The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Kunle Afolayan

  • Kunle Afolayan releases trailer of The CEO

    Kunle Afolayan releases trailer of The CEO

    Promotions have begun for Kunle Afolayan’s pan African movie, The CEO, with snippets of the movie scenes from the different African countries, including Paris, France, where the film pooled its cast.

    The CEO is Afolayan’s biggest movie yet, with part funding of N50 million as loan from the much publicized Bank of Industry’s NollyFund.

    With the 2:30 min trailer, first released on Channels TV website 8pm last Sunday, views and downloads have, within 12 hours, hit a million mark on YouTube,  Facebook and other social media platforms, an indication of fans’ eagerness for the cross cultural movie.

    The CEO is coming on the heels of October 1, Afolayan’s psychological thriller and his fourth effort afterIrapada, Figurine and Phone Swap.

    Interestingly, Cote d’Ivoire cinema is yearning for a July 2016 release and has sent their terms, coming from the country’s popular distributors, Majestic Cinemas. Afolayan revealed that the film which will be ready before the end of February will be distributed in Nigeria by Silverbird Cinema, just as it is also targeting targeting South Africa’s over 50 cinemas and other African countries. He added that preparations are on ground for massive festival routing beginning from the first quarter of this year.

    The now circulating movie trailer stars Grammy award-winner, Angelique Kidjo; Nigeria’s Wale Ojo and Hilda Dokubo; Kenyan actor, Peter King; Hollywood’s Jimmy Jean-Louis among others. The shots also reveals cameo appearances by Nigerian singer, Adekunle Gold and Moroccan Afrobian artiste, Ahmed Soultan.

  • Kunle Afolayan is Peugeot’s new brand ambassador

    Kunle Afolayan is Peugeot’s new brand ambassador

    It was another moment of glory for ace filmmaker and actor, Kunle Afolayan, who yesterday, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Peugeot Automobile Nigeria (PAN), as the brand’s new ambassador.

    The ceremony commemorates the company’s exclusive unveiling of the new Peugot 508 model at the NAF Conference Center and Suites, Ahmadu Bello Way, Kado, Abuja.

    Spotting a six piece Agbada, Afolayan looked every inch a Hausa man, as he signed the agreement with the company’s MD/CEO, Mr. Ibrahim Dutsinma Boyi, at the event attended by select friends and clients of the company.

    Afolayan attended the event with his partner, Seun Soyinka uploaded photos from the event on his Facebook page, saying; “The unveiling of the new Peugeot 508, and I was also officially unveiled as Brand Ambassador for Peugeot. I was presented with a brand new car. What a way to end the year… Lord, I thank you.”

    According to Boyi, the partnership became important to showcase outstanding and complete alignment of the two brands; Afolayan and the new Peugeot, which are of international standard.

    “I am happy to announce that in Mr. Afolayan’s next movie, The CEO, Peugeot 508 will be prominently featured as one of the vehicles. Already Afolayan is an Ambassador of Air France so the choice is not accidental, but a well thought of decision,” said Boyi who added that, “Afolayan became an internationally accepted brand, thus the organization was excited to sign the partnership to promote both brands.

    “The car is fully assembled in Kaduna, Nigeria. After completion of the 508 brand, the quality standard recorded complied 100 per cent with the quality standard of Peugeot factory, France. It is based on global quality standard of the Peugeot brand,” Boyi added.

    In his remarks, the foremost movie producer lauded the gesture, saying it meant a lot to the entertainment industry.

    He said it would open vista of opportunities and more partnerships with the corporate world.

    “It means production value will always be at the top, for a French company to want to associate with a local brand in Nigeria, they must be sure the brand and quality of your brand can compete with international standards,” he said, referring to his partnership with Air France.

    Afolayan disclosed that he had earlier reached out to Peugeot before they started shooting his new movie to solely to promote local contents in the nation.

