Nigerian feature film Eyimofe is now airing on Warner Bros Discovery-owned US streaming platform HBO Max.
Directed by twin brothers Arie and Chuko Esiri, Eyimofe traces the journeys of two distantly connected strangers as they each pursue their dream of starting a new life in Europe while bumping up against harsh economic realities.
Jude Akuwudike plays an electrician dealing with the fallout from a family tragedy, while Temi Ami-Williams plays a hairdresser supporting her pregnant teenage sister.
The feature film recently joined the list of films on the Criterion Collection, a US home-video distribution company that focuses on licensing, restoring and distributing important classic and contemporary films.
Eyimofe made history as the first Nigerian film to earn an NAACP Image Awards nomination. It has also won awards ranging from best film to best director, best first feature film by a director and best Nigerian film in the 2021 Africa Movie Academy Awards.
HBO Max launched in May 2020 and had 76.8 million subscribers by April this year. It is due to merge with Warner Bros Discovery’s other major streamer, Discovery+, in mid-2023.
Cynthia Erivo as Aretha Franklin in Genius: Aretha
Award-winning Nigerian-British actor Cynthia Erivo, Nigerian feature film Eyimofe (This Is My Desire) and Kenyan kids’ series Super Sema have been nominated for NAACP Image Awards.
Erivo has been nominated at the 53rd edition of the awards in the category of Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Limited Series or Dramatic Special for her role as singer Aretha Franklin in National Geographic series Genius.
She is also in the running for Outstanding New Artist in the recording category, while Genius has been nominated for the Outstanding Television Movie, Limited Series or Dramatic Special award.
Eyimofe (This is My Desire) was directed by brothers Arie and Chuko Esiri
Meanwhile, Eyimofe, from Nigerian brothers Arie and Chuko Esiri and GDN Studios, is up for Outstanding International Motion Picture and YouTube original series Super Sema has been nominated for Outstanding Animated Series. The animated superhero series is produced by Kenyan outfit Kukua, with Black Panther star Lupita Nyong’o voice acting in and exec producing the show.
Erivo said on Instagram: “Thank you NAACP Image Awards for always seeing us, for seeing me. Thank you for these nominations and for celebrating us. I love us and all that we are. Congratulations everyone.”
Eyimofe producer GDN Studios said: “Eyimofe has made history as the first Nigerian film to earn an NAACP Image Awards nomination.”
Super Sema has an African-futuristic setting
Kukua added: “We are incredibly honoured to stand by other groundbreaking nominees and extraordinary animated series and films and to be bringing more and more diversity in children’s entertainment.”
The annual NAACP Image Awards are presented by the US-based National Association for the Advancement of Colored People to honour outstanding performances in film, television, theatre, music and literature. The 53rd edition is scheduled to take place on February 26 and will air live on ViacomCBS-owned channel BET.
In related news, Erivo is also among the nominees for next month’s 28th annual Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards. She has been nominated for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series for her role in Genius.
“It’s been one of the greatest honours in my life to play Ms Aretha Franklin, whose music changed the world,” the actor said on Instagram.
The SAG Awards will be presented on February 27 at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, California.
Eyimofe (This is My Desire) was directed by brothers Arie and Chuko Esiri
Nigerian feature film Eyimofe took home five prizes at the 17th edition of the Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAAs) at the weekend.
The film was nominated in seven of the 26 categories at the awards, which took place at the Marriot Hotel, Ikeja, on November 28.
Eyimofe won for Achievement in Sound, Best First Feature Film by a Director, Best Director and Best Film, and also took the National Film and Video Censors Board Award for Best Nigerian Film.
Directed by twin brothers Arie and Chuko Esiri, Eyimofe presents a realistic picture of everyday life in Lagos, a city where the road to a better life is fraught with many obstacles.
The AMAAs are presented annually to recognise excellence among professionals working in or contributing to the African film industry.
Temi Ami-Williams, who starred in award-winning Nigerian feature film Eyimofe, has been named Best Young Actor from West Africa at the Pan African Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou (Fespaco) in Burkina Faso.
Temi Ami-Williams
In the 2020 movie she plays Rosa, an everyday Nigerian trying to make ends meet through working as a hairstylist and a bartender, selling personal items and even entertaining the attentions of an unwanted suitor for money.
According to GDN Studios, the Nigerian production company behind the film, she is the second Nigerian actor to win the award at Fespaco.
The award is accompanied by a cash prize of CFA1m and recognises the work of West African film actors aged under 30 who have distinguished themselves in fiction films in competition at Fespaco.
Ami-Williams said: “Eyimofe is my first film, so I had to understand many new things. Being the person to carry the story of Eyimofe to people is something I am very proud of, so I had to do it right. I had to understand shots, how much and how little was expected of me during scenes. I am glad the directors and producers took all these into consideration and they even got [fellow actor] Cynthia Egbijie and me a coach whom they flew in to take us through the story, how to bring it to life and the techniques needed.”
Fespaco 2021 took place in the Burkinabe capital from October 16 to 23.
Eyimofe (This is My Desire) was directed by brothers Arie and Chuko Esiri
Nigerian feature film Eyimofe (This is My Desire) has won the award for Best Feature Narrative at the 10th annual BlackStar Film Festival in the US.
GDN Studios, the Nigerian production company behind the 2020 film, announced the news on Instagram, saying: “After a week of incredible programming, including over 80 films, Eyimofe, directed by twin brothers Arie & Chuko Esiri, was picked by BlackStarFest jurors as the winner of the Best Feature Narrative category.”
