Weeks, after it was announced for this year’s MOOOV Film Festival in Belgium, the Nigerian feature film, Eyimofe (This is my desire), has been selected for the 2021 edition of Cinémas d’Afrique Festival in France. Eyimofe, which will have its Nigerian cinematic release on April 23, will be at the festival alongside other films such as Aza Kivy, As long as we live, Awel Ayta, and Brotherhood.
Cinémas et Cultures d’Afrique, organisers of the festival, is a non-profit association created in 1992. It is the heir to the Tohu Bohu association created in 1987. Taking place every two years in Angers in the spring, Cinémas d’Afrique is a story of the heart of Africa; a desire to communicate this curiosity for a vast continent full of human and artistic riches.
The association is also interested in the issue of film distribution in Africa, in conjunction with cinema professionals from the continent.
From November 2009 to April 2011, the association participated in the establishment of a network connecting professionals in West Africa: the Film Afrique Réseau. This project, entitled ‘the creation of a network of distributors and broadcasters in Burkina Faso, Mali, Senegal and France’, was put together with the help of the ACP Films programme.
Throughout the year, the association organises lectures to learn more about the different cultures of Africa, as well as courses for professionals from the fields of education and social work.
Set in Lagos, Nigeria, Eyimofe, winner of the Torino International Film Festival’s Achille Valdata Award in Italy, is a two-chapter film that follows the stories of Mofe (Jude Akuwudike), a factory technician, and Rosa (Temi Ami-Williams), a hairdresser, on their quest for what they believe will be a better life on foreign Shores.
Presented by GDN Studios, directed by twin brothers, Arie and Chuko Esiri, and produced by Melissa Adeyemo, the film was funded entirely in Nigeria, shot on 16mm, and filmed across 48 locations in Lagos. Executive Producers include Maiden Alex Ibru, Toke Alex Ibru, Olorogun Oskar Ibru, Kayode Akindele, and Ifeoma Esiri.
Since its world premiere at the Berlin International Film Festival last year, Eyimofe has been selected for different international festivals, including Indie Lisboa International Film Festival in Portugal, BFI London Film Festival in the UK, Mostra Sao Paolo International Film Festival in Brazil, Cinecitta International Film Festival (CIFF) in the Netherlands, Valladolid International Film Festival in Spain, The Viennale in Austria, GRAMNet Film Series in Scotland and Sharjah Film Platform festival in UAE.
Other festivals include Vancouver International Film Festival in Canada, AFI Film Festival in the USA, Thessaloniki International Film Festival in Greece, New Horizons International Film Festival in Poland, Torino Film Festival in Italy, Hainan Island International Film Festival (HIFF) in China, and Cairo International Film Festival (CIFF) in Egypt.
With the recent festival selections in France, India, and Switzerland, Eyimofe has now been exposed to festival audiences in 20 countries – representing Nigeria everywhere it travels to. For more information, please visit: www.eyimofe.film / www.gdnstudios.ng