    “At that point, we couldn’t get someone to give us headway but eventually, they reached out to us. We had a meeting and we are here today. I can tell you that it worth being here and it worth the partnership,” he said, describing the brand as a well balanced, modern car with good air conditioning system.

    Afolayan’s deal with PAN is coming five months after the filmmaker inked an endorsement deal with Air France. The partnership is also hinged on his next movie, The CEO, currently in production.

    The CEO, according to pundits, will further stamp the filmmaker as a promoter of cross cultural stories and pedant for technical details.

     

  • Kunle Afolayan is Peugeot’s new brand ambassador

    Kunle Afolayan is Peugeot’s new brand ambassador

    It was another moment of glory for ace filmmaker and actor, Kunle Afolayan, who yesterday, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Peugeot Automobile Nigeria (PAN), as the brand’s new ambassador.
    The ceremony commemorates the company’s exclusive unveiling of the new Peugeot 508 model at the NAF Conference Center and Suites, Ahmadu Bello Way, Kado, Abuja.
    Spotting a six piece Agbada, Afolayan looked every inch a Hausa man, as he signed the agreement with the company’s MD/CEO, Mr. Ibrahim Dutsinma Boyi, at the event attended by select friends and clients of the company.
    Afolayan attended the event with his partner, Seun Soyinka uploaded photos from the event on his Facebook page, saying; “The unveiling of the new Peugeot 508, and I was also officially unveiled as Brand Ambassador for Peugeot. I was presented with a brand new car. What a way to end the year… Lord, I thank you.”
    According to Boyi, the partnership became important to showcase outstanding and complete alignment of the two brands; Afolayan and the new Peugeot, which are of international standard.
    “I am happy to announce that in Mr. Afolayan’s next movie, The CEO, Peugeot 508 will be prominently featured as one of the vehicles. Already Afolayan is an Ambassador of Air France so the choice is not accidental, but a well thought of decision,” said Boyi who added that, “Afolayan became an internationally accepted brand, thus the organization was excited to sign the partnership to promote both brands.
    “The car is fully assembled in Kaduna, Nigeria. After completion of the 508 brand, the quality standard recorded complied 100 per cent with the quality standard of Peugeot factory, France. It is based on global quality standard of the Peugeot brand,” Boyi added.
    In his remarks, the foremost movie producer lauded the gesture, saying it meant a lot to the entertainment industry.
    He said it would open vista of opportunities and more partnerships with the corporate world.
    “It means production value will always be at the top, for a French company to want to associate with a local brand in Nigeria, they must be sure the brand and quality of your brand can compete with international standards,” he said, referring to his partnership with Air France.    
    Afolayan disclosed that he had earlier reached out to Peugeot before they started shooting his new movie to solely to promote local contents in the nation.
    “At that point, we couldn’t get someone to give us headway but eventually, they reached out to us. We had a meeting and we are here today. I can tell you that it worth being here and it worth the partnership,” he said, describing the brand as a well balanced, modern car with good air conditioning system.
    Afolayan’s deal with PAN is coming five months after the filmmaker inked an endorsement deal with Air France. The partnership is also hinged on his next movie, The CEO, currently in production.
    The CEO, according to pundits, will further stamp the filmmaker as a promoter of cross cultural stories and pedant for technical details.
  • ‘The CEO’ is a Pan African experiment, says Kunle Afolayan

    ‘The CEO’ is a Pan African experiment, says Kunle Afolayan

    NOLLYWOOD actor/producer Kunle Afolayan, who was one of the panelists at the ongoing Africa International Film Festival, AFRIFF, said at the Silverbird Galleria, Tuesday, while speaking on the topic How To Bring Value To African Cinema, that his latest work, The CEO, is an experiment carried out in the hope that the film will cut across all African countries; as a Pan African movie.

    “The CEO, as an experiment to develop value for Africa cinema, is something that I am very passionate about. This all started as a kid, every time I see the pictures of my father and his contemporaries at film festivals.

