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04Jan

Cameroonian film shines at London festival

Nana Walter Wilson

Wednesday, 04 January 2012 22:00

Obsession, a Cameroonian movie, made waves recently at the Zulu African Film Academy Awards, ZAFAA 2011 in London, England.

Directed by Achille Brice, Obsession had three nominations and featured as the only Cameroonian motion picture at ZAFAA 2011. These nominations included best-up and-coming male 2011, best-up-coming female and best sound editing.

In the best up-and-coming male category, the character Tom in Obsession and in real life, Valerie Nchifor Awa is a performer that enthusiasts of African films should watch out for, according to Valerie Nchifor, who shared his views with this reporter after the London expedition. In the aforementioned category were challengers from Nigeria, Zimbabwe and Ghana.

Also in London was Ruth Nkwetie, a Cameroonian and nominee for the Best up-coming Female Category in the film Obsession.

Nominated for the best sound quality category, Nchifor said ZAFAA has brought to the fore the top sound quality of Obsession, adding that the latter is the first English language Cameroonian film to have had three nominations in an international motion picture festival.

After seven years in the silver screen industry, Nchifor has joined the ranks of some Cameroonian award winners. He debuted with Leather Gangster, directed by Rene Eta. He will move on to feature in Mirrage, A Woman’s World, The Forsaken and Dealer - shot in Mutengene and Douala.

Now 29, Nchifor was part of a CRTV serial dubbed “Enigma”, directed by Billy Bob Ndive Lifongo.A 2009 graduate from the Department of Curriculum Studies, CST – Biology, University of Buea, UB, Nchifor got into the film industry as a past time but today, “It’s a great passion,” he noted. “The ZAFAA 2011 is a great motivation, I have to work harder. The future is looks bright and that of the Cameroonian film industry. This is a stepping stone in my career and I am convinced that film making can put bread and butter on my table,” he added.After the London stopover, Nchifor is networking with Nigerian, Ghanaian and other Cameroonian film makers in the US, South Africa, who have expressed the interest to work with him.Obsession was initially screened in Stuttgart, Germany on April 7 2011. It has also been submitted for the Africa Movie Academy Awards, AMAA 2012 due in the month of March.

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Last Updated on Wednesday, 04 January 2012 22:05

02Jan

USA: Cameroon shines at NAFCA awards

Ernest Kanjo

Monday, 02 January 2012 04:09

In counting her blessings in 2011, the film industry in Cameroon will certainly rank the NAFCA Awards experience at the top. Reason: It is at the NAFCA Awards that the country has had one of her biggest honours, at least this year. NAFCA, the Nollywood and African Film Critics Awards, this writer would imagine (pending an interview with members), is a film criticism outfit with the promotion of the seventh art in Africa at the back of the minds of organizers.

At the maiden edition of the recognition event, organized and staged in Raleigh, North Carolina, USA recently, Cameroon shined out with a highly contested best make-up award grabbed via Land of Shadow, the famous 2009 movie shot in Bafut, produced by Agbor Gilbert and directed by Zack Orji and Neba Lawrence.

With over six nominations, the country was represented at the red carpet event by a strong delegation of US-based Cameroonian film makers and two compatriots who flew in from home, producer Agbor Gilbert and director Neba Lawrence. “It was a great time out there, communioning with other African film stars,” Neba told TIPTOPSTARS editor in Yaounde upon his return from the US. “I was particularly touched by the convivial atmosphere that reigned between Cameroon, Nigeria and Ghana as we all celebrated the success of the African film industry,” he went on.

According to the director of Royal Destiny, produced by Ayi Chatou Inoua, Cameroon was repeatedly mentioned as fast trailing Nigeria and Ghana in home movie production. He said: “In fact, Cameroon was ranked third after these two countries and that really inspired us. We are therefore going to work harder to score better grades subsequently.”

NAFCA 2011 opened a new platform for professional and film marketing contracts established between Cameroon, Nigeria, Ghana and the US. According to the Yaounde-based film director who has won several awards, African movie marketers in the US displayed an impressive interest in most recent Cameroonian movies and are ready to market them the world over. “For instance, film marketing outfits such as Franco Films, Executive Images and www.boyceeondemand.com now have deals with us and will be marketing our films out there,” Neba revealed.

It should be noted that Cameroon has regularly been featuring in several international film festivals and awards of late and winning prizes. A prominent awards in which the country has had a brilliant performance is the ZAFAA where Nchifor Valery has just been declared best up-and-coming actor in the people’s choice category. Last year, Musing Derick’s 30^th Day won a prize at the same competition. ZAFAA is equally run by Nigerian film promoters in the UK.

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Last Updated on Monday, 02 January 2012 04:24

01Jan

In love with Penjo’s Passion

Ernest Kanjo

Sunday, 01 January 2012 21:47

passion Among the films, the African Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) would be lining up from Cameroon this year, there will certainly be Passions, a Penjo Entertainment production currently undergoing post-production at the film house’s classy Yaounde Mendong studio. Passion is a short film which will hit the movie market in the coming weeks.

