London’s BFI hosts a three day programme of new Nigerian cinema
Head to the British Film Institute (BFI) Southbank this weekend for its celebration of Nigerian cinema. Part of its Black Star season and curated by Nadia Denton, Beyond Nollywood focuses on the new generation of filmmakers making art house, documentary, animation, diaspora and experimental features that go beyond the clichés of Nollywood.
Three days of programming kicks off with the European premiere of Abba T Makama’s coming of age flick Green White Green: And All the Beautiful Colours in My Mosaic of Madness. “The film is an honest and entertaining mirror of Nigeria's soul bared,” says Denton, who is the author of The Nigerian Filmmaker’s Guide to Success: Beyond Nollywood. “We’re showcasing dynamic work emerging from the Nigerian film space by filmmakers who are making content that helps us to see Africa through a different lens. In the selection of films being shown we get Nigerian narratives that have international cross-over appeal.”
Other highlights promise to be the critically acclaimed Lagos music documentary Faaji Agba (read our full feature on this film here) including a Q&A with director Remi Vaughan-Richards and a talk with award-winning actress Nse Ikpe-Etim. There will also be screenings of 14 short films including Top Oshin’s The Women of Nollywood: Amaka’s Kin, an examination of female directors in Nigeria including the legendary Amaka Igwe; Buki Bodunrin’s futuristic animation The Golden Chain and Udoka Oyeka’s No Good Turn, which delves into the terrorist threat of Boko Haram.
Beyond Nollywood runs from 18 to 20 November at BFI Southbank, London
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