    “It became a concern as I have not seen any film from neighbouring African countries brought to Nigeria for screening; hence there is a gap between Pan African countries. The CEO is an experiment that I hope will do the magic. The original cast was Nigeria, Togo, Ghana and one Francophone cast. But after my trip to Egypt, it became an eye opener after meeting with colleagues, where we had a co-production meeting,” he added.

    He said further that “with close to 500 cinemas in South Africa, if my films could screen in 200 cinemas, it would be great, as this is what cinema distribution can do to the success of a filmmaker. If we can lock down Africa, then we do not need Hollywood.

    “We also need to work hard to push ourselves. There is Afrinolly; it is a platform for alternate distribution. I am not promoting them, but it is also a place to show your work to the world.

  • Kunle Afolayan’s October 1 shines at AMAA

    Kunle Afolayan’s October 1 shines at AMAA

    With the dust yet to settle on the Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) which held last Saturday at Boadwalk Convention Centre, Port Elizabeth, South Africa, filmmaker Kunle Afolayan, whose movie October 1, carted home three awards has expressed joy over winning.

    “It feels good,” said Afolayan while speaking to The Nation over his movie’s outing at the AMAAs. “We have worked. And our work got recognised in three different categories.”

    October 1 won Best Actor in a Leading Role with veteran actor Sadiq Daba as the winner, Best Costume Design and Best Nigerian Film endowed by Bayelsa State Government.

    However, notwithstanding the accolades, Afolayan, not one to rest on his oars, has already moved to another project. He is currently working on a new movie, The CEO.

    “That’s the filmmaking life for you,” he said. “You don’t just do one and sit there. You have to keep moving. But the memory of the film will always be remembered every first of October.”

    Also at the event, Tony Elumelu, Chairman of UBA Plc and Heirs Holdings, was announced as the Honorary Counsel to the AMAAs. He accepted his new status alongside other honorees such as Horace Ovi, Harry Belafonte and Melvine Van Pebbles who also bagged lifetime achievement awards.

    Elumelu, who was at the United Nations General Assembly Summit on Sustainable Development Goals, in his speech read by Peace Anyiam-Osigwe at the awards ceremony, thanked AMAA for the honour and said that he will continue to work to promote the arts and entrepreneurship in Africa for three reasons which include self-determination and self-empowerment, Economic and social Development Aspirations of the Continent and most importantly, Pure Entertainment.

    Meanwhile, Mauritania led the pack in the number of awards among the countries in competition with the film, Timbuktu winning AMAA statuettes for Best Film, Best Film in an African Language, Best Child Actor and Best Director. South Africa, with the film, I Number Number, and Mauritius with the film, Lobraz Kaan registered their presence on the winners’ table.

    Other countries on the winners’ list include Ethiopia with the film Triangle Going to America, Egypt with the film Egypt’s Modern Pharaohs, Angola with Njinga: Queen of Angola among others.

    The founder of the awards, Peace Anyiam-Osigwe and the new CEO, Mr. Dayo Ogunyemi jointly expressed satisfaction with the awards show despite the challenges of Visa many delegates faced to get to Port Elizabeth.

    However, Anyiam-Osigwe challenged the government of South Africa to do more in opening her country to other African compatriots as all African nations fought alongside South Africa to defeat apartheid.

    “We are one and the theme of AMAA and our other initiatives this year is AFRICAONE. We will be going on tour of Africa with our creative artistes in music, film, comedy, visual arts and fashion with this message. The creative sector can employ millions of African youths and our governments must support and invest in this sector,” said Anyia-Osigwe who received thunderous applause.

  • OGD hosts Kunle Afolayan

    OGD hosts Kunle Afolayan

    Veteran Nigerian film producer, Tade Ogidan, has shown his excitement over the feat recorded by his younger colleague and mentee, Kunle Afolayan, whose current movie, October 1, has been receiving rave reviews.

