“I am elated to work with Jimmy again. He is a very passionate person who is also very interested in seeing the right kind of stories told. We are always on the same page, and I am looking forward to what we are going to put out together,” said Djansi.

‘Sinking Sands’ is a psychological drama about a couple, Jimah (Jean-Louis) and Pabi (Ama K. Abebrese) in a loving marriage which turns into one of violence and abuse when Jimah becomes disfigured in a domestic accident.

“I am fascinated by the character I am to portray. It gives me an opportunity to step outside myself and to somehow understand what it means to have a physical flaw and be judged based on that. I think this is going to be very exciting and worthwhile,” explains Jean-Louis.

“The story is one that deals with some tough issues without sugar coating, and I am delighted to work with Jimmy Jean-Louis. I have always admired his work,” said an excited Abebrese, who is making her acting debut in an international feature.

Jean-Louis has had a successful career as an international model and actor. Early in his career he honed his acting skills in a number of independent films, which led to him landing a supporting role in Jean Claude Van Damme’s “Derailed” which set the stage for subsequent roles with other Hollywood notables. He went on to secure major roles in “Tears of the Sun” (Columbia Pictures, 2003) with Bruce Willis and Monica Belluci, “Hollywood Homicide” (Revolution Studios, 2003) with Harrison Ford and Josh Hartnet, “Monster-in-law” (New Line Cinema, 2005) with Jane Fonda and Jennifer Lopez and “The Game of Our Lives” (IFC Films 205) with Patrick Stewart, Wes Bentley and Gerard Butler. He played the lead role in “Phat Girlz” ((Fox Searchlight Pictures, 2006), starring opposite Academy Award winner Mo’Nique as her love interest. Currently playing The Haitian on NBC’s “Heroes,” Jean-Louis is also the founder of Hollywood Unites for Haiti, a nonprofit organization dedicated to exposing and educating underprivileged youth of Haiti to the arts and sports, and is concentrating his efforts on Haiti after the devastating earthquakes.

British-Ghanaian TV hostess and actress Ama K. Abebrese was a presenter on BBC2’s youth show “Pass da Mic” and the English File educational series. She is currently a regular TV presenter on OBE TV, hosting and producing on a number of shows including “One Touch” and the entertainment chat show “On the Sofa.”

Casting for other roles is ongoing according to the film’s producer, Nick Manousakis, who projects a late fall release through Neoclassic Films Studios new home entertainment division, NHE.

‘Checkmate’ revolves around a young man, Kwame who has made all the right moves in his life; a good job, a beautiful devoted wife, an adorable child, and an impending promotion as a senior customs officer at the airport. But what seems like a typical guys’ hangout on a weekend away from home in the company of his new friend and mentor, Kiki turns out to be a bad move with dire consequences for Kwame. After losing a game of Chess, he succumbs to a bet to seduce the attractive, sexy Caroline.

The consequence of his dirty forgotten weekend later pops up threatening to destroy everything he so dearly loves. But the games only begin when he realizes that Caroline’s demand for his love is nothing compared to the demands of a drug lord who will do anything to get Kwame’s assistance in smuggling drugs out of the country. With his entire life hanging on a thread, Kwame must try to win the game or risk losing everything.

‘Checkmate’ promises to thrill viewers with its suspense-filled plot, clever use of audiovisuals and a gratifying interpretation of characters by an impressive cast of both new and old faces.

It is written and directed by Shirley Frimpong-Manso, starring Nadia Buari, K.S.M, Ekow Blankson, Naa Ashorkor and introducing Senanu Gbedawo.

The premiere will be a classic Hollywood experience as the cast comprising African King of Comedy, Michael Blackson from BET comedy and Ice Cube’s ‘Barbershop’, Aloma Wright from ‘Scrubs’ and ‘Days Of Our Lives’, Hakeem Kae Kazim, cast member of the Oscar winning movie ‘Hotel Rwanda’ with Don Cheadle and also of the new TV series ‘24’ appear on the red carpet event.

‘My American Nurse II’ was shot in Los Angeles, retaining only 3 of the characters from part one – Pascal Atumi, Vida Darko (Veeda) and Oscar Atuma. In ‘American Nurse I’, a Nigerian man living in the US decides to ‘file papers’ for a woman from his homeland to join him as his wife, little did he know, his ‘American Nurse’ wife was going to clinch to the American culture. Thanks to Hollywood, filmmaker/writer/ producer, Pascal Atuma, audiences can now watch ‘My American Nurse II’ and enjoy the humour and life lessons in it.

