FUNKE AKINDELE, NSE IKPE ETIM, DESMOND ELLIOT AND OTHERS SHINE AS NOMINEES OF THE AMVCA, PROUDLY SPONSORED BY AMSTEL MALTA

Africa Magic Viewers Choice Award (AMVCA) is less than a month away and Nigeria's favourite malt drink, Amstel Malta, will once again sponsor this event.

Nominees of the prestigious and well-celebrated awards have since been announced to the delight of fans, who still have the opportunity to vote for their favourites.

The 1st edition, held last year, had the likes of O.C Ukeje, Mercy Johnson, Tunde Kelani and other notable movie stars as winners of different award categories  

This year promises to be even more exciting with Amstel Malta’s relentless commitment to bringing out the Best in everyone.

Fans have become elated about the AMVCA as its conversation spreads like wildfire with many eagerly casting their votes for their favourite acts.

So who wins this year? It's a tight race and all bets are on! 

Below are some of the voting categories and everyone is encouraged to follow the trend #AmstelMaltaAMVCA2014 on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

BEST ACTRESS IN A DRAMA

Stephanie Wilson – Living Funeral (3A)
Veronica Waceke – Higher Learning (3B)
Nse Ikpe-Etim – Journey To Self (3C)
Nkiru Sylvanus – Kiss And The Brides (3D)
Ivie Okujaye – The Volunteers (3E)

BEST ACTOR IN A DRAMA

Juma Rajab Rashid - Siri Ya Mtungi (2A)
Majid Michel - Somewhere in Africa (2B)
Hlomla Dandala – Contract (2C)
Majid Michel – House of Gold (2D)
Tope Tedela – A Mile from Home (2E)

BEST MOVIE (DRAMA)

Obi Emelonye – Last Flight to Abuja (6A)
Edwin Maina Kariuki – Nairobi Half Life (6B)
Udoka Oyeka & Orode Ryan – Living Funeral (6C)
Frank Rajah Arase – The Price (6D)
Frank Rajah Arase – Groom's Bride (6E)
Chris Eneaji &  Jumafor Ajogwu – Murder at Prime Suites (6F)

BEST ACTOR IN A COMEDY

Hlomla Dandala – Contract (7A)
John Okafor – Return of Sheri Koko (7B)
Osita Iheme – The Hero (7C)
Osita Iheme – The Fighter (7D)
Chinedu Ikedieze – The Hero (7E)

BEST ACTRESS IN A COMEDY

Funke Akindele – The Fighter (8A)
Funke Akindele – The Hero (8B)
Funke Akindele – The Return Of Sheri Koko (8C)
Mary Ogbonna – Clinic Matters (8D)
Jackie Appiah – Cheaters (8E)
Yvonne Okoro – Contract (8F)

BEST MOVIE (COMEDY)

Uche Jumbo – Lies Men Tell (9A)
Shirley Frimpong-Manso, Yvonne Okoro & Ken Attoh – Contract (9B)
Elvis Chucks – A Wish (9C)
Martins Onyebuchi Onyemaobi – The Fighter (9D)
Martins Onyebuchi Onyemaobi – The Hero (9E)

For more information on voting categories and how to vote, kindly follow the link: http://amvcaawards.dstv.com/. Also visit www.amstel-nigeria.com for more information on Amstel Malta and its involvement in the entertainment industry.

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NSE IKPE-ETIM TO STORM GHANA ON VALENTINE'S DAY

Nollywood's leading lady Nse Ikpe-Etim will storm Ghanian cinemas on Valentine’s day as two of her movies premiere on the big screens ‘Devil in the Detail' and Purple rose .The former produced by Shirley Frimpong- Manso and Ken Attoh will also be available online on www.sparrowstation.com . Purple Rose was directed by Pascal Amanfo.

Nse is the only Nigerian actor featured in both movies.

See Devil in Detail trailer below

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NSE IKPE ETIM AND KALU IN BROKEN

…Nse made me cry on set-Kalu Ikeagwu

…premiere March 28 in Abuja

In recent times Nse Ikpe Etim has been in the news for good reasons. She headline Mr and Mrs, dazzled in Phone Swap and got married to her heartthrob, Mr. Clifford Sule.

She is once again in the news as the lead act in new emotive movie, Broken. In Broken, Nse plays the role of a woman who tries to buried her past, move on in life and pretends that the past never exist. But as always, a dirty past has a way of rearing its ugly head; the two children she left in the past surface and turns her ‘perfect’ life to a living hell in double proportion.  

Nse is not the only act with ‘living and troubling’ past in the movie, Bimbo Manuel who plays the role of Nse’s husband is the father of the house girl, a secret he desperately wants to keep away from Nse. Kalu Ikeagwu, the philandering corper had a ‘bushmeat’ in the village girl that proves too strong to devour and digest. One way or the other, the lives of the three had a meeting point where sanity, life, happiness and silence got broken.