The film which handles love as central theme tells the story of a man who gives up every life possession, including his biological son for the sake of a new wife, but is forced to avenge the death of first woman who had been involved in an illicit affair with yet another crockery lad.

Directed by Achille Brice, Passion, a Kamwa Anthony story is shot on locations Buea, Cameroon with a Canon 7D camera and is being edited by its producer, Peter Ndjozeka. The handsome and beautiful faces of the actors (Kamwa Anthony, Banyi Manuella, Nchifor Valery, Jude Ebile, Hobson Fale, etc) are a handiwork of make-up specialist Winston Muluh Passion is lighted by the indefatigable Anurin Nwenembom. It will be a short film to watch!!

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Last Updated on Sunday, 01 January 2012 21:56

01Jan

In company with The Company

Ernest Kanjo

Sunday, 01 January 2012 15:20

achille briceaaron mbijudas case Scores of Cameroonian entertainment celebrities jammed Buea’s Hotel Residence Carlos recently to welcome the much-talked about The Company, produced and directed by Jude Ebile aka Judas Case. Even music icon cum media executive Dinaly couldn’t resist being part of the great story and did not hesitate to make the trip to Buea. Then legal luminary Barrister Etta Bisong thought it was something if had to see the birth of The Company, now circulating throughout Cameroon. He was indeed there!

From the house, renowned film makers such as Peter Njodzeka aka Penjo of Penjo Entertainment and Achille Brice were prominent and ensured the welcome party was indeed welcoming.

As would be the case is such events, The Company’s premiere was characterized by several presentations – of the movie, its production house, crew and cast, the production challenges and what have you. According to the producer, The Company, though a low-budget production, sucked at least 3 millions FCFA. But beyond that, they were other technical challenges. “The film marked my debut in directing and I was working with a whole of new actors coming into the business for the first time,” Jude Ebile later told TIPTOPSTARS.

Written by the producer himself, with additional lines from Malike Dora, The Company is shot on locations in Buea, Limbe and Cameroon’s capital Yaounde. The story delves into the theme of change which young people are battling tooth and nail to inject into the Cameroonian contemporary society. Perhaps, that is reason why protagonist Ryan Lyonga (Arthur Ernest) who assumes his father’s position as CEO of the company is quick to bring forth some needed changes to the house. These changes are however strongly contested by his father’s long-time collaborators Mr Ngole (Sylvester Mayah) and Mr Ekema (Nche Francis).The rivalry that unfolds is what The Company has in store.

Featuring in the movie amongst others are ZAFAA Award laureate Nchifor Valery, Arthur Ernest, Claudia Enow, Sylvester Mayah, Nche Francis, Elvis Azuhni aka The Crusader, Sako Greg, Martha Ngoh Malike Dora, Enobi Prince, Jude Ebile alias Judas case. It is being marketed and distributed nationwide by Roughbase Pictures and MagicTouch Videos. According to Judas Case, copies of the movie can also be acquired at all major film studios in Yaounde, Kumba, Bamenda and Buea. “Requests can also be made through the following contacts, (+237) 77212827, 75429752, 79961699,” he indicated.

The premiere was graced by soul-searching music from Buea-based talented singer and guitar guru Aaron Mbi and RnB heroes Rythmz.

Meanwhile in his next movie Twist, producer/director Judas Case hopes to star Emeka Ike and John Dumelo respectively from Nollywood and Ghollywood, alongside award-winning Nchifor Valery, Elvis Azuhni, Arthur Ernest and Bareh Mildred. “Shooting is due for January 2012 and I pray for God’s intervention in this project,” he said.

Adah and sister inlaw in picture with judas case arthurjudas caseyanku and elvis minashmum and pamela ndukong martha ngoh and arthur ernest

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Last Updated on Monday, 02 January 2012 04:28

04Dec

Don’s divert from Divert!

Ernest Kanjo

Sunday, 04 December 2011 21:59

divert pic penjo When Eka Christy first starred in Weg Muller Ikome’s Not My Will, many were those whose love for Cameroonian movies stepped up. This was because the Limbe-based actress, on set with music star Achalle put up a brilliant show. Eka had since then maintained her performance and even improved tremendously. It is this added value to her acting that Eka has brought in to make one of her most recent works a film to be watched and watched again. This film, Divert is another Penjo entertainment production currently being perfumed at the Mendong studio of this now very famous production outfit.

Divert, to be released before the end of 2011 recounts the ordeal of a university graduate whose orphan status obliges her to assiduously traverse the corridors of hardship, but perhaps leading to a consolingly lighted tunnel end.

Divert is written by Peter Ndjozeke and like Passions, directed by Achille Brice. It also features Adele Elad, Kamwa Anthony, Banyi Manuella, Nchifor Valery, Jude Ebile, etc. The rest of the crew: Sound/Light – Anurin Nwenembom, Music – Ancestor, Cameroa operator – Peter Ndjozeka. For more on this production and others, get to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it "> This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call +237 7502-7187.