‘My American Nurse 2’ is a classic comedy movie that chronicles the experiences of a Nigerian cab driver in Los Angeles, Shehu (Pascal Atuma) who has had less than stellar luck with women. Frustration sets in and Shehu gives up the idea of dating American women and travels home to Nigeria to find himself a wife (Vida Darko). His plan is to find a nurse that he can bring to the U.S. to become certified so that she can make enough money to pull her own weight. His wife, on the other hand, has other plans and proves to be quite a handful for her unsuspecting husband with her newfound American identity. “My American Nurse 2″ is a humorous yet serious look at the life of an immigrant in America. Sanga Entertainment, New York is set to mainstream the distribution of the movie again worldwide.

With the rave success of My American Nurse I among Africans among in Canada, USA, UK, Scotland and more, Pascal Atuma who has been described as the Tyler Perry of Africa says, “I feel privileged and very grateful to God almighty for the opportunity to get a chance to do this again, and to be challenged by other people with their own money and resources to beat my own work as I tried to outdo myself. It is a blessing from God, and I think I gave it all that I have, I did my very best, and hopefully, by Gods grace, a lot of people will be entertained and impressed, to God be the glory”.

Hosts Kat and Segun Arinze

Stakeholders of the African movie industry were on tenterhooks on March 6, as all attention shifted to Accra, Ghana for the announcement of nominees for the 2010 Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA). The glitzy nominations party brought together some of the crème in the industry from all over Africa to celebrate the growth of African movies in the past year and to observe which movies, actors and technical players were deemed fit by the Academy for laurels this year.

Among the tall list of stars that passed through the night were, Majid Michel, Adjetey Anang, Osita Iheme, Akintola Abimbola Mary-Anne, Amijo Mofe Richard, Ali Nuhu, Rita Dominic, Jackie Appiah, Lydia Forson and several others. View Photos

The night commenced with a Red Carpet hosted by the MCs for the event, Nollywood actor, Segun Arinze and broadcaster/presenter Kat. After the elaborate red carpet affair that saw magnificent interviews, photography and fashion, it was time for the main event which was interspersed with speeches and solidarity messages from the likes of Hannah Tetteh, Minister of Trade and Industry as well as a representative of the Governor of Bayelsa State. There were also musical performances by Ben Brako, Shariffa Gunu, Edge and J Martins,as well as a fashion show by Exotique Modeling Agency.

left: Actress brenda osei

The first batch of nominees announced raised some concerns for the Ghanaian audiences when there was no mention of any of the 18 entries from Ghana. However, at the turn of the night Ghana came out tops with 11 nominations for ‘I Sing of a well’, 8 for ‘Perfect Picture’, 3 for ‘A Sting in A tale’ and 5 for ‘Heart of Men’. Nigeria’s ‘Figurine’ also had a strong showing with 9 nominations. The main awards ceremony will be held in Bayelsa State, Nigeria on April 10.

Here is the full list of nominees:

BEST DOCUMENTARY
1. Wanba Ngoma (Tanzania)
2. Peace Wanted Alive (Kenya)
3. Bariga Boys(Nigeria)
4. En quette d’identite (Burkina Faso)
5. Innovating for Africa (Nigeria)

Akorfa Asiedu nominated for Best Actress (Soraya in I sing of a well)

BEST SHORT FILM
1. Mahala – (Mozambique)
2. The Abbys Boys –(South Africa)
3. The Painter – (Uganda)
4. Suara La – (Nigeria)
5. The Camera (Nigeria)

BEST ANIMATION
1. Hanayns Shoe (Egypt)
2. Adventure of Alayo (Nigeria)
3. Zoodo – (Burkina Faso)
4. Lyrics – (Algeria)
5. One Step of Love (Algeria)

BEST FILM BY AN AFRICAN FILMMAKER IN DIASPORA

1. Soul Diaspora
2. Okra Principle
3. China Wahala
4. Crunch

BEST FILM IN AFRICAN LANGUAGE
1. Omo Iya Kan – (Nigeria)
2. Aldeweden – (Ethiopia)
3. Togetherness Supreme – (Kenya)
4. Imani – (Uganda)
5. Game of my life – (South Africa)