Broken is from Bright Wonder, will premiere on Thursday, March 28 at Silverbird Cinema, Abuja. Bright Wonder produced the mildly popular movie of Away and Beyond. Speaking on the experience, Kalu Ikeagwu said Broken is one movie he can’t seems to forget in a hurry. ‘At a point I was crying watching Nse act. It was like a real life scene to me. The storyline is touching, I’ve never worked on movie like this’.

The producer and Director, Bright Wonder said, it is time the industry stepped up. ‘I learnt a lot from my first movie, I took all the experience and that of others and put them into this one. This is a product of an improved me’ he said.

Speaking further on the movie he said, ‘ Broken is a social movie that addresses the menace of child abuse, neglect, trafficking, exposing its adverse effects and repercussions on the Nigerian child and on the Society” and hence is a project that seeks to reaffirm the place of the family as the bedrock of the society, hereby using the motion picture as a channel implored at raising public awareness against the dreadful menace of child abuse’.

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WHO WILL YOU WEAR TO THE Y! MAGAZINE BLACK BALL THIS SUNDAY?

 RITA DOMINIC IN MOOFA; MI ABAGA IN OUCH, NSE IKPE ETIM IN HOUSE OF NWOCHA; AND MAI, IN, WELL, MAI! WHO WILL YOU WEAR TO THE Y! MAGAZINE BLACK BALL THIS SUNDAY?

Its 3 days to Y! Magazine’s Annual Black Ball – and we can’t wait!

The ball is a celebration of another eventful year for young trendsetters across the country. “As we have said,  “Y! Magazine has kept its promise as a cultural connoisseur – presenting the best and the finest of Nigerian entertainment, lifestyle and issues in order to provoke thought, inspire action and stimulate growth,” its managing editor, Adebola Williams emphasises. “What this event does is celebrate another year for young trendsetters – great wine, fine dining, the best company delivered with the sophistication of the Y! brand.” 

Y! and its sister brands are also celebrating another successful year leading the way for youth culture media – across content, communication and development, and thanking friends, partners, supporters and associates. These premium brands include YNaija.com, Rubbin’ Minds (on Channels Television), The Future Awards, The Future Project and marketing communications firm Red Media.

As the ball of the year, it seems everyone is on the hunt for the evening’s perfect outfit. Everyone is on the hunt for the perfect outfit for the evening, and actress Nse Ikpe Etim’s label of choice is House of Nwocha. “The brand definitely understands that a woman wants to feel sexy and classy at the same time, and they pull it off every time,” Nse Ikpe Etim says of her House of Nwocha choice.

For Rita Dominic gravitated to Moofa, a label synonymous with the refined silhouette of a bygone era. She said of her the label, “They are amazing and can truly amazing when it comes to classic silhouettes that flatter a woman's body. I can't wait to show off on the black carpet!"

Designer Ohimai Atafo,of MAI, expects a night of perfection. "It’s a masked ball, and for the elegant a time to push the envelope,” he said. “Stylish ball gowns, and sharp formal suits/tuxedos  will fill the red carpet.

Ohimai Atafo joins publisher and trendsetter, Noble Igwe to select the King and Queen of the Black Ball from the black carpet. “Expect to see some of Nigeria’s best-loved designers!” Williams says. “Bridget Awosika, Toju Foyeh, April by Kunbi, Jewel by Lisa, Kinabuti, Zizi Cardow, Marayah O, Purple, Akpos Okudo, Tiannah’s Styling, Wana Sambo and more. This should be fun!

Hosted by MI and the 3LiveChicks, the strictly-by-invitation event holds on 16 December, 2012


Venue
Crystal Ballroom
Landmark Event Centre,
Oniru, Victoria Island,
Lagos

Hours
Arrivals and photos: 5:45 PM
Cocktails: 6:00 PM
Ball Begins: 6:30 PM
Ball Ends: 9:00 PM

Strict Dress Code: Sophisticated and elegant
Ladies: Dresses
Gentlemen- Bow ties/Suits
Colours: Black

The brand new, re-modelled Y! Magazine will be presented to the public – with a first-of-its kind cover identity as well as content re-energised for its audience, and every invited guest will receive an autographed first edition of the relaunched magazine. Also to be unveiled with the magazine is the Annual Y! Best Dressed List – which will profile the 20 young celebrities who define Nigeria's style zeitgeist by embodying what it meant to be stylish in 2012.

“We are also grateful to BlackBerry, continuing its tradition of driving connectivity and networking, for presenting this first edition,” Williams added. Premium BlackBerry phones will be given to winners and that is just the tip of the Christmas gifts iceberg!

The event is presented by Y! Magazine, in partnership with BlackBerry and support from Cool FM. Media partners include BellaNaija.com and 360Nobs.com.

For more information please visit www.ynaija.com/blackball.

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MR AND MRS HITS NIGERIAN DVD MARKET

Barely two weeks after she released her critically acclaimed movie, Mr and Mrs to the Ghanaian market for home entertainment, has Chinwe Egwuagu revealed that she has reasons to be happy as the movie has generated wide acceptance and sales in Ghana.

