UNROYAL PICKS UP 7 NOMINATIONS AHEAD OF BEST OF NOLLYWOOD AWARDS 2020, CLOSELY BEHIND LIVING IN BONDAGE: BREAKING FREE, THE SESSIONS & SUGAR RUSH WITH 13, 11 & 10 NOMINATIONS RESPECTIVELY

The annual, travelling, pan-Nigerian awards ceremony, Best of Nollywood Awards (BON) has just released its list of Nominees in the various 33 categories ahead of the 2020 edition of the awards ceremony. 

The event which is currently in its 12th edition is billed to hold in Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State on Saturday, December 5, 2020.

Movies like Elevator Baby, Sugar Rush, The Sessions, Wede, This Lady Called Life, and Living In Bondage (Breaking Free) have been nominated in the movie of the year category with same set of movies lined up under director of the year category.

Leading the pack of movies with the highest nominations is, Ramsey Nouah's Living in Bondage: Breaking Free with 13 nominations, closely followed by Judith Audu's The Sessions with 11 nominations, Kayode Kasum's Sugar Rush & This Lady Called Life with 10 and 8 nominations respectively then a tie at 7 nominations each for Matilda Lambert  Productions UNROYAL & Bolanle Auten-Peters Bling Lagosians.

Other movies like Niyi Akinmolayan's Elevator Baby and Samuel Olatunji's Dear Affy follows with 6 and 5 nominations respectively.

Present at the virtual announcement, which took place via zoom include founder and organiser of the Awards, Seun Oloketuyi; star actress, Joke Silva; comedian and media personality, Gbenga Adeyinka who hosted the event.

Others include actor par excellence, Segun Arinze; media mogul, Dele Momodu; head of the jury for BON, Niran Adedokun; Teju Ajayi; Hon Shina Peller; Wale Ojo-Lanre; Femi Akintunde Johnson; ValueJet representative, Temitope Ajijola and others.

Set to host this year’s edition of the awards are Debo Macaroni and Tana Adelana.

FULL LIST OF NOMINEES

1. 1). Best Actor in a Leading Role (English) 

• Efa Iwara – The Sessions
• Timini Egbuson – Elevator Baby
• JKA Swanky – Living in Bondage (Breaking Free)
• Eyinna Nwigwe – Dear Affy
• Daniel K. Daniel – The Fugitive
• Femi Jacobs – Colours of Deceit

 

2. 2). Best Actress in a Leading Role (English)

• Bisola Aiyeola – This Lady Called Life
• Omowunmi Dada – The Sessions
• Kehinde Bankole – Dear Affy
• Toyin Abraham – Elevator Baby
• Toni Tones – Killing Jade
• Adesua Etomi – Sugar Rush

 

3. 3). Best Actor in a Supporting Role (English)

• Alex Ekubo – Bling Lagosians
• Williams Uchemba/Tobi Bakre – Sugar Rush
• Byran Emmanuel – Colours of Deceit
• Tope Tedela – Country Hard
• Blossom Chukwujekwu/Abayomi Alvin – Unroyal

 

4. 4). Best Actress in a Supporting Role (English)

• Banke Joye – Traffic
• Ruth Kadiri – Too Old For This
• Sharon Ooja – Bling Lagosians
• Bimbo Ademoye/Bisola Aiyeola – Sugar Rush
• Tina Mba – This Lady Called Life

 

5. 5). Best Actor in a Leading Role (Yoruba)

• Jide Awobona – You Are Me
• Lateef Adedimeji – Etan
• Akin Kolapo – Asarailu
• Joseph Momodu – Torera
• Ibrahim Yekini - Lucifer
• Funso Adeolu- Digiola

 

6. 6). Best Actress in a Leading Role (Yoruba)

• Adebimpe Oyebade – Agbelebu Jade
• Bukunmi Oluwashina – You Are Me
• Nkechi Blessing – Torera
• King Flakie – Digiola
• Abisola Adebayo – Never Too Late

 

7. 7). Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Yoruba)

