Exclusive: Joel ‘Kachi Benson (Madu) has been tapped to direct the documentary The Harvest, on Nigeria’s infamous Boko Haram Kidnappings of 2014, for Hunting Lane and Impact Partners. A first-look still can be found above.
Following four Nigerian mothers as they fight to educate their children in the wake of tragedy, the film marks the 10th anniversary of terrorist organization Boko Haram’s attack and abduction of 276 young girls from a school in the village of Chibok.
Joel ‘Kachi Benson
Nigerian filmmaker Benson came to helm the film after tackling the aftermath of the attacks with previous work including 2019’s Daughters of Chibok, a VR experience he wrote and produced which won the Lion for Best Immersive Story at the 76th Venice Film Festival.
“I have spent the last five years with the mothers and survivors of the Chibok kidnappings,” the filmmaker told Deadline. “I’ve listened to their stories,...
Following four Nigerian mothers as they fight to educate their children in the wake of tragedy, the film marks the 10th anniversary of terrorist organization Boko Haram’s attack and abduction of 276 young girls from a school in the village of Chibok.
Joel ‘Kachi Benson
Nigerian filmmaker Benson came to helm the film after tackling the aftermath of the attacks with previous work including 2019’s Daughters of Chibok, a VR experience he wrote and produced which won the Lion for Best Immersive Story at the 76th Venice Film Festival.
“I have spent the last five years with the mothers and survivors of the Chibok kidnappings,” the filmmaker told Deadline. “I’ve listened to their stories,...
- 4/15/2024
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Set to open on Feb. 7, the Santa Barbara Intl. Film Festival enters its 39th year with high stakes. Organizers must re-create past successes while forging new paths to keep proceedings fresh, keeping their eye on a mission to education while celebrating the power of film.
This year’s edition of the coastal festival will open with the world premiere of Matt Ogens and Joel Kachi Benson’s “Madu,” a Disney documentary about a young Nigerian whose ballet performance went viral online. It concludes with the world premiere of “Chosen Family,” directed by and starring Heather Graham, who also plans to attend with the cast.
In between, Sbiff will host many noteworthy film screenings and events. There are more than 200 films in this year’s lineup and, per programming director Claudia Puig, 70% of them will celebrate their U.S. or world premieres at the festival. That amounts to more than 75 feature films and over 45 shorts,...
This year’s edition of the coastal festival will open with the world premiere of Matt Ogens and Joel Kachi Benson’s “Madu,” a Disney documentary about a young Nigerian whose ballet performance went viral online. It concludes with the world premiere of “Chosen Family,” directed by and starring Heather Graham, who also plans to attend with the cast.
In between, Sbiff will host many noteworthy film screenings and events. There are more than 200 films in this year’s lineup and, per programming director Claudia Puig, 70% of them will celebrate their U.S. or world premieres at the festival. That amounts to more than 75 feature films and over 45 shorts,...
- 2/7/2024
- by Zoe Hewitt
- Variety Film + TV
Nigerian teenager Anthony Madu first went viral in 2020 for a video of himself dancing in the rain. Now, a new documentary from Disney+ will tell the story of his ballet training since then.
In the film’s trailer, released Wednesday, Madu leaves his home in Lagos to study at Elmhurst Ballet School in England. “It’s my dream and I have to follow it,” he says.
Per the film’s description, “Madu follows 12-year-old Anthony Madu as he leaves his family and community in Nigeria to study at one of the most prestigious ballet schools in the world in England. Having never left his home outside of Lagos, Anthony finds himself thrust into a new world where his wildest dreams are suddenly within reach.”
Directed by Oscar-winners Matt Ogens and Joel Kachi Benson, the documentary will premiere at the opening night of the Santa Barbara Film Festival on Feb. 7, and...
In the film’s trailer, released Wednesday, Madu leaves his home in Lagos to study at Elmhurst Ballet School in England. “It’s my dream and I have to follow it,” he says.
