Screen
favourites Desmond Elliot, Richard Mofe-Damijo, Patience Ozokwor and
Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde have been named alongside renowned movie director
Tunde Kelani in a list of
32 of the most influential figures in the Nigerian movie industry
released by top entertainment news website TheNETng ahead of the fourth
edition of the Nigerian Entertainment Conference (NECLive) holding on Wednesday 20 April, 2016.
Tunde Kelani
Cinematographer,
CEO Mainframe Films
Globally
recognised as a leader of Nollywood, cinematographer Tunde Kelani has seen
stars come and go. He’s also made many stars and big hits.
But what
ensures longevity for him and his Mainframe studios, is a rather rare
connection with underdogs; a passion for inserting anonymous characters into
leading roles and changing their careers forever.
Plus, he
brings fading cultural stories into the contemporary space, making films out of
independence era literature, and preferring to trade in his native Yoruba.
Kunle Afolayan, himself a
bonafide leader of the new school will tell anyone who cares to listen, that
Kelani is his mentor and master. He’s not alone.
Emem Isong
Producer,
scriptwriter
This Akwa
Ibom-born movie producer is one of the most respected people in Nollywood.
Beginning her career in 1994, she has excelled in writing and producing. With
provoking and well thought-out plots, she has earned her place in Nollywood as
one of the best screen writers.
Isong holds a
Bachelor of Arts degree in Theatre Arts from the University of Calabar and a
diploma in computer science from the Computer Science Institute (NCR).
She runs a
film school, Royal Arts Academy, with which she has discovered young actors who
are now giving the established ones a run for their money.
Richard Mofe
Damijo
Actor
Currently on
vacation from politics, Richard Mofe-Damijo is working the phones, hoping to
get busy with Nollywood again. But he hasn’t had to call much. His number has
not stopped ringing since he announced his return. Since he discovered how to
use Instagram. Since he decided to keep his beard. The grandfather has been a
sex symbol for almost three decades; a charmer for even much longer. He’s the
actor other actors want to be like; the brand corporate Nigeria want but can’t
have.
It’ll take a
while for anyone to come close.
Kunle
Afolayan
Filmmaker/actor
Now on his
fourth film, Afolayan, the son of a film icon, is perhaps the most remarkable
name in Nigeria’s contemporary film industry. While still struggling with
funds, he’s succeeded where many have failed. And, as his local and
international awards will show, he’s plotting a new path for an industry stuck
in an era that has passed. Like Kelani, he’s choosy about his stories, finicky
about his actors, and ambitious with his projects. If ‘New Nollywood’ was a
thing, he’ll be the one running the show.
Genevieve
Nnaji
Actress
Genevieve does
not do as much public charity work as Omotola, her long time archrival. She
doesn’t do as many movies as Mercy Johnson, Stephanie Okereke or Funke
Akindele. But she is regarded globally as Nollywood’s leading female super
star, with a brand apparently bigger than most of her colleagues put together.
Careful about her image, and almost snobbish about associations, she’s one of
the few Nollywood actresses you may never encounter face-to-face.
She spent
2015 repositioning as an executive, with the success of her debut film, Road to
Yesterday. It remains whether she will cross into waiting markets in Europe and
America. But it shouldn’t matter, if she continues to have nearly 20 million
young Nigerians in her palms.
Ibinabo
Fiberesima
Actress, AGN
president
The Rivers
State-born actress is the first female to lead the Actors’ Guild of Nigeria
(AGN). Ibinabo wields uncommon influence and power among Nollywood
practitioners. Having done very well being at the helm of Actors Guild of
Nigeria for four years, Ibinabo was re-elected AGN president last year.
Omotola
Jalade-Ekeinde
Actress
Talented,
charming and graceful are perhaps the words that best describe Omotola
Jalade-Ekeinde, popularly known as ‘Omo Sexy’. The Lagos-born star, who hails
from Ondo State, made her debut in Nollywood in 1995. Since then, she has acted
in about 200 movies and has endeared herself to producers and marketers. Her
star power has seen her snag numerous endorsement deals and even a listing by
Time Magazine as one of the 100 most influential people in the world, along
with the likes of Michelle Obama, Beyonce and Kate Middleton.