• Yomi Olorunlolaye/Olaide Almoruf – Brothers
• Bimbo Sunday – Asarailu
• Odunlade Adekola – Never Too Late
• Dele Odule – Agbelebu Jade
• Femi Adebayo/Kelvin Ikedua – Lucifer

 

8. 8). Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Yoruba)

• Khadija Ayoade – You Are Me
• Abisola Adebayo – Agbelebu Jade
• Regina Chukwu – Digiola
• Ashabi Ademefun – Brothers
• Ireti Osayemi – Never Too Late

 

9. 9). Best Actor in a Leading Role (Igbo)

• Francis Duru – Mboputa
• Stan Eze – Ishi Anyaocha
• JKA Swanky – Nne

 

10. 10). Best Actress in a Leading Role (Igbo)

• Chidiebere Aneke – Ishi Anyaocha
• Frances Nsonwu Ikoroha – Nne
• Happy Julian Uchendu – Mboputa

 

11. 11). Best Child Actor

• Daniel Adeshina – Basil
• Divine Godwin Otun – Innocent
• Molawa Onajobi – This Lady Called Life
• King David Akpakwu – My Grandfather’s Wife
• Chima David Ntongha – The Pain Your Storm

 

12. 12). Best Child Actress

• Amarachi Onwe – Secrets
• Chimamanda Unigwe- Perfect Marriage

 

13. 13). Movie with the Best Social Message

• Not So Long a Letter
• WEDE
• Black Monday
• Dan Kasa
• Country Hard
• The Session

 

14. 14) Moses Olaiya Movie with the Best Comedy

• Dear Affy
• Elevator Baby
• Bling Lagosians
• Sugar Rush

 

15. 15) Best Short Film

• Dial 112
• Pole Girl
• The Honourable
• Dan kasa
• The Bean Hawker

 

16. 16) Best Documentary

• Journey to Gambia
• Tame The Serial Killer
• Learners

 

17. 17) Movie with the Best Special Effect

• Lucifer
• Unroyal
• Sugar Rush
• Living in Bondage (Breaking Free)

17. 18) Movie with the Best Screenplay
• This Lady Called Life
• Bling Lagosians
• Elevator Baby
• The Sessions
• Living in Bondage (Breaking Free)
• Dear Affy

 

19. 19) Best Use of Nigerian Food in a Movie
• This Lady Called Life
• Traffic
• The Sessions
• My Grandfather’s Wife
• WEDE

 

20. 20) Best use of Costume in a Movie
• Unroyal
• Broken Water
• WEDE
• Living in Bondage(Breaking in Bondage)
• Isodehi

 

21. 21) Best Use of Make-up in a Movie
• Living in Bondage(Breaking Free)
• The Sessions
• WEDE
• Broken Water
• Isodehi

 

22. 22) Movie with the Best Sound
• Unroyal
• Living in Bondage
• Kambili

 

23. 23) Movie with the Best Sound Track
• Traffic
• Colours of Deceit
• Living in Bondage
• Lucifer
• The Sessions
• Country Hard

 

24. 24) Movie with the Best Editing
• Living in Bondage(Breaking Free)
• This Lady Called Life
• Sugar Rush
• Elevator Baby
• The Sessions

 

25. 25) Movie with the Best Production Design
• This Lady Called Life
• Unroyal
• Living in Bondage(Breaking Free)
• WEDE
• Isodehi
• Broken Water

 

26. 26) Movie with the Best Cinematography
• Living in Bondage(Breaking Free)
• Unroyal
• Sugar Rush
• Bling Lagosians
• Dear Affy

 

27. 27) Best Kiss in a movie
• Alex Ekubo/Sharon Ooja – Bling Lagosians
• JKA Swanky/Munachi Abii – Living in Bondage (Breaking Free)
• Laura Fidel/Kunle Remi- Pole Girl
• Omowunmi Dada/Efa Iwara – The Sessions
• IK Ogbonna/Maltida Lambert-Unroyal

 

