BBC, CNN, British Council, BFI London Film Festival, Others Rally Support for FIFTY

As FIFTY, the new feature film from EbonyLife Films continues to receive international acclaim and recognition, renowned global media giants have added their voices to support the film, whose cast and crew were hosted by the British Council to a pre-premiere cocktail in London, as part of the build-up to its world screening which held last Saturday in London, United Kingdom.

BBC 1’s Controller, Charlotte Moore, was at the London premiere and said, “It was funny, full of melodrama and disarmingly touching and courageous at the same time - a side of Lagos you don’t often get to see and a really original film. I loved the cast and characters and it was so refreshing to see a film that gave a voice to the ‘fifty-something’ women of Nigeria. I’m sure it will be a massive hit.”

Also, speaking with Mo Abudu on Huw Edward’s flagship news and currentaffairs programme, ‘BBCNews at Five’, based in their central London studios, Simon McCoy spotlighted FIFTY with glowing tributes even as the Executive Producer, Mo Abudu, explained how the movie, which tells the compelling story of four glamorous, middle class women dealing with the same challenges that women all over the world deal with, is quintessentially a celebration of the African woman of today in a global marketplace.

CNN also captures this all-important essence tersely, but poignantly when it stated that FIFTY portrays “African women like never before”, almost in corroboration of Amanda Neville, Chief Executive Officer of BFI London’s opening remarks declaring the 2015 festival theme as “The Year of the Strong Woman”. There can be no better fitting theme for FIFTY, a riveting and dramatic exploration of love and lust, power and rivalry, with seduction and infidelity, set in Lagos, Nigeria.

Apart from CNN and BBC, two eminent platforms Viva Naija and The Capital, also hailed the intriguing movie which premiered on Saturday October 17, at the BFI London Film Festival.

Viva Naija reserved special praise for the principal players: “The director, Biyi Bandele; the executive producer, Mo Abudu; and The Four Titans: Ireti Doyle, Omoni Oboli, Dakore Egbuson- Akande and Nse Ikpe Etim must be applauded for their valiant efforts in bringing a whole new level of cinematic excellence to Nollywood.

FIFTY has made Africa proud as the only film selected from Nigeria, and one of only five films from the entire continent of Africa from 238 films selected globally for screening at the 2015 BFI London Film Festival.

Set to enjoy a worldwide distribution via Netflix to 65 million homes globally, FIFTY will treat audiences to a special Grand World Premiere in Nigeria on December 13 at The Eko Hotel & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.

The film will them be released in cinemas nationwide on December 18 via a distribution partnership with FilmOne, an independent distributor of filmed entertainment, providing top-end film release services with emphasis on the Nigerian territory.