Set in Lagos, the film unfolds in two chapters, following the stories of a factory technician and a hairdresser on their quests for what they believe will be a better life on foreign shores.
Accepting the award, Arie Esiri said: “The most important thing for me is that people are able to visit the city and get to know its people; maybe fall in love with it or hate it, but at least feel something.
“I have been making movies and connecting with people and places, and I hope people will begin to appreciate that humanity is kind of the norm. Thank you so much for this. I really appreciate this.”
The BlackStar Film Festival took place between August 4 and 8 in Philadelphia. It is a celebration of the visual and storytelling traditions of the African diaspora and of global communities of colour, showcasing films from around the world.
Eyimofe is currently being screened across selected cities in the US. The film was recently selected for this year’s MOOOV Film Festival in Belgium, where it won the University of Antwerp Award.
Eyimofe (This is My Desire) was directed by brothers Arie and Chuko Esiri
Nigerian feature film Eyimofe has been acquired by Belgium-based Mooov to distribute in Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg.
The film will now debut in Benelux theatres on July 23. The news comes shortly after the film, directed by brothers Arie and Chuko Esiri, was picked up by Janus Films for the North American market.
Set in Lagos, Eyimofe and follows the stories of a factory technician (played by Jude Akuwudike) and a hairdresser (Temi Ami-Williams) on their quest for what they believe will be a better life on foreign shores.
According to GDN Studios, the Nigerian production company behind the film, the Mooov deal will allow audiences in the Netherlands and Luxembourg to watch a Nigerian film in theatres for the first time.
Marc Boonen, artistic director at Mooov, said: “The film is a migrant story without migrants because, even though the film consists of the chapters Spain and Italy, we don’t get to see anything from either country.
“Therefore, Eyimofe is a carefully observed story about dreams. Mooov is honoured to distribute in the Benelux this refreshing full-length debut and introduce the Esiri brothers, two young and promising talents.”
Eyimofe (This is My Desire) was directed by brothers Arie and Chuko Esiri
Nigerian feature film Eyimofe, which was recently selected for this year’s MOOOV Film Festival in Belgium, has won the University of Antwerp Award at the ongoing event.
GDN Studios, the Nigerian production company behind the film, announced the win on Instagram.
In a statement accompanying the award for the film, directed by brothers Arie and Chuko Esiri, the organisers of the festival wrote: “In Eyimofe we are convincingl,y taken to the outskirts of Lagos in Nigeria. The filmmakers tell two stories, that of Mofe and Rosa, two individuals who want to emigrate and are looking for a better life.
“The theme of the story has a universal meaning and is easily recognisable for everyone, but the Esiri brothers have managed to portray that story in their own way within the context of their home country.”
The MOOOV Film Festival is taking place digitally and will conclude on May 3.
Eyimofe (This is My Desire) was directed by brothers Arie and Chuko Esiri
Nigerian feature film Eyimofe (This is My Desire) has been selected for the 50th anniversary edition of the New Directors/New Films festival in New York.
The festival will take place virtually from April 28 to May 8 and celebrates filmmakers who represent the present and anticipate the future of cinema.
Eyimofe was made by GDN Studios, directed by twin brothers Arie and Chuko Esiri and produced by Melissa Adeyemo. It follows a factory technician, played by Jude Akuwudike, and a hairdresser (Temi Ami-Williams) on their quest for what they believe will be a better life abroad.
Guardian Nigeria recently reported that Eyimofe is among 27 features and 11 shorts shown to audiences in the MoMA and FLC virtual cinemas and to New Yorkers at the Film at Lincoln Center. Eyimofe also won the New Directors Jury Prize at the San Francisco Film Festival (SFFILM).
In a statement to Guardian Nigeria, the SFFILM jury noted: “This was a quick and unanimous decision for our jury. We agreed that from the very first shot we knew this was a very special film. We couldn’t believe this was a debut feature, given the maturity of its patient style, its gorgeous cinematography, the uniform strength of its performances.
“We found Eyimofe a deeply moving, richly textured portrait of life in Lagos, Nigeria, and hope this prize gives the film a greater chance to be seen by audiences around the world. Congratulations to Arie Esiri and Chuko Esiri, and thank you for sharing this film with us and the world.”
Eyimofe premiered recently in Lagos and is set for general cinema release from April 23.
Since its world premiere at the Berlin International Film Festival last year, Eyimofe has been selected for events including Indie Lisboa International Film Festival in Portugal, BFI London Film Festival in the UK and Mostra Sao Paolo International Film Festival in Brazil.
Nigerian feature film Eyimofe has been selected for this year’s MOOOV Film Festival in Belgium.
Directed by twin brothers Arie and Chuko Esiri, Eyimofe tells the stories of two strangers living in Africa’s largest city, Lagos, who share the dream of building a new life in the West.
GDN Studios, the production company behind the film, announced the news on Instagram, wrtiting: “While plans have reached an advanced stage for its Nigerian cinematic release next month, the award-winning Nigerian feature film Eyimofe (This is My Desire), has continued its international festival run with a selection for this year’s MOOOV Film Festival in Belgium.
“Eyimofe’s selection for this year’s MOOOV is coming barely a week after the film was selected for the Borderlines Film Festival in the United Kingdom.”
The film’s cast includes Jude Akuwudike, Temi Ami-Williams, Cynthia Ebijie, Tomiwa Edun, Jacob Alexander and Chioma ‘Chigul’ Omeruah. It was fully financed within Nigeria.