28. 28) Most Promising Actor of the Year
• Tobi Bakare – Sugar Rush
• Denola Grey – Bling Lagosians
• Obinna Montero – Too Old for This

 

29. 29) Most Promising Actress of the Year
• Banke Joye – Traffic
• Motilola Adekunle – To Have and To Hold
• Aisha Mohammed – Colours of Deceit
• Chinelo Enemchukwu – Perfect Marriage
• Mary John – Perfect Marriage

 

30. 30) Revelation of the Year (Male)
• Tunde Aderinoye
• Fuad Ferdinand
• Swanky JKA
• Mike Afolarin
• Moshood Fattah
• Heavens Obule

 

1. 31) Revelation of the Year (Female)
• Muniachi Abi
• Bolaji Ogunmola
• Dami Awokoya
• Mimi Daniels
• Temi Otedola

 

32. 32) Director of the Year
• Kayode Kasum – This Lady Called Life
• Ramsey Nouah – Living in Bondage (Breaking Free)
• Lancelot Imasuen – WEDE
• Akay Mason – Elevator Baby
• Judith Audu- The Sessions
• Kayode Kasum – Sugar Rush

 

33. 33) Movie of the Year
• Living in Bondage(Breaking Free)
• This Lady Called Life
• The Sessions
• WEDE
• Sugar Rush
• Elevator Baby

 

BON WEBSITE PUBLICATION  

STOP HEPATITIS: IN CELEBRATION OF WORLD HEPATITIS DAY, JULY 28 WITH @vntmediang @VnTNigeria

What is the significance of World Hepatitis Day?

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World Hepatitis Day is celebrated to spread awareness about the hepatitis virus which primarily affects the liver and causes inflammation which subsequently leads to other health complications including liver cancer.

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Amongst the five main types of hepatitis virus; A, B, C, D & E the most deadly are B & C which combined together claims over approximately 1.3 million deaths yearly, according to @WHO reports.

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Even during the current Coronavorus pandemic, the hepatitis virus is also adding to the mortality count of the world. The theme for World Hepatitis Day 2020 particularly designated by WHO to help spread awareness about the various factors involved with this disease is 'Hepatitis-free future' which mainly focuses on preventing hepatitis B virus infection among mothers and new horns. 

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On this year's World Hepatitis Day, the WHO has issued the guidelines to be followed for this agenda and implored all countries to make collective effort and eliminate hepatitis virus within 2030. It further issued some general guidelines for the people to follow. 

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Take a look:

- All newborn babies should be vaccinated at birth against hepatitis B. This is to be followed by two additional doses

- All pregnant women should do routine checkups for hepatitis B, HIV and syphilis and receive proper treatment if needed

- should be given access to prevention, testing and treatment of hepatitis. This also includes drugs addicts, prisoners, migrants, and others who are affected 

- If hepatitis B is tested and treated timely, it can prevent liver cancer

- Even during a pandemic such as COVID-19, the immunization, diagnosis and treatment of hepatitis B should be carried out.

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#WorldHepatitisDay 

#July28 

#STOPHepatitis 

#vntnigeria 

#vntmedia 

#vntmodels 

#vntlogistics 

#vntimages 

#vntstudiong

@whonigeria

#vnttech 

#vntmusic 

#vntconcepts 

#DumkenennaNnadiVnT 

#vntmediapr

Breaking: Secondary School Students in Exit Classes to Resume August 4 For WAEC Exams Starting August 17

The Ministry of Education has announced that exit classes in Secondary schools across the nation will reopen for academic activities on August 4.

 

A statement released Monday, July 27, 2020 by the Director of Press, Ministry Of Education, Ben Bem Goong, says students in exit classes are to resume immediately after the Salah breaks so they can take their WAEC examinations scheduled to begin August 17.

 

Goong said this decision was taken at the virtual consultative meeting of the Federal Ministry of Education, Commissioners of Education in the 36 states, the Nigerian Union of Teachers, Proprietors of Private schools, and Chief Executive of Examination bodies.

