KACHI Benson’s film, ‘Daughters of Chibok’, has won best virtual reality story at the 76th Venice International Film Festival.
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the film is a story of the April 2014 abduction of 276 female students from Government Secondary School, Chibok in Borno State, Nigeria.
Following government negotiations with the terrorists, 107 of them were eventually released. But, 112 remain missing.
The Virtual Reality (VR) documentary, which also had its premiere at the festival, tells the story of Yana Galang, whose daughter was among the kidnapped girls.
‘Daughters of Chibok’ represented Nigeria and Africa, alongside 12 other Virtual Reality (VR) films selected from around the world.
The film’s director, Joel Kachi Benson, in his acceptance speech, said: “With this VR film, all I wanted to do was to take the world to the women of Chibok. Who five years after their daughters had been kidnapped, are still living with the incredible pain of their absence.
“I felt it was wrong for us to forget or even doubt and move on.”
Benson, who runs a virtual reality film studios, VR360 in Lagos, also shared more thoughts on the award on his instagram page @kachibenson.
Read Also: Escaped Chibok Girl graduates in America
He wrote: “I still can’t believe this. It’s like a dream….our VR film #daughtersofchibok won a Lion Award in the VR category of the Venice biennale!!!!! Somebody tell me it’s a dream!!!!”
In 2018, Benson made his first Virtual Reality film, ‘In Bakassi’, a short film that captures the plight of children living with PTSD in Internally Displaced Persons Camps in the Northeast region. (NAN)
Burna Boy’s ‘Anybody’ featured in American TV series
‘Anybody’, a song by Afro-fusion star, Damini Ogulu, aka Burna Boy has been featured on American TV series ‘Ballers’.
The series, which were created by Stephen Levinson, features Dwayne Johnson and tells the story of Spencer Strasmore.
Strasmore is a retired NFL player who must navigate his new career of choice as the financial manager of other NFL players.
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that ‘Anybody’ is one of the songs off Burna Boy’s recently released ‘African Giant’ album.
The singer confirmed the song inclusion in ‘Ballers’ by retweeting the announcement which was tweeted by @black_nino.
He tweeted: “Anybody was used in Ballers S0503 @burnaboy. My lord is blown.”
Burna Boy, who is also on an international tour, recently appeared on Trevor Noah’s show and Jimmy Kimmel where he performed his song.
NAN reports that in July, Burna Boy released an album titled: ‘African Giant’, referencing the Coachella incidence.
The album contains fan-favourites and some of the biggest 2019 hits, including ‘Killin Dem’ featuring Zlatan, ‘Anybody’ and ‘Dangote’ alongside a titular track ‘African Giant’ and several international collaborations.
Amongst the artists featured are Jorja Smith in ‘Gum Body’, Manifest in ‘Another Story’, Jeremih and Serani in ‘Secrets’, Damian Marley and Angelique Kidjo in ‘Different’, Future in ‘Show and Tell’ and YG in ‘This Side’.