    Ogidan, who played host to Afolayan at his Surulere home, invited other celebrities to the surprise soirée.

    The actor who was recently unveiled as ambassador for Air France shared the happy moment, posting photos from the event with the caption: “My journey started with these two. TK and Tade Ogidan.  I feel highly honourned to be celebrated by a mentor, brother and senior colleague. Thank you, Egbon Tade Ogidan.

    A cake in white and sky blue was made for the event. The picture of Afolayan adorns the cake, with the inscription: ‘Kunle Afolayan, Tade celebrates you’.

    Faces at the event include Bimbo Manuel, Tunde Kelani and several other celebrities.

  • OGD hosts Kunle Afolayan

    OGD hosts Kunle Afolayan

    Veteran Nigerian film producer, Tade Ogidan, has shown his excitement over the feat recorded by his younger colleague and mentee, Kunle Afolayan, whose current movie, October 1, has been receiving rave reviews.
    Ogidan, who played host to Afolayan at his Surulere home, invited other celebrities to the surprise soirée.
    The actor who was recently unveiled as ambassador for Air France shared the happy moment, posting photos from the event with the caption: “My journey started with these two. TK and Tade Ogidan.  I feel highly honourned to be celebrated by a mentor, brother and senior colleague. Thank you, Egbon Tade Ogidan.
    A cake in white and sky blue was made for the event. The picture of Afolayan adorns the cake, with the inscription: ‘Kunle Afolayan, Tade celebrates you’.
    Faces at the event include Bimbo Manuel, Tunde Kelani and several other celebrities.

  • Air France unveils Kunle Afolayan as Ambassador

    Air France unveils Kunle Afolayan as Ambassador

    •To back filmmaker’s next movie

    Amidst cries that Corporate Businesses are not supporting the Nigerian motion picture industry otherwise called Nollywood, the art of notable actor and filmmaker, Kunle Afolayan got a boost on Wednesday, when Air France inked a partnership with him and his next movie, The CEO.

    Excited, Afolayan shared the news on the social media shortly after the deal: “It’s all about hard work and God. I have just been appointed as the ambassador for Air France and the deal covers several projects of mutual benefits. Thank you to all family, friends and fans for your support so far. Ire lojo gbogbo.”

    The deal is coming on the eve of his new movie, The CEO; another work which pundits say will further stamp the filmmaker as a promoter of cross cultural stories and pedant for technical details.

    The new film, for which Afolayan said he will hit location next month, will be starring top stars from Anglophone and Francophone countries, including Nigeria, Morocco, Ivory Coast, Kenya and South Africa.

    Part of the deal will be for Air France to fly the cast and crew round these countries where the film will take its locations.IMG_20150729_121938

    The airline will also be showcasing previous works of the filmmaker on their in-flight entertainment.

    The ceremony at the Victoria Island office of Air France had friends and colleagues of the filmmaker in attendance. They include veteran filmmaker, Tunde Kelani, Chairman of the newly approved Audio-Visual Rights Society (AVRS), Mahmood Ali-Balogun, Founder and CEO of Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF), Chioma Ude and Associate Producer/Communication Director of The CEO, Seun Soyinka among others.

    Speaking during the ceremony, Jean-Raoul Tauzin, General Manager, Air France/KLM said his company is proud to have Afolayan join the Air France family as a brand ambassador. “If you are familiar with the Air France environment, we have been in Nigeria since 1946, serving the country, serving its citizens, and we are very pleased that we have someone very famous and international to represent our brand. As you may know, Air France has been sponsoring the Cannes International Film Festival since 1980 and we are very proud to be a partner of the Festival de Cannes to develop the industry of entertainment and art in France. Therefore we are very convinced that with the help of Kunle Afolayan, we will be able also to develop as much as we can, a partnership between Air France and Nollywood in Nigeria,” said Tauzin.

