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Entertainment of Tuesday, 16 March 2021

Source: guardian.ng

Nigerian film 'Eyimofe' selected for Borderlines Film Festival in UK

This will be the second time the film will be screening in the UK This will be the second time the film will be screening in the UK

Ahead of its Nigerian cinematic release next month, Nigeria feature film, Eyimofe (This is my desire), has been selected for this year’s Borderlines Film Festival in the United Kingdom. 
   
Billed to open on March 26 and runs through April 11, Borderlines has always committed to making the best films accessible to people in places that are hard to reach. This will be the second time the film will be screening in the UK, having earlier shown at the last year’s edition of the British Film Institute London Film Festival in October. 
 
Described as the largest rural film festival in the UK, the festival is taking place in a number of venues (large and small) across 17 days in Herefordshire, Shropshire, Worcestershire, and the Marches. It offers access to a huge range of films and events to audiences from these regions and is now nationally recognised as one of the top UK film festivals.
   
Eyimofe will be screening alongside two other films from Africa, Witch and You will die at thirty. While You will die at thirty is a co-production by Sudan, France Egypt, Germany, and Qatar, Witch is a co-production between Czech Republic and Italy.
  
Speaking ahead of the opening, Festival director Naomi Vera-Sanso informed that Borderlines would be an online-only film festival this year, making it the first time since the maiden edition in 2003.

“While we will miss the sociability and interaction that the festival normally brings, drawing audiences across Herefordshire, Shropshire, Malvern, and the Welsh borders together to enjoy a feast of the best independent cinema from across the world, we are looking forward to widening our reach to audiences from across the UK. So, if you like Borderlines, please make sure to pass the word to your family and friends further afield so that they too can take part this year online.”
 
She continued: “The Festival would not be possible without the continued support of our funders: the BFI awarding funds from the National Lottery, The Elmley Foundation, Film Hub Midlands through funds from the National Lottery and Hereford City Council. Our sponsors, new and returning, are an important element in delivering the Festival and we ask you to support them where you can.”
 
Set in Lagos, Nigeria, Eyimofe, winner of the Torino International Film Festival’s Achille Valdata Award in Italy, is a two-chapter film that follows the stories of Mofe (Jude Akuwudike), a factory technician, and Rosa (Temi Ami-Williams), a hairdresser, on their quest for what they believe will be a better life on foreign Shores.

Presented by GDN Studios, directed by twin brothers, Arie and Chuko Esiri and produced by Melissa Adeyemo, the film was funded entirely in Nigeria, shot on 16mm, and filmed across 48 locations in Lagos. Executive Producers include Maiden Alex Ibru, Toke Alex Ibru, Olorogun Oskar Ibru, Kayode Akindele, and Ifeoma Esiri.
  
Since its world premiere at the Berlin International Film Festival last year, Eyimofe has been selected for different international festivals, including Indie Lisboa International Film Festival in Portugal, BFI London Film Festival in the UK, Mostra Sao Paolo International Film Festival in Brazil, Cinecitta International Film Festival (CIFF) in the Netherlands, Valladolid International Film Festival in Spain, The Viennale in Austria and Sharjah Film Platform festival in UAE.
  
Other festivals include Vancouver International Film Festival in Canada, AFI Film Festival in the USA, Thessaloniki International Film Festival in Greece, New Horizons International Film Festival in Poland, Torino Film Festival in Italy, Hainan Island International Film Festival (HIFF) in China, and Cairo International Film Festival (CIFF) in Egypt.
   
With the recent festival selections in France, India, and Switzerland, Eyimofe has been exposed to festival audiences in 18 countries – representing Nigeria everywhere it travels to. For more information, please visit: www.eyimofe.film /www.gdnstudios.ng