Actor,
producer and director
It is
difficult to mention any actor that is as popular as Odunlade Adekola in
Nollywood let alone a more prominent name in the Yoruba section of the movie
industry in Nigeria. So adored by lovers of Yoruba movies in Nigeria and beyond
is the tall actor and producer that the risk of exaggeration is remote if one
begins to pour the water of superlatives on him. To put it as it is, Odunlade
Adekola is the biggest Yoruba actor at the moment and indeed the most prominent
brand that section of Nollywood has had for a while. The Glo ambassador is
easily in the frontline when any compilation of the list of those dictating the
pace of the Yoruba movie industry is compiled.
Dele Odule
Actor and
TAMPPAN president
It’s not for
nothing that he’s appointed the president of the new guild of the new Yoruba
actors guild, Theatre and Motion Picture Practitioners of Nigeria
(TAMPPAN). The Ogun-state born actor has paid his dues. He came into acting 30
years ago, under the supervision of the late Mukaila Adebisi, the manager of
Oloko theatre group where he was trained. His artistic career was influenced by
the late Theatre Arts professional, Dele Ogunsanya with whom he
worked after his training. He made his debut in between 1985 and 1986 coming
into limelight in many movies, particularly Ti Oluwa Ni Le produced in 1995.
Femi Adebayo
Actor/producer
Femi Adebayo,
son of legendary actor, Adebayo Salami popularly known as Oga Bello has gone
from living under the shadow of his father to carving a niche for himself in
the movie industry, especially in the Yoruba sect. The Jelili actor began
acting in 1995, the same year he featured in a Tade Ogidan’s movie titled Owo
Blow.
Femi, who won
two awards- 2015 ZAFAA and Afro-Heritage Broadcasting & Entertainment
Awards (AHBEA), two months ago, produced and featured in several hit movies
this year.
The
lawyer-turned actor cum producer owns a movie academy name J-15 School of
Dramatic Arts based in Ibadan.
Actress/Producer
Toyin is one
of the highest paid Yoruba actresses on the continent. An interpreter of roles
whose talent is never in doubt, Toyin has garnered many fans over the years
with her acting skill and good look. She began acting in 2003, when Bukky
Wright, a Nigerian film actress, visited Ibadan to shoot a movie. She’s known
for blockbuster movies like Alakada, Eta Oko, Iku Doro among others. She’s now
built a solid image and following that put her firmly in a position to lead the
thousands of actors unsure of how to play in a terribly fragmented ssytem.
Razak
Abdullahi
CEO Corporate
Pictures
He’s one of
the people who call the shots in the Yoruba movie industry. He owns a
successful movie marketing outfit, Corporate Pictures and his company has
backed several blockbusters. Nearly all films from his stable have won or been
nominated for major film industry awards. A veteran by every definition, he’s
not just a money man. Those who know him confirm he’s an ideas man, a deals
broker, and passionate investor.
Muyiwa
Ademola
Actor,
producer and director
A talented
actor cum producer, Muyiwa Ademola is a favourite star and TV face of millions
of Nigerians. Any movie he features in is always a delight to watch due to his
touch of professionalism and diction. He is mostly known for Ile (2009), Igi
Owo (2007) and Orí (2004).
Actor, producer,
director
Elliot, who
is now a member of Lagos State House of Assembly, is one of the prominent
actors in Nollywood. Also a producer and director, the Lagos state born actor
has produced several blockbusters under his production company Denziot Productions.
He is involved in public relations projects for the Nigerian telecoms giant,
Globacom, and is said to be one of Nigeria richest Nollywood actors, making his
money from acting, directing, endorsements and advertising.
Charles Novia
Filmmaker,
Actor, Writer
He has been a
strong pillar in the Nollywood industry. Charles, who is popularly known as Mr.
November, has been a major force in both the movie and music industry in
Nigeria over the past 15 years, churning out lots of hit movies such as The Bridesmaid,
Real Love, Missing Angel, More Than Sisters, You Broke My Heart, A Christmas
Passion and recently Alan Poza.