    Signing the MOU with Afolayan, Commercial Director, Air France/KLM, Arthur Dieffenthaler recalled that he met Afolayan at the ‘Nollywood Paris Film Festival’ earlier in the year, and that he was wowed by the filmmaker’s attainment in the Nigerian film industry, and the international scene.

    “…And after discussing about his movie and possible business partnership, I could see that there was a connection” Dieffenthaler said, adding that, “as you know in Air France, connecting is what we do: we connect people throughout the world. We have also been connecting Nigeria for almost 70 years with the rest of the world. And that’s who we are.”

    For Kunle Afolayan, it was about his call as a filmmaker and someone who understands the importance of branding. He recalled that his Golden Effects company, which deals in audio-visual productions has, in the last 10 years, produced quality films that are rich in culture, while also bringing everybody together; including brand association with several companies.

    He however described his deal with Air France as something very new and unique. “I remember in 2009 when we wanted to shoot The Figurine, we approached quite a number of Airlines because there were parts to be shot in Germany and we tried to see how to make that happen but again we had to change the script because we couldn’t make it happen. This journey started in Paris and the very moment they engaged me, I just started talking my passion,” he said.

    “Air France did something quite overwhelming for me. I was meant to go to Los Angeles and those who invited me provided an Economic Class ticket. I tried everything possible to upgrade that ticket, but I couldn’t afford to, because it was quite expensive. And as I was making enquiries, I got a call from Air France that they were willing to upgrade me all the way to Los Angeles. That ticket was not a sponsorship ticket; they paid over one million Naira to get it for me without signing anything. That was before we had reached any agreement on our partnership. And I said to myself, this means that these people (Air France) actually have the interest of, not just me, but the Nigerian entertainment industry at heart.” Afolayan said.

  • Kunle Afolayan pained by piracy of October 1, Phone Swap

    Kunle Afolayan pained by piracy of October 1, Phone Swap

    This is not the best of times for award-winning actor and filmmaker, Kunle Afolayan, who is presently groaning over the piracy of his new flick October 1.

    A devastated Afolayan, on Monday, broke down on twitter, as he complained about the activities of the ‘Alaba boys’,  a group of traders known for their indiscreet trampling on intellectual property rights of musicians and filmmakers.

    He did not believe his ears when, while in South Africa, a respected industry sister of his, Mildred Okwo, hinted him on plans by the pirates to feast on his latest movie. She got wind of it and said, “They have built the package of October 1 and are now looking for your master. Be aware,” she said.

    But that was as far as Okwo, co-producer of The Meeting knew, as Afolayan was later to discover that the pirates already have his film, and have been threatening his distributor, Igwe Gabriel Okoye, that they are about to hit the streets with it.

    This was coming weeks after Okoye raised an alarm over the piracy of the filmmaker’s previous work, Phone Swap. Afolayan said it was worrisome, how the pirates operate with impunity. He wants the government to do something fast about the lawlessness of the ‘Alaba boys’ and other hubs of piracy in the country; hence he took his frustration online, in the hope that someone will understand his pains. “You want to know? Okay; the pirates already have October 1 and have been threatening the distributor that they will release this week,” he lamented, adding that despite its cinema inflow and complementary private screenings of the film, he is yet to recoup half of the $2million expended on the movie.

    All films have been entrusted with Okoye’s G-Media distribution company, and like Afolayan, Okoye has been restless over the recent development. The veteran filmmaker and producer of one of the earliest Nollywood flicks such as Nneka the Pretty Serpent and Battle of Musanga, has since written to the Lagos State Government and the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC), but he is yet to get their reaction.

    Okoye, while announcing his contract on the movies recently, described the filmmaker as one of the people who have aligned themselves to best practices. “They are not subsistence filmmakers who make films only when they are hungry. And we are happy to be starting with them.”

