Following an extensive tour of the global film festival circuit, Arie and Chuko Esiri’s Co-directed feature film, ‘Eyimofe’ will have its Nigerian premiere on Sunday, April 18, at EbonyLife Place in Lagos, days before opening in selected cinemas across Nigeria on Friday, April 23.
Adjudged by international audiences, festival directors, critics and industry media as an outstanding effort for a maiden feature film, Eyimofe brings to fore the pressures of everyday life in Nigeria, the desperate measures people take to survive, and the unrelenting desire to escape to a better life abroad, by any means possible.
It focuses on the lives of Mofe, a stoic electrician and part-time security guard and Rosa, a struggling hairdresser, both trying to navigate illegal ways of fleeing the country.
“Eyimofe is very special to both of us – not just because it’s our first full-length feature, but due to the amazing support we have received from the cast, crew, and a host of backers. We’re grateful to GDN Studios for allowing us to tell this touching story without compromising on production values and for helping to give the film the global exposure it has received. Audiences abroad have taken this movie to their hearts and we look forward to having Nigerians embrace it, even as they discuss some of the issues it raises about the human condition,” Co-directors, Arie and Chuko said in a statement issued to mark the cinema release.
The film has represented Nigeria internationally, having been selected for festivals in 20 countries, including the prestigious Berlin International Film Festival in 2020, where it had its World Premiere; the British Film Institute’s London Film Festival; and the American Film Institute (AFI) Film Festival.
It has garnered several festival awards including ‘Winner, Best Fiction, New Filmmakers’ at the São Paulo International Film Festival (Brazil), and ‘Winner, Achille Valdata Award’ at the Torino Film Festival (Italy).
The film was produced by GDN Studios, an arm of The Guardian Group.