Per the film’s description, “Madu follows 12-year-old Anthony Madu as he leaves his family and community in Nigeria to study at one of the most prestigious ballet schools in the world in England. Having never left his home outside of Lagos, Anthony finds himself thrust into a new world where his wildest dreams are suddenly within reach.”
Directed by Oscar-winners Matt Ogens and Joel Kachi Benson, the documentary will premiere at the opening night of the Santa Barbara Film Festival on Feb. 7, and...
- 2/1/2024
- by Zoe G Phillips
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The London Film Festival has revealed its jury line-up for this year’s awards.
The Official Competition jury is led by “Power of the Dog” and “Cold War” producer Tanya Seghatchian (pictured), while the First Feature Competition (Sutherland Award) jury will be headed up by director and actor Nana Mensah whose directorial debut “Queen of Glory” won the Best New Narrative Director prize at the 2021 Tribeca Film Festival.
Elsewhere, Italian filmmaker Roberto Minervini will lead the jury selecting the winner of the Grierson Award for Best Documentary after winning the award in 2018 for his film “What You Gonna Do When the World’s On Fire.”
Finally, the Immersive Art and Xr Competition will be led by photographer Misan Harriman, while producer and director Joy Gharoro-Akpojotor will lead the jury selecting the best short film.
See below for the full jury lists:
Official Competition
Seghatchian is joined this year by: actor...
The Official Competition jury is led by “Power of the Dog” and “Cold War” producer Tanya Seghatchian (pictured), while the First Feature Competition (Sutherland Award) jury will be headed up by director and actor Nana Mensah whose directorial debut “Queen of Glory” won the Best New Narrative Director prize at the 2021 Tribeca Film Festival.
Elsewhere, Italian filmmaker Roberto Minervini will lead the jury selecting the winner of the Grierson Award for Best Documentary after winning the award in 2018 for his film “What You Gonna Do When the World’s On Fire.”
Finally, the Immersive Art and Xr Competition will be led by photographer Misan Harriman, while producer and director Joy Gharoro-Akpojotor will lead the jury selecting the best short film.
See below for the full jury lists:
Official Competition
Seghatchian is joined this year by: actor...
- 10/4/2022
- by Manori Ravindran
- Variety Film + TV
The festival will also host a connects session with British Vogue editor Edward Enninful.
Edward Enninful, editor-in-chief of British Vogue and European editorial director of Vogue, will open the industry programme of the BFI London Film Festival (Lff) on Thursday October 7 in an in-conversation event as part of the Lff Connects strand, which looks to explore the intersection between film and other creative industries.
There will also be Spotlight conversations with Element Pictures producer and co-founder Ed Guiney and Doc Society chief executive Jess Search.
Guiney’s most recent feature, Joanna Hogg’s The Souvenir Part II, is playing as the festival’s Londoner Gala.
Edward Enninful, editor-in-chief of British Vogue and European editorial director of Vogue, will open the industry programme of the BFI London Film Festival (Lff) on Thursday October 7 in an in-conversation event as part of the Lff Connects strand, which looks to explore the intersection between film and other creative industries.
There will also be Spotlight conversations with Element Pictures producer and co-founder Ed Guiney and Doc Society chief executive Jess Search.
Guiney’s most recent feature, Joanna Hogg’s The Souvenir Part II, is playing as the festival’s Londoner Gala.
- 9/27/2021
- by Ben Dalton
- ScreenDaily
Toby Wallace.
Toby Wallace’s turn as a small-time drug dealer in Shannon Murphy’s debut feature Babyteeth has won him the Venice Film Festival’s Marcello Mastroianni Award for best young actor.
It is the second year in a row that the prize has been won by an Australian, with last year’s gong going to Baykali Ganambarr for his debut performance in Jennifer Kent’s The Nightingale.
In Babyteeth, Wallace stars as Moses, the love interest of Eliza Scanlen’s Milla, a terminally ill teenager. Their relationship is a nightmare for Milla’s parents, played by Ben Mendelsohn and Essie Davis, but Milla teaches those in her orbit how to live like there is nothing to lose.
