Nigerian actor Stephanie Linus and Nigerian-British actor Jimmy Akingbola are on the jury for this year’s Tribeca Film Festival, which is underway in New York City.
Stephanie Linus and Jimmy Akingbola
Linus and Akingbola will join a roster of several dozen actors, writers, filmmakers and producers including Brendan Fraser, Chance the Rapper, Jeremy O Harris, to decide winners in 15 award categories.
Linus is a juror in the Documentary Feature Competition category, while Akingbola is a juror in the short documentary and student visionary competition category.
The Tribeca Film Festival jury selects the winners of the festival’s various competitions. It is made up of actors, filmmakers, producers and other industry professionals.
Nollywood actor, director and producer Stephanie Linus (Through the Glass, Dry) is set to produce a historical movie titled When Women Were Counted.
Stephanie Linus
The movie is based on the so-called Women’s War, or the Aba Women’s Protest, of 1929, when more than 10,000 Nigerian women protested against economic and sociopolitical tyranny in Bende, Umuahia and other parts of Igboland.
Linus said: “Working on this movie since 2018 has been a spiritual awakening of some sort for me and my team. It’s been six years, and I am glad to announce that we are ready.
“Working with some of the best minds – a historian and my writer – to put this together has been a very emotional journey. There’s a lot to tell about the women of that era – our foremothers. The ones whose voices were not diminished, they did not hide under patriarchy, they were communal, brave, outspoken, unashamed – and they fought for what they believed in.”
When Women Were Counted is written by Linus, historian Ibe Gerald Oluchi (The Road to Biafra) and screenwriter Joy Isi Bewaji (Marriage Onions in Wedding Blues).
Award-winning Nollywood actress, producer and director Stephanie Linus (Make Me Fabulous, Sitanda) has been named as brand ambassador for casting website Nollycasting.
Stephanie Linus
Nollycasting describes itself as the first Africa-based casting website for film, TV, videos and commercials. Its aim is to bring together aspiring and raw talents who can be hired by professionals.
Linus said: “People often ask me questions about how to get roles in acting and other jobs in the entertainment industry. I’m glad I can now tell them about Nollycasting, where they can connect with the right people who need their skills. It also saves time and money for producers and casting directors, as they can now get all the talents they need in one place.”
Linus has won several awards – including Reel Awards and Africa Movie Academy Awards – and has credits in movies such as Sitanda, Nnenda, Boonville Redemption and Make Me Fabulous.
Nollycasting is currently seeking people who are interested in acting, voiceovers, modelling, comedy and commercials.
The next Nigerian International Film Summit (NIFS) is set to take place at the Sierra ballroom in the Marina Del Rey Marriot hotel in Los Angeles on November 3-4.
Ijeoma Onah
The two-day event is themed Local Meets Global Demand and will comprise business discussions, panel sessions, networking receptions and numerous speakers who have expertise in various fields.
The main focus of this summit is to critically examine the problems associated with the film business in Nigeria and how it compares to the distribution of Hollywood movies in Nigeria, as well as the Nollywood appeal for international distribution across territories.
The event will also discuss the possibilities, challenges and opportunities surrounding the business of film in Nigeria for international distributors and film investors and how Nollywood is meeting international standards.
Speakers at the event will include Stephanie Linus, CEO of Next Page Productions; Emem Isong, CEO of the Royal Arts Academy; Ken Attoh, CEO of Sparrow Productions; Marie Longai, founder of Restless Global; and Francis Nebot, founder of iFind Distribution.
Also on the speaker list are Fela Oke, founder of Flu3nt; Kene Okwuosa, MD of Filmhouse Cinemas; Craig Shurn, CEO of Part Two Media; Richard Signieski, CEO of Blue Sky; Moses Babatope, MD of Filmone Distribution; and Adedayo Thomas, exec director at the Nigerian Films & Video Censors Board.
Topics to be discussed include Understanding Nigeria Film Business: Facts and figures; Coproducing and Financing with Nigeria; Production Values: How Far Can Nigerian Films Travel? Opportunities and Limitations; and Understanding Theatrical Distribution and Exhibition Opportunities with Nigeria.
“It’s another time to talk less and do more in using our success stories to position the Nigerian Film Industry at the global film business map, attract Investment into the ecosystem and explore every opportunity for increased revenue for Nigerian Independent producers,” said Ijeoma Onah, founder of NIFS.
“So it’s action time. Let’s move forward, let’s use our collective efforts to showcase the huge potentials of film business in Nigeria.”
NIFS is an industry body designed to enable business-driven conversations on the bourgeoning film industry in Nigeria. It is for all those involved already or interested in the business of film in Nigeria.
The second season of reality show Make Me Fabulous (MMF) is set to premiere on Africa Magic Showcase this weekend.
Stephanie Linus
The series, which aims to reignite the spark for long-married couples, will return to Africa Magic Showcase (DSTV channel 151) on Sunday.
Nollywood actress Stephanie Linus (Okereke), a producer on the show, said: “In the very successful run of season one, 13 couples were treated to a lavish and luxurious experience that ignited new meaning in their relationships. Season two is set to be even more exciting and will again detail the journeys of 13 couples.”
Linus also teased a new twist in MMF, but declined to reveal further details.