Nse Ikpe-Etim

The movie which enjoyed favorable media appraisals while in the cinemas went on sale in Ghana last week and according to reports, the movie made commendable sales in the Gold Coast the same week it was released on DVD, owing to the acceptance of the flick by Ghanaians.

The movie which brought fast rising acts; Joseph Benjamin and Nse Ikpe Etim together under one roof, talks about daily occurrences and upheavals encountered in most relationships and marriages and how such situations can be remedied.

Revealing the reason behind her decision to release the movie on DVD, Chinwe, a graduate of Mass Communication from IMT Enugu said, “the success of Mr and Mrs at the cinemas was commendable and I have been getting requests from people asking that they will like to see the movie again, and I actually think the time is right for a DVD release’’. The movie was released in Nigeria on Monday, August 20 and reports available indicate that it witnessed huge patronage.

The movie tells the story of Susan Abbah (Nse Ikpe-Etim), a lawyer who is holed up in a marriage that has been engulfed with issues from differences in the social strata. Her husband, Kenneth Abbah (Joseph Benjamin), a rich son of a Senator is bent on not letting the world know of his wife’s background and decides to keep her in the kitchen where he believes she belongs.

On the other hand, is another couple Linda and Charles played by the duo of Thelma Ojiji and Paul Apel who seemingly have a perfect marriage until Linda begins to take her husband for granted because she takes care of all the bills in the home.

Mr and Mrs was produced by Chinwe Egwuagu and directed by Ikechuwku Onyeka and shot on the Canon 5D by DOP Tom Robson.

Mr and Mrs [Trailer]

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Kate Henshaw, Nse Ikpe Etim and OC Ukeje to thrill at Open Mic Theatre this Saturday

After two successful editions of the Open Mic theatre, the popular show will be holding its third edition on December 3. Tagged the Christmas edition, the edition will have 'Nigerian Theatre Classics' as its theme.

"We are very happy that Open Mic theatre is becoming a staple for lovers of theatre and the arts in the country. With the last edition, we had a large turnout. This time around, we expect no less", said Kemi Akindoju who is the organiser of the show.

For this edition, performers would be required to do excerpts from any Nigerian classics of their choice. Expected to thrill guests on that evening will be; Kate Henshaw, Nse Ikpe-Etim, Wale Ojo, Oc Ukeje, Najite Dede, Lala Akindoju, Omonor Somolu, Paul Alumona, Bikiya Graham-Douglas, Uzo Osimkpa, Omoye Uzamere, Kenneth Uphopho and many other artistes.
This edition will hold on Saturday December 3 2011 at The Life House, 33 Sinari Daranijo Street, off Younis Bashorun Street off Ajose Adeogun Victoria Island Lagos at 6pm.

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MONALISA AND EMEM TO PREMIERE 'KISS AND TELL'

It is another combination of beauty and brains as nollywood screen diva Monalisa Chinda and wave making actor Joseph Benjamin put together stellar performances in another romantic comedy flick from the Royal Arts Academy titled ‘Kiss and Tell’.

Starring Desmond Elliot, Monalisa Chinda, Nse Ikpe-Etim Uche Jombo, Joseph Benjamin, Bhaira Mcwizu, Darlene Benson and others, ‘Kiss and Tell’ is set to be premiered on June 19, at the Silverbird Galleria in Lagos. As we have been informed, the classy premiere is to start by 4pm with a red carpet event and the premiere proper by 6pm.

The highly humorous movie ‘Kiss and Tell’ is set to crack the toughest ribs and it has Monalisa Chinda as the executive producer and one of the best in the field Emem Isong as the producer.

Iyke, the ultimate player, is best of friends with Bernard, except when it comes to Blue Quest, the firm they run together. When Delphine, a gorgeous divorcee who has sworn off men, walks into Iykes’s life, he makes a wager with his friend to sleep with her in ten days or sell his controlling shares in the company. What Iyke didn’t bargain for was falling for his Prey.
Iyke (Joseph Benjamin), the ultimate player in the game of women runs Blue Quest with his friend Bernard (Desmond Elliot); their friendship however does not apply to their coy. Iyke, who prides himself as the ultimate player per excellence however met his match perhaps more than he bargain for in Delphine (Monalisa Chinda), a divorce lawyer who is a divorcee herself. Iyke is about to lose a bet, a controlling shares of Blue Quest. He has to win or lose all.

Emem Isong speaking on the movie said, ‘it is a classy movie one that you watch and feel good about. We exercised a lot of caution in producing the movie so that the touch of class can be maintained. The script has a detailed touch of wit and humour and the director Desmond Eliot ensured that the cast brought the script to life. It took a lot of hard work to put the movie together but comments that we have gotten so far since the trailer has been released has made it all worth it’.

Tongues are however wagging that Monalisa might be telling her messy divorce story in the compelling flick. ‘Let me leave that to people who know me to judge’ she said in a release by Royal Arts reps, Bigsam Media. Kiss and Tell will be in cinemas in Abuja, Lagos, Port Harcourt and other parts of the country from July 18.

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