Filmmaker Akin Omotoso’s latest film Vaya first premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2016 to critical praise and continued to make its rounds around the festival circuit and earned him the Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Director before landing at Ava DuVernay’s Array. The film is set for a screening tour and a simultaneous Netflix release today but none of this would have never happened because Omotoso initially wanted to be…a lawyer.
Omotoso tells Deadline with a laugh that while in school his guidance counselors said, “You like to argue a lot, so maybe you should be a lawyer, so I had this thing in my head that I was gonna be a lawyer.”
“When I look back now, I just feel like I would have been a very unhappy lawyer,” he admits.
Born in Nigeria, Omotoso moved to South Africa and despite having his...
Omotoso tells Deadline with a laugh that while in school his guidance counselors said, “You like to argue a lot, so maybe you should be a lawyer, so I had this thing in my head that I was gonna be a lawyer.”
“When I look back now, I just feel like I would have been a very unhappy lawyer,” he admits.
Born in Nigeria, Omotoso moved to South Africa and despite having his...
- 11/2/2018
- by Dino-Ray Ramos
- Deadline Film + TV
KollywoodThe film won the award, which is given based on fan votes, amidst stiff competition from movies from various other countries.Digital NativeThe Vijay starrer Mersal has won the Best Foreign Language Film at the 4th edition of the National Film Awards UK 2018. The award is given based on fan votes, it may be mentioned here. The film had stiff competition in this sector with several films from various countries, such as Happy End (France), Loveless (Russia), In the Fade (Germany/France), The Square (Sweden, Germany, France), A Fantastic Woman (Chile), Vaya (South Africa) and The Insult (Lebanon), in contention for the award. It may be mentioned here that Vijay was nominated for the Best Supporting Actor Award for the film. Directed by Atlee, Mersal is an action thriller that has Vijay playing the lead role with Kajal Aggarwal and Samantha as the female leads. The others in the star cast playing supporting roles include Sj Surya, Vadivelu and Sathyaraj. Despite facing some hurdles as it was caught up in a controversy after the Tamil Nadu unit of the Bjp demanded the removal of certain dialogues which criticised the Goods and Services Tax (Gst) and digital India, Mersal was a box office success. The film collected around Rs 251 crore worldwide, coming next only to Baahubali 2. The film performed exceptionally well overseas, especially in North America and even in countries like France and Australia. It has surpassed records held by Vishwaroopam in the Us, Kabali in the UK and is very close to breaking Enthiran’s record in Malaysia. Made on a huge budget of Rs 120 crores, the film was bankrolled by N Ramasamy, Hema Rukmani and H Murali under the banner Thenandal Studio Limited. The film also has a strong technical crew with the Oscar winning music composer Ar Rahman scoring the music, Gk Vishnu cranking the camera and Ruben editing it. Released on October 18 last year on the occasion of Deepavali, the film had a massive pre-release buzz. Mersal went on to score a century at the box office. As the news about Mersal bagging the prestigious international award came out, Vijay’s fans are elated. The star is currently busy playing the lead role in the untitled Ar Murugadoss directorial which is due to hit the silver screens on November 7 to coincide with Deepavali this year. Produced by Sun Picture’s Kalanidhi Maran, the film has Keerthy Suresh playing the female lead. (Content provided by Digital Native)...
- 4/2/2018
- by Monalisa
- The News Minute
May is arguably NYC’s best month weather-wise, so the pressure is on to take advantage of all the city’s offerings in these fleeting days of perfection. Fortunately for you, we’ve rounded up some of the best events our humble boroughs have to offer this week, including film, theater, and more! Celebrate Cinco with Mexican history.What better way to celebrate Mexican history than with Mexican artists debuting their work in the U.S. for the first time? 92 Y will hosts Dig Dance Cinco de Mayo: Mexican Choreographers from City to Mountain on May 5 (of course), celebrating the “rich, sophisticated, and earthy work of Mexican choreographers, as varied as the states from which they come.” (Tickets start at $20) Immerse yourself in African artistry.Co-presented by the Film Society of Lincoln Center and Brooklyn Academy of Music, the annual New York African Film Festival returns this week with its usual offerings of exquisite works.