HEART OF AFRICA AWARD FOR BEST FILM FROM NIGERIA
1. Nnenda by Izu Ojukwu
2. Freedom in Chain by Bond Emeruwa and Fred Amata
3. The Child by Izu Ojukwu
4. Figurine by Kunle Afolayan
5. High Blood Pressure by Teco Benson

AMAA ACHIEVEMENT IN SOUND
1. The Tenant
2. Season of a life
3. Perfect Picture
4. I sing of a well
5. Soul Diaspora

AMAA ACHIEVEMENT IN EDITING
1. Season of a life
2. The Child
3. Perfect Picture
4. Heart of Men
5. Lilies of the Ghetto

AMAA ACHIEVEMENT IN ART DIRECTION
1. I sing of a well
2. Fulani
3. The Child
4. Figurine
5. Imani

AMAA ACHIEVEMENT IN MAKE-UP

1. Heart of Men
2. The Child
3. The King is Mine
4. I sing of a well
5. Fulani

AMAA ACHIEVEMENT IN COSTUME
1. Perfect Picture
2. Prince’s bride
3. The Child
4. I sing of a well
5. Lilies of the Ghetto

AMAA ACHIEVEMENT IN VISUAL EFFECT
1. The Child
2. Figurine
3. A sting in a tale
4. Fulani
5. Heart of Men

Best ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK
1. Seasons of a life
2. Imani
3. A sting in a tale
4. The Child
5. Figurine

BEST PERFORMANCE BY A CHILD ACTOR
1. Teddy Onyago and Bill Oloo- Togetherness Supreme
2. Tobi Oboli – The Figurine
3. Feyisola Ewulomi – Champions of our Time
4. Treasure Obasi – Champions of our Time
5. Mfanafuthi Magudulela – Game of my life

MOST PROMISING ACTRESS
1. Martha Kisaka – Togetherness Supreme
2. Chelsea Eze – Silent Scandal
3. Martha Ankomah – Sins of the Soul
4. Ashionye Michelle Ugboh- Jungle Ride
5. Rahema Nanfuka – Imani

MOST PROMISING ACTOR

1. Wilson Maina – Togetherness Supreme (Kenya)
2. Wale Ojo – The Child (Nigeria)
3. John Dumelo – Heart of men (Ghana)
4. Pethro Tumba Mbole – A game of my life (South Africa)
5. Sunny Chikezie – Lilies of the Ghetto (Nigeria)

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
1. Godwin Kotey- I sing of a well
2. Francis Duru – Nnenda
3. Yemi Blaq – High Blood Pressure
4. Adjatey Anang – The Perfect Picture

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
1. Doris Sakitey – A sting in a Tale
2. Funlola Aoifeyebi-Raimi – Figurine
3. Tapiwa Gwaza – Seasons of a life
4. Yvonne Nelson – Heart of Men

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE
1. Bimbo Akintola- Freedom in Chains
2. Jackie Apia, Lydia Farson and Naa Ashoku Mensa-Doku – The Perfect Picture
3. Stephanie Okereke- Nnenda
4. Flora Suya – Season of a life
5. Akofa Edjeani Asiedu – I sing of a well

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE
1. Lucky Ejim – The Tenant
2. Majid Michael – Sin of a soul
3. Ramsey Noah – The Figurine
4. Odera Ozoka – Soul Diaspora
5. John Osie Tutu Agyeman – I Sing of a well

BEST SCREENPLAY
1. Season of a life
2. The Tenant
3. Freedom In chains
4. Guilty Pleasure
5. I sing of a well

AMAA ACHIEVEMENT IN CINEMATOGRAPHY
1. The Perfect Picture
2. Figurine
3. I sing of a well
4. The Child
5. The Tenant

BEST PICTURE
1. Seasons of a life (Malawi)
2. The tenant (Nigeria)
3. The Perfect Picture (Ghana)
4. The Figurine (Nigeria)
5. I sing of a well (Ghana)

BEST DIRECTOR
1. Shemu Joyah- Seasons of a life
2. Shirley Frimpong-Manso- The Perfect Picture
3. Kunle Afolayan – Figurine
4. Leila Jewel Djansi – I sing of a well
5. Jude Idada and Lucky Ejim – The Tenant

Also nominated is Morgan Freeman for “Best Actor” and “Matt Damon for “Best Supporting Actor”  in the movie, “Invictus”. Also not forgetting Gabourey Sidibe’s nomination for “Best Leading Actress” in Precious, a movie based on the novel  ’Push’ by Sapphire.

