On the heels of its successful outing on October 5 at the Quramo Festival of Words, QFest 2024, in Lagos, The Man Died, the feature film inspired by Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka’s prison notes, is continuing its run of the festival circuits across the world.
Though yet to be formally released to the theatre or streaming platforms, the film, written by UK-based scriptwriter, Bode Asiyanbi, directed by Abu Dhabi, UAE-based Awam Amkpa (Prof) and produced by Lagos-based Femi Odugbemi for Zuri 24 Media, has been enjoying outings at key spaces, including at the Africa Centre in London in July.
The global tour of the film is promoted by the Foundation for the Promotion of Documentary Film in Africa, conveners of the iREPRESENT Documentary Film Forum and promoters of the annual IREP International Documentary Film Festival.
Before hitting the global circuits, however, The Man Died, which stars a galaxy of renowned and notable names in the Nigeria film industry, is being considered for special screenings at educational institutions in Florence, Italy; Abu Dhabi in the UAE; Jo’Burg, South Africa as well at Ivy League institutions in the USA, including New York University; Harvard University; Oxford University; and at Ithaca College, among others.
The Man Died… in the gaze of festival circuit
The October 5 screening to an over-filled house of appreciative audience at the grand ballroom of Eko Hotel & Suites, Lagos, was the third outing since July 12 when the film had a “special premiere screening” at the Alliance Francaise, Michael Adenuga Centre in Ikoyi to symbolically mark the 90th birthday anniversary (July 13) celebration of the Nobel laureate.
The film, which is garnering volumes of critical acclaims, is in the review gaze of such top-notch global cinematic gatherings as the Berlinale in Germany, Catharge in Algeria, Jo’Burg Film Festival, SA; African Film Festival, New York, US, and FESPACO in Burkina Faso, among others. This is as it is also being reviewed by at least three major global streaming platforms, and international distribution channels.
Before those educational screening tours, TMD, as it is nomenclatured will be featuring at home-base festivals including at the African Film Festival, AFRIFF early November; and at Eastern Nigeria Film Festival, ENIFF Enugu.
The Tour Outlines
TMD at Accra Streamfest, Friday October 11, 5pm.
After the showing on Saturday October 5, The Man Died will travel to Ghana, where it will grace the screen on October 11 on the ‘Accra Streamfest’ bill of the “Labone Dialogues 2.0,” hosted by New York University, NYU Accra.
On the theme: Moving Images: Into the 21st Century, the Accra Streamfest is a 2-day showcase of “the diverse voices in storytelling by emerging storytellers from across the continent,” according to the convener/curator, Dr. Frankie Chike Edozien, head of NYU Accra, who added that between screenings, the participants drawn from different disciplines and countries will also engage in “thought provoking panel discussions with filmmakers critics and industry leaders who are shaping the future of African film.” For this particular screening of TMD, described as “An Exclusive Ghana Premiere at ‘Streamfest’, key cast and crew members of the The Man Died including the director, the producer, associate producers and, the lead cast, Wale Ojo (Wole Soyinka), will be having conversations with the audience after the screening on Friday October 11 at 5pm.
The director of the film, Awam Amkpa, a professor of drama, film and social and cultural analysis at New York University in New York and Abu Dhabi is also expected as the keynote speaker at the ‘Accra Streamfest’. Author of ‘Theatre and Postcolonial Desires’ (Routledge, 2003), Awam is director of film documentaries and curator of photographic exhibitions and film festivals. He has written several articles on representations in Africa and its diasporas, representations, and modernisms in theater, postcolonial theater, and Black Atlantic films. More at: https://sites.google.com/nyu.edu/streamfest-ld/home
…TMD at Film Africa Festival in London October 27
After Ghana, The Man Died, will continue its tour by gracing the screen of Film Africa Festival in London on October 27. Established in 2011, Film Africa is London’s biggest biennial festival celebrating the best African cinema from across the continent and diaspora organised by the Royal African Society. Film Africa Festival, according to the curator, Keith Shiri, cineaste and cinema activist, long-standing head of African Movie Award Academy, AMAA’s jury, “brings to diverse London and UK audiences a high-quality and wide-ranging film program accompanied by a vibrant series of events, including director Q&As, talks, and panel discussions; workshops and masterclasses. Targeted especially at young audiences, Film Africa Festival also recognises and supports new film-making talents through the Baobab Award for Best Short Film and the Audience Award for Best Feature Film.
TMD… at Eastern Nigerian Film Festival, Nov 27-30
After London, The Man Died goes next to the Eastern Nigeria International Film Festival, ENIFF in Enugu, November 27-30, where it will be the Opening Film at the Viva Cinemas, Enugu on November 27.
On the theme, Reimagine, ENIFF 2024, according to the festival director, Ujuakwu Akukwe, will focus on “how storytelling can reshape narratives and social impact.” The festival, stated Akukwe, “is inspired by the long history Eastern Nigeria has with Nollywood and the African Storytelling industry… It is a competitive festival, providing a platform and programs for independent filmmakers, artists and storytellers working in film and digital media. We screen films in all genres from around the world, and we give priority to female filmmakers.”
The Man Died… at African Int’l Film Festival, AFRIFF, Nov 3-9
From Enugu, The Man Died would land at the African International Film Festival, AFRIFF in November. A letter from curators of the globally renowned film fest, to the producers Zuri24 Media, reads in parts: “We are thrilled to inform you that your film has been officially selected to screen at the 13th edition of the Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF), taking place from November 3rd to 9th, 2024, in Lagos, Nigeria.”
Other itineraries for the film are being collated, according to the iREP programme directorate.
