NIGERIAN WEEKENDER, WORLD CINEMA SEASON 2021
THAMESMEAD TEXAS presents a season of WORLD CINEMA, consisting of a series of weekend screening events throughout Autumn 2021, spotlighting ethnically diverse communities based in Thamesmead, from countries afar as Cape Verde, Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda, and Jamaica. We launch our WORLD CINEMA season on the weekend of 25-26 September 2021 with a NOLLYWOOD weekender, co-programmed with local living legend RUKE AMATA, a pioneer in early Nigerian Cinema. Over the course of the weekend, we will screen HERITAGE films by the AMATA brothers, who’s family helped spawn an industry of what we now know as NOLLYWOOD!
Nigerian Weekender trailer
THE AMATA BROTHERS DOUBLE BILL, selected by RUKE AMATA and Scully & Scully
7:30PM – 11:30PM, INTRO WITH RUKE AMATA, FOLLOWED BY INFORMAL Q&A BY THE BAR
Saturday 25 September 2021
Filmmaker: Ruke Amata
Fiction: S.O.D (Son of the Devil), 1997
92 minutes
Chico (played by Zack Amata) is a successful businessman and everything is going perfectly, yet unbeknown to him, his nearest and dearest are plotting against him and will take everything. When Chico finds himself on the other side of a 5-year prison spell he quickly learns that nobody wants to know you when you are down and out, except perhaps the sharply dressed handsome figure S.O.D. (played by Fred Amata). Will Chico accept S.O.D’s help and at what price?
15-minute interval between films/ bar reopens
Filmmaker: Fred Amata
Fiction: Dust to Dust, 1997
94 minutes
University educated Niki (played by Francis Duru) is plagued by vivid nightmares of being buried alive and the premature death of his beloved sister Reke (played by Evelyn Omono). Are these nightmares or are they premonitions? Niki’s waking day begins to crumble around him as he fights to prevent his once middle class family falling into destitution. Where work is scarce and governmental support doesn’t exist, can Niki’s university degree cut it in the real world, or will desperate measures need to be taken?
THE AMATA BROTHERS WEEKENDER, selected by RUKE AMATA and Scully & Scully
5:30-7:30PM LIVE MUSIC BY AYAN DE FIRST, MR CULTURE
7:30PM – 11:30PM, INTRO WITH RUKE AMATA, FOLLOWED BY INFORMAL Q&A BY THE BAR
Sunday 26 September 2021
A selection of NEW NOLLYWOOD trailers selected by RUKE AMATA and Scully & Scully
15 minutes
Filmmaker: Fred Amata
Fiction: The Addict, 199?
73 minutes
The Addict opens with dramatic scenes as a mother and her son Shota (played by Anthony Nwakalor) face each other off in a tense confrontation. What lead to this desperate act of aggression? As Shota reflects on his act of violence, we follow him through his childhood and see how innocence can easily be corrupted, leading to dire consequences for a family and society as a whole.
RUKE AMATA, from the Amata family, is one of the founding producers of the Nigerian Movie industry that has come to be known as “Nollywood”. A graduate of Dramatic Arts, from one of the leading universities in Nigeria, he studied under Nobel Laureate – Wole Soyinka and has been a practicing audio-visual practitioner and consultant for over 25 years, exhibiting a high level of professionalism, dedication and commitment. A producer, writer, actor, cinematographer, editor and director, his credits include award-winning movies such as: S.O.D, Osoufia in London, The Return, The Fire and The Glory, Battle of Love, The Past Came Calling, Shameful Deceit and a host of others. He also produced and directed the highly acclaimed TV drama series “Bachelors”. He is the initiator of the acting talent hunt and training programme: Class Act UK.
FRED AMATA is a Nigerian actor, producer and director. A graduate of Theatre Arts from the University of Jos and one of the most prolific directors of early Nollywood, Fred shot into limelight in 1986 for his role in a film titled Legacy. He is known for directing Letters to a Stranger (2007), Tumini’s Song (2006) and Road to Redemption (2016). He currently serves as the President of the Directors Guild of Nigeria, since February 27, 2016.
AYAN DE FIRST, MR CULTURE is a celebrity ‘Talking Drummer’ who performs at both African and multi-cultural events across the UK and Europe who have appeared in all British national newspapers and on all British Television channels. He also teaches Nigerian and African culture, works within educational sectors, offering drumming lessons to willing pupils as well as showing them how to play cultural instruments.
Supported by Film FAN London & Bow Arts Trust