Besides
making good movies, Charles Novia has also helped in discovering lots of A-list
stars in the movie and music industry. They include Desmond Elliot, Grace Amah,
Empress Njamah, Caroline Ekanem Danjuma, among others.
He also
helped in re-engineering the careers of many artistes like Stella Damasus, Kate
Henshaw-Nuttal and a host of others, who he reintroduced to stardom through his
movies and November Records music label, which was home to Majek Fashek, whose
last album Little Patience, was executively produced by Charles Novia and sold
over a million copies.
He hasn’t
done much work in recent times, but he continues to be a powerful voice, using
his blog to shape thoughts and perspectives.
Actress
Patience
Ozokwor has perfected the art of playing the role of a villain especially the
wicked mother-in-law, so much so that many people (wrongly) assume that that
the characterisation mirrors her real life persona. The movie star, who is from
Enugu State, is also a singer, brand ambassador and businesswoman with
investments in real estate.
Emeka Mba
DG NBC
A former
Regulatory Affairs Manager at Multichoice Nigeria and Director General of the
Nigerian Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB), Mba is currently the honcho of
the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission. Soft spoken Mba’s popularity amongst
broadcasting stakeholders has remained on the rise with his digitisation
project and the restructuring to ensure strict adherence to NBC’s rules and
regulations. Under his administration, the NBC celebrated its 20th anniversary
with a showcase of landslide achievements.
Lancelot
Imasuen
Filmmaker
This Edo
state-born producer and director may well be reckoned as the first Nollywood
director to shoot a film in Hollywood, with a $200, 000 non-union budget film
titled, ‘Friendly Enemy’. He has also done quite a number of movies outside the
country: Zero your mind – which was shot in Berlin, Saving the Crown, Home and
Abroad, Seed of seduction, Windstorm and Adakhanva, which he did in his native
language.
Lancelot is
referred to as a star director in Nollywood because of his ability of getting
the best out of any actor he works with on set and he has received numerous
awards for his excellence in his profession.
Chris Ihidero
Film
producer, writer
With an
authoritative voice and calm demeanor, this movie producer has grown into one
of the most respected figures in modern Nollywood. Chris has directed
about 100 hours of television drama, including Fuji House of Commotion, Tempest
and Now we are Married.
He recently
produced the 4th series of the ground-breaking HIV and behavioural change
focused drama series, MTVShuga.
Protégé of
revered Nigerian filmmaker Amaka Igwe for 8 years, Chris was
responsible for managing the production services at Amaka Igwe Studios (AIS)
including training of creative professionals at the Centre for Excellence in
Film & Media Studies, the training arm of AIS.
He is the
founder of True Nollywood Stories, and Pin Point Media.
Seun
Oloketuyi
Journalist,
Founder BON awards
A popular
entertainment Journalist, Seun Oloketuyi is the founder of Best of Nollywood
Awards (stylized as BON Awards), an annual awards ceremony that has been
honouring outstanding achievements in the Nigerian Movie Industry.
Seun
Oloketuyi is also the publisher of Best of Nollywood Magazine, a journal that
focuses on happenings in Nollywood
Joke Silva
Actress
A Unilag
graduate, she has featured in over 300 Nigerian movies. She is most popular for
movies like Phone Swap, The Secret Laughter of Women and Last Wedding and also
as one of the Faculty members on the MTN Project Fame.
Joke Silva is
married to another equally influential actor Olu Jacobs. She teaches and speaks
regularly, owing to her passion for capacity building.
Peace Ayim
Osigwe
AMAA Founder
The brain
behind arguably Africa’s most recognized and respected awards for movie
practitioners on the continent, Peace Anyiam-Osigwe stands tall among
visionaries who have given their all to the growth and development of the movie
industry in Nigeria. Having run one of the biggest awards in the movie industry
for ten years now, Peace has rewarded, promoted and built the industry in a
remarkable way.
Dakore
Egbuson
Actress
She went off
the scene when she newly got married, but she is now back to reclaim her spot
as one of the leading actresses in Nigeria. Dakore has appeared in many classic
movies, including recently released ‘Fifty,’ Caught In the Middle, Lunch Time
Heroes, Peace of Flesh among others. Some say she (and her husband Lou, son of
billionaire Harry Akande) may be silent investors and backers in an industry
that rarely attracts private sector funding.
