by Remilekun Jordan
As we approach the closing quarter of the year- the conclusive ember months, we have some cinemas waiting for us to wrap the year off in dramatic fashion. Here are a few films in the large haystack that you should be on the anticipatory lookout for;
Mami wata by CJ Obasi
A favorite at the Sundance film festival. Initially screened at the festival in January. CJ Obasi’s Mami wata is a black-and-white film that adapts West African folklore into his narrative. This is Obasi’s third feature film to make its way into Sundance. It premieres locally on September 8. At Sundance, Mami wata won the special jury prize in a dramatic competition for the film’s cinematography. The Hollywood Reporter describes it as “a vivid narrative and dynamic study in color,” and it is shaping up to be one of the best films this year.
Black Harvest by James Amuta.
James Amuta is best known for his documentary “Nightfall in Lagos’ which was nominated in 2018 at the AMVCAs for best documentary film. Amuta’s new feature descends into the perilous world of organ trafficking in Nigeria in BLACK HARVEST. it is set to debut at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) this September and has earned a nomination ahead of the festival for Best Picture: Drama.
JAGUN JAGUN by Adebayo Tijani and Femi Adebayo Salami
JAGUN JAGUN (The Warrior) is an indigenous epic directed by Adebayo Tijani and produced by Femi Adebayo Salami. This film is about a violent warlord who feels weary about the histrionics of a young warrior whose only desires in life are the power and love of a woman. It premieres on Netflix this month on the 10th of August and is shaping up to be the year’s streamer blockbuster.
I DO NOT COME TO YOU BY CHANCE by Ishaya Bako
Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani’s novel ‘I do not come to you by chance’ is getting an adaptation. Nollywood star Genevieve Nnaji is attached to the production, while Ishaya Bako (fueling poverty) is set to direct. The 2009 novel delves into the world of email/online scamming through the eyes of a desperate and disenfranchised protagonist. The film is set to premiere at TIFF this coming September.
The above movies are what to expect as we approach the final quarter of this eventful year. A lot of the aforementioned films are festival favorites with a lot of critical acclaim attached to them. We have an intriguing lineup ahead, and this feels like a win for home-grown cinema.