- 5/5/2017
- backstage.com
Welcome back to the Weekend Warrior, your weekly look at the new movies hitting theaters this weekend, as well as other cool events and things to check out.
Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2 Kicks Off the Summer With a Sci-Fi Action-Comedy
After three weeks of dominating the box office, Universal’s The Fate of the Furious is going to have to give way to a new movie, and that’s because the first weekend of May means that it’s officially...The Summer Movie Season!!!!
Just like the last couple years, the summer movie season is kicking off with a new movie from Marvel Studios, and their sequel Guardians Of The Galaxy, Vol. 2 (Marvel Studios/Disney), reunites Chris Pratt as Starlord, Zoe Saldana as Gamora, Dave Bautista’s Drax, Michael Rooker’s Yondu with the voices of Vin Diesel and Bradley Cooper as Groot and Rocket Racoon, for the next...
Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2 Kicks Off the Summer With a Sci-Fi Action-Comedy
After three weeks of dominating the box office, Universal’s The Fate of the Furious is going to have to give way to a new movie, and that’s because the first weekend of May means that it’s officially...The Summer Movie Season!!!!
Just like the last couple years, the summer movie season is kicking off with a new movie from Marvel Studios, and their sequel Guardians Of The Galaxy, Vol. 2 (Marvel Studios/Disney), reunites Chris Pratt as Starlord, Zoe Saldana as Gamora, Dave Bautista’s Drax, Michael Rooker’s Yondu with the voices of Vin Diesel and Bradley Cooper as Groot and Rocket Racoon, for the next...
- 5/4/2017
- by Edward Douglas
- LRMonline.com
Berlin’s Panorama lineup also includes new films from Us, China and Brazil.
Berlin’s Panorama strand is now complete following the addition of 24 additional titles.
A total of 51 works from 43 countries have been chosen for screening in the section, including 21 in Panorama Dokumente and 29 feature films in the main programme and Panorama Special. 36 of these films will be getting their world premieres at the Berlinale.
The German production Tiger Girl by Jakob Lass will open this year’s edition of Panorama Special at Berlin’s Zoo Palast cinema, along with the previously announced Brazilian production Vazante.
Among newly confirmed films are UK Sundance title God’s Own Country, Luca Guadagnino’s Call Me By Your Name, Cate Shortland’s Berlin Syndrome, feminist fairy tale The Misandrists by Berlinale regular Bruce Labruce, Erik Poppe’s The King’s Choice and Belgian-French-Lebanese co-production Insyriated which stars Hiam Abbass as a woman trapped in an apartment during war.[p...
Berlin’s Panorama strand is now complete following the addition of 24 additional titles.
A total of 51 works from 43 countries have been chosen for screening in the section, including 21 in Panorama Dokumente and 29 feature films in the main programme and Panorama Special. 36 of these films will be getting their world premieres at the Berlinale.
The German production Tiger Girl by Jakob Lass will open this year’s edition of Panorama Special at Berlin’s Zoo Palast cinema, along with the previously announced Brazilian production Vazante.
Among newly confirmed films are UK Sundance title God’s Own Country, Luca Guadagnino’s Call Me By Your Name, Cate Shortland’s Berlin Syndrome, feminist fairy tale The Misandrists by Berlinale regular Bruce Labruce, Erik Poppe’s The King’s Choice and Belgian-French-Lebanese co-production Insyriated which stars Hiam Abbass as a woman trapped in an apartment during war.[p...
- 1/25/2017
- by andreas.wiseman@screendaily.com (Andreas Wiseman)
- ScreenDaily
South Africa's Akin Omotoso is on something of a hot streak. Already a well known and respected actor seen in titles such as Blood Diamond, Shake Hands With The Devil and Lord Of War, Omotoso came to international attention as a director with 2011 drama Man On Ground. Omotoso has kept busy on both sides of the camera since then, scoring a huge local boxoffice hit with romcom Tell Me Sweet Something and is now back on the international festival circuit with his latest directorial effort Vaya, due to have its World Premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival. Nhlanhla has no money to pay for his girlfriend’s dowry. His problems seem to be solved when his cousin Xolani, from the big city tells him...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
- 8/17/2016
- Screen Anarchy
Nigerian metropolis Lagos is the focus of the eighth City To City showcase at the Toronto International Film Festival (Tiff) as top brass anoint two international Rising Stars.
