Behind the scene | 5 October 2007 14:52 CET

STEPHANIE, EZURUONYE, OTHERS THRILL LONDONERS IN MOVIES

By By AZUH AMATUS

Two Nigerian films, Mission To Nowhere and Mirror of Beauty are currently making the rounds in cinema houses in the United Kingdom. This development is unprecedented in the annals of Nollywood, reputed to be the third largest movie industry in the world and number one in Africa.

The films which are showing in Seven Odeon and Cineworld according to industry watchers is not only novel, but a major breakthrough for an industry that has witnessed upbeat swing since the early 90s when Kenneth Nnebue, produced the chart-burster movie, Living in Bondage. The movies are starring big names in the industry including veteran actors, Barbara Soky and Lari Williams.

Others are; Stephanie Okereke, Sam Dede, Mike Ezuruonye and fast rising, actress, Chika Ibe.
Mission To Nowhere, directed by Teco Benson, is a contemporary film while Mirror of Beauty, directed by Okey Zubelu Okoh, is an epic. The movies were shot in collaboration with Atlantic Overseas Limited, a company, on a mission to change the face of Nollywood and reposition the entertainment industry. As part of the hype that greeted the films entries into London, billboards ads. and bus stop panels bear the faces of the star actors.

Mission To Nowhere began showing last Friday, while Mirror of Beauty makes its debut outing today. Apparently a giant leap for Nigeria's movie industry, the practitioners believe that aside raising the bar, the concept would prove cynics wrong that Nigerian movies can't make it to cinemas houses abroad and compete in the international market. One of the directors, Teco Benson described the premieres as welcome developments.

"I was happy when this project started. By the way, that is the kind of good news I want to hear about this industry. If the truth must be told, Nollywood, has come a long way. After conquering the local scene, it is now time to go international and prove that we also have what it takes. Mark my words, the way our Golden Eaglets conquered the world in the Under-17 soccer fiesta in Seoul is the same way Nollywood is going to do it", he stressed.

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