TIPTOPSTARS

That Cameroonian filmmakers in the diaspora are putting up relentless efforts, not only to keep their country’s film seventh art industry alive, but to propel it to greater heights is no longer questionable. And that it is time for these patriots to start reaping from their hard work is a truism. From this backdrop, it is clear organizers of the +237 Elegance Movie Awards are certain they have hit the mark. Perhaps that explains why they have set an unstoppable goal to ferry this recognition initiative to meet the vision of the entire industry – the vision to grow from lips and bounds.

Heads and hands have once again come together to start preparations for the 2013 edition of the said event, billed for August 31 in the Netherlands. Going to a communiqué from the organizing committee of +237 Elegance Movie Awards, contesting movies were supposed to have been submitted by May 31 at Hilversumstraat 162, 1024 KC Amsterdam, the Netherlands. “However, due to the fact that some producers who indicated their interest but whose productions were yet to be completed pleaded, the entry deadline was extended to July 20,” a member of the organizing team told TIPTOPSTARS.

Contestant will be vying for prizes in the following categories: Best Cameroonian Actor in the Diaspora, Best Cameroonian Actress in the Diaspora, Best Cameroonian Director in the Diaspora and, Best Cameroonian Movie in the Diaspora.

Upon reception, the contesting movies will be prescreened by a panel of judges that comprises of film experts. The best five movies will be selected to contest online. Other procedural considerations include a 4-5 minutes trailer to be submitted via 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 . According to organizers, this will be posted online for public voting and it must be noted that public as well as expert voting will be based on 50/50 weighting to reach the final classification. Online voting ends on August 31 at 6:00pm.The winners will be announced at the gala night organized to crown laureates. This will take place at the Rhone Centre in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

The +237 Elegance Movie Awards has so far received positive feedback from filmmakers as well as guests who attended the maiden edition last year. “We intend to further develop the +237 Elegance Movie Awards concept. Most people like the concept because it is built on the premise of promoting Cameroon’s young film industry,” Tsamoh Tazeh, Secretary of the group told us.

Winners will hold the highly coveted +237 Elegance Movie Awards title in each contesting category for a year. In Addition, each winner will drive home with an engraved statuette. Tsamoh told us further: “Also, the star director of the day will go with a prestigious round trip free ticket prize that will take to Amsterdam, Douala and back via Royal Air Maroc.”

Meantime, there is anxiety reigning already among potential contenders. One of them is Great Bridge International, one of the leading Cameroonian audio-visual production outfits based in Antwerpen, Belgium. “We have the greater number Cameroonian filmmakers in Belgium and The Netherlands, yet we failed to make it to the event last year. However, this year, we shall be significantly present and would be fielding our must-watch movie, Chloe,” a spokesperson for Great Bridge International explained.

At the maiden edition in 2012, renowned filmmaker Timah Simon bagged home the best director prize Rita Batuo grabbed the best actress in lead role award. Kang Quintus emerged as pioneer best actor.

It is worth noting that the Elegance team also promotes academic excellence. “Proceeds from this year’s gala will go a long way to cover full tuition fees for three deserving Bachelor of Nursing female students in the Faculty of Health Sciences of the University of Buea,” they told us.

For more information:  www.plus237elegance.com

There will be the birth of another child into the fast-growing Cameroonian movie family on June 28, 2013. The child has been named Switch Roles. Switch Roles is a movie shot in April in Yaounde with the intention of giving the film landscape in Cameroon a new phase. That is why it was shot under some of the most favourable technical and artistic conditions. The movie will be premièred at a red-carpet event to take place at the Yaounde Hilton Hotel. Directed by L.T Njeck, and written by E.N Pel, Switch Role decries male chauvinism which thrives at the expense of women’s emancipation. In the story, a newlywed lady (Bende Sende) is living under tortuous conditions from her husband, a proud movie director (Jeffery Epule). Though soundly educated, she cannot find a job, so she stays at home and takes care of domestic chores. The husband takes advantage of his bread winner status to inflict emotional as well as physical pain on his wife. Unable to endure this anymore, the woman proposes that they switch roles. The rest of the story is told in the up-coming block buster starring Jeffery Epule, Nchifor Valery, Bende Sende, Nchini Mabel. Also featuring are Muma Rosina, Rooty Dobby (doubling as co-producer), Solange Manka, Akime Lionel and Yannick Dominus.