    According to Gabosky, Phone Swap and other films in his care are packaged as complete DVDs with menu. “When you watch them, you will find out that they are worth your money. G-Media is engraved in the package and anything short of that is pirated. They all have unique codes, and our officers moving around can scan them to ensure authenticity.”

    With this, it is expected that when the law enforcement agencies swing into action, it would be easy to bring perpetrators to book.

  • Kunle Afolayan’s new TVC underscores AMBODE dreams for Lagos

    THE All Progressives Congress (APC) popular slogan, ‘Change’, it appears, is a revolutionary mantra against bad governance, as multiple award-winning actor and filmmaker, Kunle Afolayan, has just adjusted his tune to ‘Continuity’, apparently in support of the APC governorship candidate in Lagos State, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, to carry on the achievements of the party in the nation’s commercial and entertainment hub.

    With the governorship and states’ House of Assembly election just one week away, Afolayan, not only brings his ingenuity to bear in a new smash-hit commercial that endorses Mr. Ambode, he is taking the Yorubas down memory lane, with a footage from Ija Ominira, the popular movie shot in 1978 by his late father, Adeyemi Afolayan (Ade Love).

    Ija Ominira (Struggle for Independence) in this context is a message of relentlessness on the part of indigenes and residents of Lagos to preserve the achievements of the state and sustains its independence from strange political opponents.

    A 60-second production, the Television Commercial (TVC), which has been described as a blast from the past, is mixed with contemporary reality. Afolayan used the goje musical instrument together with the traditional chant of Ajobiewe, the talented actor and poet, to spice up the creative appearance he made with his father, who passed on in 1992.

    The TVC brings to the fore, the success of Lagos, by attributing same to the solid foundation laid since 1999 and, playing up reasons to continue with that tradition of excellence by having an astute administrator who understands governance to succeed the incumbent Governor Babatunde Fashola.

    Afolayan’s production joins the rich list of quality television commercials and artistes who have enlisted to use the creative arts to drum up support for Ambode’s candidacy.

    A world-class television commercial, “I Believe” and the “Ambo” soundtrack featuring the best of Nigeria’s music and film artistes like MI, Flavour, Banky W, Yemi Alade, Ice prince, Desmond Elliot and Ali Nuhu are widely acknowledged to have distinguished Ambode’s campaign in the last four months. Other artistes who have recorded hit songs for the APC candidate include Alhaji Kollington Ayinla, King Wasiu Ayinde (K1), Dede Mabiaku, Dammy Krane, Wasiu Alabi Pasuma, Seun Bankole, Sefiu Alao, Fatai Akanbi Valentine and Gbenga Adewusi.

    Meanwhile, Ambode has said that the emergence of General Muhammadu Buhari as the President-elect portends good omen for the development of arts, entertainment and tourism in Nigeria. Speaking through his Director of Communications, Mr. Steve Ayorinde, the APC candidate said Lagos State would benefit from an APC-led government at the federal level.

    “The entertainment and tourism sectors will benefit tremendously from an APC-led government at the centre from May 29. We are not talking about occasional monetary hand-outs to select artistes. We are concerned about building enduring structures and empowering creative artistes and producers who invest their time and resources in these thriving sectors.

    “With an APC-led government at the centre and in Lagos, our aim is to work with the federal government to have the National Theatre at Iganmu rehabilitated once and for all, and turn it into a profitable base for artistes. We can extend similar thoughts to the National Museum and National Gallery of Arts. Those places should not be dead-ends. Yes, they are Federal Government properties but they are in Lagos and an APC-led government at the centre and in Lagos State will work in sync to turn those places around. This is why it is of utmost importance that Lagosians take advantage of this God-given victory of last Saturday to vote to retain APC in Lagos State. We have waited for 16 years for this to happen and we shouldn’t blow it now,” Ambode said.

    He added that one of his proposed flagship programmes, Project T.H.E.S.E, aims at harnessing the hospitality, arts, entertainment and sport sectors to further drive excellence in Lagos State.