 

The Federal government had initially suspended the reopening of schools due to the increase in the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases.

 

Read the statement from the Ministry of Education below;

CULLED:

 

ELLA CHIKEZIE HITS THE GOLD MARK WITH HER DIRECTORIAL DEBUT MOVIE, ANYWHERE BUT HOME; TALKS ABOUT GROWING UP, HER FORAY INTO THE MOVIE INDUSTRY AND WHERE SHE'S HEADED 5 YEARS FROM NOW!

ANYWHERE BUT HOME

Even though we have barely met her one-on-one, one thing was repeatedly striking about her a couple of times we had an encounter online. Her demeanor, charisma and charms, you cannot but perceive these qualities even without a physical encounter. She calls herself the story teller and she is also a performance poet, screenwriter, animator and movie producer and just up until very recently, made her directorial debut with a 3 minutes 12 seconds brilliant short film on the adverse and physiological effects of domestic violence and abuse.

We had a chat with her on a diverse issues and below are what we have for you. Read on and enjoy.

 

Who would you say Ella Chikezie is and what part of the country is she from?

Ella Chikezie is a survivor and a storyteller and I’m from Eastern Nigeria, Abia state precisely.

In brief summary, how was growing up like for you?

Growing up was interesting for me because I grew up around a lot of people. Being a preacher’s kid, that meant early exposure to people because then my parents, mom precisely, would always put me and my siblings in spotlight and honestly I didn’t like that. I was this quiet shy person around strangers and at school, but once I was at home or in church, my mom would make me sing in the choir and I’ll have to interact with other church members. So, although I was quiet and shy at first, I learnt to be more social and outgoing from a young age. Secondly, I grew up reading a lot of books because my Dad had a big library at home so, I learnt to read early and started reading a lot of Shakespeare’s work and foreign literature from an early age. This early exposure kind of sparked my interest in literature and the arts.

Is it the Nigerian factor that made you to abandon a certificate degree in Bio-Chemistry from the University of Port Harcourt to venture into filmmaking?

Honestly, I wouldn’t say it’s the Nigerian factor because I knew that i always wanted to be in the creative business. Studying science was mainly because of my mom. She always wanted an engineer or scientist at home and it just so happened that at the time, I wasn’t assertive enough, so that’s how I ended up in sciences. Although, I wouldn’t say that I don’t like science, as a matter of fact, I was doing well in science subjects at school but art have always had my heart.

What was truly going on at the back of your mind that prompted you to enter for the 2019 edition of Access Bank’s Accelerate Filmmakers Workshop, considering the fact that you had no prior background in Filmmaking?

My journey into accelerate filmmaker project was a leap of faith. I always wanted to venture into filmmaking but I didn’t know how. Some years back, I had seen someone I knew go into the project and became a successful filmmaker afterwards, and as you said, since I didn’t really have a background in film even though I was in the church drama group as a teenager, I took the bold step and applied. It was my first time and I was lucky to have made it to the program.

Your 60-secs short on “Patriotism” made it to the top 25 shortlisted filmmakers and secured you a spot in the training. Can you share with us how you felt when you made the top 50 list and the final shortlist for the training workshop and how has life been for you afterwards?

I was excited and overwhelmed with emotions at the time. Like it felt surreal for me because I had only tried for the first time and gotten in. At that point, if I had doubts about my decision to venture into film, that opportunity was the confirmation that I was born to do film. Life after accelerate filmmaker project has been great for me because almost all I learnt from the program has helped me in my short filmmaking career, also I have moved on from that to other bigger things and training programs even internationally. I was also a beneficiary of the African International Film Festival (Afriff) screenwriting program last year and a beneficiary of the Ladima Foundation (SA) and DW Akademie (Germany) women in film and animation training program in January this year. I have also worked on several big projects including an animation and documentary film for the African Union. Should be out later this year.