The 2010 82nd Oscar Award Ceremony is scheduled to air Sunday, March 7, 2010. For more on the nominees log on to www.oscars.com .

Wanuri Kahiu

 The film shows a world after World War III, the ‘Water War’, where everyone is stuck in an enclosed community with their movements and thoughts closely monitored. An East African woman dares to defy the odds and flee the community in the hopes of re-establishing and restoring life outside the confines of the walls. 

Pumzi will be showing at the Sundance Festival from January 22-30, 2010 and was one of 200 films picked for exhibition from 9,000 submissions.  For details  and programming information, visit the Sundance Festival website.

Hakeem Kae-Kazim

Hollywood actor Hakeem Kae-Kazim rose to fame playing George Rutuganda opposite Don Cheadle in the oscar nominated ‘Hotel Rwanda’.  It wasn’t long before he played in amazing films like ‘The Librarian’, ‘King Soloman’s Mines‘ and the family favourite ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ and the hit TV show ‘24’.  This award-winning actor was ecstatic to be filming in the country of his birth, for the first time in his life.

Hakeem stars in the Nigerian film ‘Inale’, with Jeta Amata (Amazing Grace, Alexa Affair, Queen) directing this wonderful story.  The film is set to the music of the RENOWNED Bongos Ikwue and features songs from his past present and future. The story features an Idoma princess called Inale, who is said to have married the prize winner of a wrestling match and is played by Hollywood actress Caroline Chikezie (Aeon Flux),

Hakeem Kae-Kazim will be back in Nigeria very soon to film another story with the same director and production team.  With his aim of raising the bar of Nigerian movies and to make it’s presence really felt on the world stage, his face will stay familiar both on a local and international level.

“It is an exciting time in the Nigerian film industry I believe we are on the cusp of telling the African story from the African perspective on an international level, we have so many  untold stories  I want to be at the forefront of getting them out to our  people and to an international market”. Hakeem Kae-Kazim

Say grace before drowning trailer Is a trailer by writer and director Nikyatsu Jusu. “After meeting her African Refugee mother for the first time in six years, 8 year old Hawa is forced to coexist with a woman teetering on the brink of insanity”. The trailer stars Ellie Foumbi, Ebbe Bassey, Dennise Gregory and Hisham Tawfiq.

Nikyatu Jusu is one of Africa’s most talented film maker who is also responsible for past films like ” YOUTHENASIA” and “African booty scratcher.

For more on Nikyatu Jusu and her work please visit: ww.w.nikyatu.com nikyatu.wordpress.com

Fela

This Lagos nightclub on a New York City Stage is filled with authentic African décor, beautiful men and woman dancing to the Afro-beat rhythms and the spirit of the ancestors. As an audience member you are immediately pulled in and engaged by the star of the show, Sahr Ngaujah, a first generation Sierra Leonean who plays Fela Kuti on most shows. His stellar one-man band performance accompanied by the dynamic choreography of his dancers educates, enlightens and highlights poignant periods of Fela’s life as a legendary artist, revolutionary and political activist.

Fela is recognized as a hero to many although in western culture the genre of Afro-beat music has never become mainstream. His political activism through his music remains unknown to the general American public. Since the star-studded grand opening on Monday, November 23rd of this African masterpiece, many theater critics have given unfavorable reviews as a result of expecting more of a detailed biopic storyline of the true essence of Fela’s life. Well, everyone is entitled to their opinion and, as I watched the audience shake their hips, dance in their seats and chant with the music, the true critics have spoken and the hard work of Tony Award winner director/choreographer Bill T. Jones, and producers Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter, and Will & Jada Pinkett Smith has paid off. This show is simply powerful and an honor to African music. Welcome na de Shrine and to Fela’s legacy.

The Darrell J. Roodt, Paul L. Johnson and Andre Pieterse  film is based on a biography written by Anne Marie du Preez Bezdrob .Production is set to take place May 2010, in Robben Island where South Africa’s first black president was held. The film will mostly capture the 72 year old’s  journey during apartheid, from all her falls and rises.

Jennifer Hudson was released a statement saying that ” I was compelled and moved when I read the script, Winnie Mandela is a complex and extraordinary woman and I’m honored to be chosen to portray her. This is a powerful part of history that should be told”.