Nollywood blockbuster producers EbonyLife Films and Creative Artists Agency (CAA) co-hosted a screening of “Òlòtūré” at CAA’s Los Angeles headquarters on Monday, 24 June 2019. Guests included Hollywood influencers, writers, producers, agents and EbonyLife Films Executive Producer, Mo Abudu. A bold step in a new direction for Nollywood, “Òlòtūré” tackles the serious issue of human trafficking through a distinctive ‘art nouveau’ lens.
Set in Lagos, Òlòtūré is the story of a young, naïve Nigerian journalist who goes undercover to expose the shady underworld of human trafficking. Unused to this brutal environment, crawling with ruthless traders and pimps, Òlòtūré finds warmth and friendship with Blessing, Linda and Beauty, the prostitutes she lives with. However, she gets drawn into their lifestyle and finds it difficult to cope. In her quest to uncover the truth, this rookie reporter pays the ultimate price – one that takes her to the verge of no return.
EbonyLife Films Executive Producer Mo Abudu says that tackling a controversial, globally important topic like human trafficking was a challenge – but a necessary one. “Òlòtūré explores a world very few people know anything about, and that had to be dealt with in a particular way,” she says. “It’s not a documentary, but it addresses real issues most of our society doesn’t see, harnessing the talents of some of the country’s top actors and filmmakers to produce a film that is both intelligent and profound – and breaks bold new genre and stylistic ground for Nollywood.”
The film promises to be a gripping one for audiences across the globe and hopes to lift the veil on an almost invisible crime at a time when so many young people, especially women seeking greener pastures, have little idea of just how dangerous searching for a better home can be. This film will have particular appeal for audiences which are increasingly seeking out content that carries a social message while providing a riveting story, memorable characters and excellent production values. Says Abudu, “We hope that Òlòtūré will lead the charge in a bold new direction for narrative filmmaking in Nollywood, and take more Nigerian stories to the world.”
Òlòtūré is directed by Kenneth Gyang and stars Sharon Ooja, Omoni Oboli, Blossom Chukwujekwu, Omowunmi Dada, Kemi ‘Lala’ Akindoju, Wofai Fada, Bukola Oladipupo, Pearl Okorie, Ikechukwu Onanaku, David Jones David, Sambasa Nzeribe and Omawumi Megbele.
Òlòtūré will begin its festival run this summer, after which it will be released to cinemas across Nigeria and then to streaming platforms.
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About EbonyLife Films
EbonyLife Films is strongly committed to telling African stories from an African perspective, reflecting all aspects of our lives. Our debut feature was Fifty, a coming-of-age story of four successful women whose friendship is tested as dramatic events in their lives unfold. It was the only Nigerian film to be invited to the BFI London Film Festival and was the top-grossing Nigerian film of 2015.
In 2016, we produced The Wedding Party, a romantic comedy that premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) and became the highest-grossing movie of all time at the Nigerian box office. Its sequel, The Wedding Party 2: Destination Dubai, surpassed the original movie in terms of combined domestic and international revenues.
The Royal Hibiscus Hotel, another romantic comedy, also premiered at TIFF with three sold-out screenings and has already been viewed by more than 100 000 people on Amazon Prime Video.
Our fifth feature, Chief Daddy, was the highest-grossing Nigerian film of 2018, despite being released on December 14. It went on to become the third-highest-grossing Nollywood movie, giving EbonyLife Films the top three spots on the all-time box office chart.
Òlòtūré marks a broadening of our filmmaking spectrum, beyond themes of aspiration and empowerment, to encompass social issues that affect millions of people on our continent.
 co-hosted a screening of Òlòtūré at CAA’s Los Angeles headquarters on Monday, 24 June 2019.){kind=link}