Produced by Alex White and based on Rita Kalnejais’ Belvoir Theatre play of the same name, the film was critically lauded after its debut in competition at Venice last week.
Variety...
Toby Wallace’s turn as a small-time drug dealer in Shannon Murphy’s debut feature Babyteeth has won him the Venice Film Festival’s Marcello Mastroianni Award for best young actor.
It is the second year in a row that the prize has been won by an Australian, with last year’s gong going to Baykali Ganambarr for his debut performance in Jennifer Kent’s The Nightingale.
In Babyteeth, Wallace stars as Moses, the love interest of Eliza Scanlen’s Milla, a terminally ill teenager. Their relationship is a nightmare for Milla’s parents, played by Ben Mendelsohn and Essie Davis, but Milla teaches those in her orbit how to live like there is nothing to lose.
Produced by Alex White and based on Rita Kalnejais’ Belvoir Theatre play of the same name, the film was critically lauded after its debut in competition at Venice last week.
Variety...
- 9/9/2019
- by jkeast
- IF.com.au
The 2019 Venice International Film Festival has wrapped, and this year’s edition has announced its award winners. The Golden Lion, the festival’s top laureate, went to “Joker,” which is a strong statement from this year’s competition jury led by Lucrecia Martel. See the complete list of this year’s winners below.
In recent years, the Venice Golden Lion has gone to films that went on to have legs in the awards-season conversation stateside. Last year’s Lion went to Alfonso Cuarón’s “Roma,” which won three Academy Awards for Netflix but lost Best Picture to “Green Book.” The year prior, the Golden Lion went to Guillermo del Toro’s “The Shape of Water,” which won Best Picture at the Oscars in 2018.
In a surprise upset over Joaquin Phoenix in hot competition title “Joker” (until it carried off with the Golden Lion), Best Actor went to Luca Marinelli for...
In recent years, the Venice Golden Lion has gone to films that went on to have legs in the awards-season conversation stateside. Last year’s Lion went to Alfonso Cuarón’s “Roma,” which won three Academy Awards for Netflix but lost Best Picture to “Green Book.” The year prior, the Golden Lion went to Guillermo del Toro’s “The Shape of Water,” which won Best Picture at the Oscars in 2018.
In a surprise upset over Joaquin Phoenix in hot competition title “Joker” (until it carried off with the Golden Lion), Best Actor went to Luca Marinelli for...
- 9/7/2019
- by Ryan Lattanzio
- Indiewire
“Joker” from director Todd Phillips won the Golden Lion, and “J’Accuse,” or “An Officer and a Spy,” from director Roman Polanski has won the Grand Jury Prize, the festival’s runner up prize, at the 76th edition of the Venice Film Festival.
The comic book film starring Joaquin Phoenix in an origin story of the iconic Batman villain beat out a lineup that also included films such as James Gray’s “Ad Astra” and Steven Soderbergh’s “The Laundromat” for the top prize.
“I want to thank Warner Bros. and DC for stepping out of their comfort zone and taking a big swing on me,” director Todd Phillips said as he accepted the Golden Lion.
Polanski’s “An Officer and a Spy” stars Jean Dujardin in a film about the Dreyfus Affair. His presence at the festival generated some backlash, as it’s his first film since the director...
The comic book film starring Joaquin Phoenix in an origin story of the iconic Batman villain beat out a lineup that also included films such as James Gray’s “Ad Astra” and Steven Soderbergh’s “The Laundromat” for the top prize.
“I want to thank Warner Bros. and DC for stepping out of their comfort zone and taking a big swing on me,” director Todd Phillips said as he accepted the Golden Lion.
Polanski’s “An Officer and a Spy” stars Jean Dujardin in a film about the Dreyfus Affair. His presence at the festival generated some backlash, as it’s his first film since the director...