According to UNICEF report, an estimated 275 million children globally are exposed to violence in the home front. Too often, children who witness these violence are usually the forgotten victims of violence at home. [Read more on Instagram here]

You are a poet, writer, producer and an animator, mind you share with us your excitement whilst preparing to make your directorial debut with your new short film “ANYWHERE BUT HOME”, set for global release on Wednesday, July 1, 2020?

Having the opportunity to direct my first short film, is an experience I’ll love to go through again. To start with, my short film, “Anywhere But Home” was inspired after I came across a short film competition that Ladima Foundation in Collaboration with DW Akademie were organizing for female filmmakers in Africa. We had two weeks to submit our films which must have been made during the covid or post covid lockdown, so we created the film on such short notice. I feel very blessed to have had one of the best people in my team and to have gotten a lot of support from my family, friends and colleagues. Honestly, I am overwhelmed by the outpouring of support and love from people and even strangers and I hope that when the film comes out on YouTube, people would embrace it with the same enthusiasm that they have shown.

You had quite an interesting special thanks credited to some notable organizations and individuals (for their support in making your first short film) like, Michelle Dede, Orange Vfx Studios, Comfort Arthur etc., what further message do you have for them via this medium?

Yeah they say we have to give honor to whom honor is due and these individuals/organizations have played a huge role in my journey so far. Michelle Dede, many years ago, had discovered me online and since then she has supported and encouraged me through my trials and triumphs, I call her my mentor. She was the one who had seen I had the gift of writing, 4 years ago, and had encouraged me to write. Comfort Arthur is another mentor whom I adopted from my animation training program at Ladima Foundation this year, she taught me animation and is one of the people who encouraged me to make my first short film. Orange vfx studios has also been a huge part of my success because the people there gave me an opportunity to utilize my talent for what it’s worth. I grateful to God Almighty and especially grateful to these amazing people whom I feel humbled and blessed to have met and worked with.

Do you have a Nigerian female filmmaker role model and if yes, who is that and why her?

Yes I do. I’ll say Mo Abudu because she is someone who has contributed a lot to African Cinema and has given a lot of creative people, especially women in film and entertainment, an opportunity to leverage on and explore their talent.

Are your parents especially your father, in support of your chosen carrier as a filmmaker as against being a bio-chemist?

Well my dad never really had a say in the matter, when he was alive he used to be someone that didn’t judge or have an opinion on how others chose to live their lives. He’d always say that life was meant to be lived once and so we had better do what made us happy while we had time. But my mom didn’t support that and was a major influence in my life, so it came as a surprise when I told her I wanted to be a filmmaker. She didn’t accept at first but now she’s one of my biggest supporter. She’ll always tell me she’s praying for me and that God has got me.

 

You have had work experiences with notable organizations like DStv, Airtel, Gotv, UAC, Access Bank etc., how has these imparted your life as a filmmaker?

Getting the opportunity to work with these brands has helped me so much because I have learnt a lot about brand imagery and I have been exposed to many great people in the business circle. Working for these brands isn’t a walk in the park as they mostly aim for perfection and believe in churning out great work so that has affected my work ethics and right now I always strive for excellence in all I do.

In your own words, who would you consider a successful filmmaker?

For me a successful filmmaker is one who is able to tell an authentic story using technology and make people feel different kinds of emotions while doing so. It is reminding people who they are and helping them see themselves in the eyes of these characters in every story they tell. It is knowing you have your audience glued to their screen and making them disappear into the world you have created.

Where do you see yourself as a filmmaker in the next 5 years and what are the calculated steps you are taking to getting there?

In the next 5 years I see myself as an established producer in Africa. I see myself collaborating with more creative people globally and churning out great works that audiences within Africa and beyond would love. I am intentionally improving my craft, learning, networking and exploring as I go.

What advice do you have for upcoming and aspiring filmmakers in general, irrespective of gender?

My advice to aspiring filmmakers would be to never give up. Consistency is key in this business and no one would really give you an opportunity if you don’t put yourself out there. So by all means, be willing to try new things and do not let fear and doubt keep you away from living your dreams.

Published by:
Nnadi Duke
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