Tiff’s latest line-up announcement also featured extra selections in Galas and Special Presentations, among them Walter Hill’s (Re)Assignment, Philippe Falardeau’s The Bleeder, David Leveaux’ The Exception (pictured), Ken Loach’s Palme d’Or winner I, Daniel Blake and Terry George’s drama The Promise.
A vibrant crop of Contemporary World Cinema entries includes Kleber Mendonça Filho’s Aquarius, Danis Tanović’s Death In Sarajevo, Marie Noëlle’s Marie Curie, The Courage Of Knowledge and Akin Omotoso’s Vaya.
Hirokazu Kore-eda brings After The Storm to the Masters showcase, alongside Marco Bellocchio’s Sweet Dreams, Pedro Almodóvar’s Julieta, Cristian Mungiu’s Graduation, Gianfranco Rosi’s Berlin Golden Bear winner Fire At Sea and Adoor Gopalakrishnan’s Once Again.
Rounding out the...
Tiff’s latest line-up announcement also featured extra selections in Galas and Special Presentations, among them Walter Hill’s (Re)Assignment, Philippe Falardeau’s The Bleeder, David Leveaux’ The Exception (pictured), Ken Loach’s Palme d’Or winner I, Daniel Blake and Terry George’s drama The Promise.
A vibrant crop of Contemporary World Cinema entries includes Kleber Mendonça Filho’s Aquarius, Danis Tanović’s Death In Sarajevo, Marie Noëlle’s Marie Curie, The Courage Of Knowledge and Akin Omotoso’s Vaya.
Hirokazu Kore-eda brings After The Storm to the Masters showcase, alongside Marco Bellocchio’s Sweet Dreams, Pedro Almodóvar’s Julieta, Cristian Mungiu’s Graduation, Gianfranco Rosi’s Berlin Golden Bear winner Fire At Sea and Adoor Gopalakrishnan’s Once Again.
Rounding out the...
- 8/16/2016
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
Nigerian capital Lagos is the focus of the eighth City To City showcase at the Toronto International Film Festival (Tiff) as top brass anoint two international Rising Stars.
Tiff’s latest line-up announcement also featured extra selections in Galas and Special Presentations, among them Walter Hill’s (Re)Assignment, Philippe Falardeau’s The Bleeder, David Leveaux’ The Exception (pictured), Ken Loach’s Palme d’Or winner I, Daniel Blake and Terry George’s drama The Promise.
A vibrant crop of Contemporary World Cinema entries includes Kleber Mendonça Filho’s Aquarius, Danis Tanović’s Death In Sarajevo, Marie Noëlle’s Marie Curie, The Courage Of Knowledge and Akin Omotoso’s Vaya.
Hirokazu Kore-eda brings After The Storm to the Masters showcase, alongside Marco Bellocchio’s Sweet Dreams, Pedro Almodóvar’s Julieta, Cristian Mungiu’s Graduation, Gianfranco Rosi’s Berlin Golden Bear winner Fire At Sea and Adoor Gopalakrishnan’s Once Again.
Rounding out the...
Tiff’s latest line-up announcement also featured extra selections in Galas and Special Presentations, among them Walter Hill’s (Re)Assignment, Philippe Falardeau’s The Bleeder, David Leveaux’ The Exception (pictured), Ken Loach’s Palme d’Or winner I, Daniel Blake and Terry George’s drama The Promise.
A vibrant crop of Contemporary World Cinema entries includes Kleber Mendonça Filho’s Aquarius, Danis Tanović’s Death In Sarajevo, Marie Noëlle’s Marie Curie, The Courage Of Knowledge and Akin Omotoso’s Vaya.
Hirokazu Kore-eda brings After The Storm to the Masters showcase, alongside Marco Bellocchio’s Sweet Dreams, Pedro Almodóvar’s Julieta, Cristian Mungiu’s Graduation, Gianfranco Rosi’s Berlin Golden Bear winner Fire At Sea and Adoor Gopalakrishnan’s Once Again.
Rounding out the...
- 8/16/2016
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
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