- 9/7/2019
- by Brian Welk
- The Wrap
Refresh for latest…: The 76th Venice Film Festival draws to a close tonight with the winners about to be announced from inside the Sala Grande on the Lido. It’s been another year replete with strong movies hungry for awards season attention, as well as a fair share of controversy. And, it’s anybody’s guess which way Lucrecia Martel’s jury will swing.
Among the most contested titles, from even before the fest kicked off, is Roman Polanski’s An Officer And A Spy which nevertheless held sway with Italian critics in an annual poll. Any win tonight would certainly seem to cement the divide between U.S. and Euro perspectives in the #MeToo era.
Overall, and for Hollywood, among the biggest show-stopping moments of the past 10 days was the world premiere of Warner Bros’ Joker with a mesmerizing turn by star Joaquin Phoenix. Also highly-praised are such...
Among the most contested titles, from even before the fest kicked off, is Roman Polanski’s An Officer And A Spy which nevertheless held sway with Italian critics in an annual poll. Any win tonight would certainly seem to cement the divide between U.S. and Euro perspectives in the #MeToo era.
Overall, and for Hollywood, among the biggest show-stopping moments of the past 10 days was the world premiere of Warner Bros’ Joker with a mesmerizing turn by star Joaquin Phoenix. Also highly-praised are such...
- 9/7/2019
- by Nancy Tartaglione
- Deadline Film + TV
Roman Polanski wins the Silver Lion grand jury prize for An Officer And A Spy.
Todd Phillips’ Joker, starring Joaquin Phoenix as the DC Comics villain, cemented its Oscar credentials after winning the Golden Lion at this year’s Venice Film Festival.
At tonight’s award ceremony (September 7) the Silver Lion grand jury prize went to Roman Polanski’s An Officer And A Spy. Despite the controversy following the director, the film also picked up the Fipresci prize yesterday.
Swedish veteran Roy Andersson won the best director award for comedy About Endlessness.
The Lucrecia Martel-led jury awarded best screenplay to Hong Kong animation No.
Todd Phillips’ Joker, starring Joaquin Phoenix as the DC Comics villain, cemented its Oscar credentials after winning the Golden Lion at this year’s Venice Film Festival.
At tonight’s award ceremony (September 7) the Silver Lion grand jury prize went to Roman Polanski’s An Officer And A Spy. Despite the controversy following the director, the film also picked up the Fipresci prize yesterday.
Swedish veteran Roy Andersson won the best director award for comedy About Endlessness.
The Lucrecia Martel-led jury awarded best screenplay to Hong Kong animation No.
- 9/7/2019
- by Orlando Parfitt
- ScreenDaily
Who will win the Golden Lion?
The winners of the 2019 Venice Film Festival are being announced this evening (Saturday, September 7).
Screen will update this story with all they winners as they happen. Refresh for latest updates.
Lion of the Future (Luigi De Laurentiis Award for a Debut Film)
You Will Die At 20, dir. Amjad Abu Alala
Horizon Awards
Best Film
Atlantis, dir. Valentyn Vasyanovych
Best Director
Théo Court, White On White
Special Jury Prize
Verdict, dir. Raymund Ribay Gutierrez
Best Actress
Marta Nieto, Madre
Best Actor
Sami Bouajila, A Son
Best Screenplay
Jessica Palud, Philippe Lioret, Diastème, Revinir
Best Short
Darling,...
The winners of the 2019 Venice Film Festival are being announced this evening (Saturday, September 7).
Screen will update this story with all they winners as they happen. Refresh for latest updates.
Lion of the Future (Luigi De Laurentiis Award for a Debut Film)
You Will Die At 20, dir. Amjad Abu Alala
Horizon Awards
Best Film
Atlantis, dir. Valentyn Vasyanovych
Best Director
Théo Court, White On White
Special Jury Prize
Verdict, dir. Raymund Ribay Gutierrez
Best Actress
Marta Nieto, Madre
Best Actor
Sami Bouajila, A Son
Best Screenplay
Jessica Palud, Philippe Lioret, Diastème, Revinir
Best Short
Darling,...
- 9/7/2019
- by Orlando Parfitt
- ScreenDaily
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