stella Adadevoh. Directed by Steve Gukas, this riveting real-life drama revolves around the heroic health-care workers in Lagos who successfully contained the Ebola outbreak of 2014, with a lot losing their lives in the process. The movie stars Somkele Idhalama and others.
Just Not Married is an urban adventure comedy which tells the story of a bright, penniless student trying to escape his life in the slums. He is overwhelmed when his modest illegal caper goes a bit too far. Directed by Uduak-Obong Patrick, the movie stars Judith Audu, Stan Nze, and more
Okafor’s Law is directed by actress/producer Omoni Oboli and focuses on a rake who makes a bet with his friends that he can successfully seduce three ex-girlfriends in six weeks. The movie stars Blossom Chukwujekwu, Ufuoma McDermott, Gabriel Afolayan and others.
Amid all the excitement, there are also concerns about the responsibility these movies carry as representatives of today’s Nollywood. Some of the movies selected, for example, had to rush production in order to be able to premiere at TIFF. The Wedding Party and Okafor’s Law only concluded post production in mid-August. There was also a lot of surprise as to why Kunle Afolayan’s CEO did not make the spotlight and will instead be given a minimal industry screening at the Festival. Shaman Momoh of Nollywood site TNS explains that “CEO was not selected because it had already had a prominent international premiere and selection for TIFF wasn’t necessarily going to add much to the film’s profile.”
As part of the City to City spotlight, the festival introduced TIFF International Rising Stars from its city spotlight, where two actors from the selected city are chosen to take part in a roster of special acitivities. This year, actors OC Ukeje and Somkele Iyamah-Idhalama are the chosen performers.
The 41st Toronto International Film Festival runs from 8 to 18 September 2016.
By Oma Areh