Jason Njoku
CEO iROKOtv
Jason
Chukwuma Njoku is a British-born Nigerian entrepreneur, film magnate and
African start-up investor. He is the founder and CEO of iROKOtv, one of the
early video-on-demand movie platforms for Nigerian movies
A
self-proclaimed serial entrepreneur, iROKOtv is Njoku’s 11th attempt at
starting a business. He came up with the idea of launching a new distribution
platform for Nollywood whilst living at home with his mum, aged 30, after a
number of failed enterprises.
Saidi Balogun
Actor, director,
Producer.
Saidi is a
renowned actor, director and producer, who has done remarkably well for himself
in the movie industry. He is presently the co-founder and the president of The
Movie Ambassador, a stakeholder group in Nigerian movie industry.
A prolific
filmmaker with a career spanning over 20 years, Saidi’s recent credits include
Eti Keta and You or I.
Adebayo
Salami
Actor/producer
A former
president of Association of Nigeria Theatre Arts Practitioners, Oga Bello, who
celebrated 50 years on stage last year, is one actor many young acts are
looking up to. His influences have no doubt rubbed off on his children, with
three (Femi, Sodiq and Tope) of them already well established in the trade.
Actor/producer
Lagos State
born actor, Jide Kosoko is an accomplished actor who has been able to cut
across the various movie groups and associations. A versatile actor with a
career spanning over four decades, Kosoko’s influence became unquestionable
after he emerged the president of the Association of Nigerian Theatre Arts
Practitioners and led the association for eight years.
Andy Amenechi
Film Director
The bearded
six foot tall prolific movie director hails from Ilah in Delta state, Nigeria.
A 1982 graduate of Mass Communication from the University of Nigeria, Andy as
Amenechi is simply called is reputed to be one of the hottest and busiest movie
directors on the Nigerian home video scene. He trained in advertising,
marketing and advanced television and film production both in Nigeria and
abroad.
A long
standing member of the Association of Movie Producers (AMP) and the Director
Guild of Nigeria (DGN) Amenechi, is the directing force behind some of the
sectors enduring offerings like Rituals, Narrow Escape, Oracle, Blood of the
Orphan, Time Bomb, Lord of the Mountain, Deep Love, Egg of Life, and the epic
movie Igodo which he co directed with Don Pedro Obaseki.
Gabriel Okoye
CEO G Media,
movie producer
Gabriel
Onyiyechi Okoye, popularly known as Igwe Gabosky, is one of the most respected
in the Nigerian home video industry.
Over the
years, Okoye has worked himself into becoming one of the top stakeholders in
the Nigerian movie industry, having produced many blockbuster movies and
helping champion the cause for a better movie industry.
He is a
recipient of various awards both in the country and outside. Notedly, many
actors and actresses in Nigeria today owe a debt of gratitude to him for
bringing them into limelight.
He now runs
G-media, using new thinking to power distribution, with support from Bank of
Industry.
Akeem
Olatunji Balogun
CEO Olasco
Films
Known for
bankrolling many blockbuster movies which include Funke Akindele’s
flicks, Jenifa, Return of Jenifa and Omo Ghetto 1 & 2, this popular movie
marketer, wields appreciable influence in the movie industry which is why many
refer to him as the godfathers of the movie marketing business.
John Ugbe
Ugbe is
leader at DSTV
Administrator
and MD of Multichoice
Ugbe has been
managing director at Multichoice for over four years, overseeing a deep
involvement between the South African giant and Nigeria’s Nollywood. The result
is more Nollywood centred programming, a successful annual awards, and a
commendable investment in production.
He holds a masters
degree from the University of Liverpool.
Kene Mkparu
Kene Mkparu
is giving Nigeria more cinema screens by the day
Owner of
Filmhouse Cinemas
Mr. Mkparu
wants to give Nigeria 50 cinema outlets by
the end of this year. What’s not to love about that?
He’s secured
the funding, he’s put systems in place, and he;s now rolling out strategically.
With over 20
years experience in business management and cinema operations management in
different parts of the world, pundits say he’s the man for the job.
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