HOW AMAA REVIVED RITA DOMINC’S DWINDLING CAREER

It is no longer news that top and sexy actress Rita Dominic grabbed the trophy as African’s Best Actress on Sunday, April 22,2012 at the 8th edition of African Movie Academy Awards(AMAA),over her lead role in a Kenyan movie entitled, Shattered.

What people are not really aware of is the major reason the light skin actress was perplexed over the honour.

NFC will without charge inform you on this page that before her role in Shattered, which was not a Nigerian film though,Ms Dominic was almost listed among Nollywood actresses whose acting careers were gradually dwindling.

The Imo State born screen goddess almost became an actress who was celebrated just for her old glory. Either as a result of waiting for the cinema movie scripts, challenging roles,non-contemporary Nigerian drama or the script not coming her way, Ms. Dominic almost became invisible on the scene of movie making.

However,the script came for the actress to play a lead that took her outside the shores of this country and position her above other actresses in Africa in 2012.

According to the information reaching us,the awards seems to be on the great path to revive Ms. Dominic’s career, as top movie producers are already staging out plans to star the actress in various movies that will hit the cinemas in 2013.

AMAA 2012 NOMINEES & WINNERS

Best Short Film category.

Nominees:
Jamaa - Uganda,
Look Again, Kenya,
Maffe Tiga - Guinea,
Braids on a Bald Head - Nigeria
Hidden Life - South Africa
Mwansa the Great - Zambia
Chumo - Tanzania
Young Smoker - Nigeria

Winner is Braids on a Bald Head


Best Documentary category

Nominees:
African Election - Nigeria/Germany
Beyond the Deadly Pit - Rwanda
Awa Ogbe: An African Adventure - Algeria
Dear Mandel -South Africa
White & Black,Crime & Colour -Tanzania
The Niger Delta Struggle - Ghana
There's nothing wrong with my uncle -Nigeria

Winner is : African Election - Germany/Nigeria


Best Diaspora Feature

Nominees:
Toussaint Loventure - France
Ghetta Life - Jamaica
High Chicago - Canada
Elza - Guadaloupe
Better Must Come - Jamaica
Kinyanrwanda - USA

Winner Is : Toussaint Loventure - France


Best Diaspora Documentary

Nominees:
The Education of Auma Obama - Germany
White Wash - USA
Almendron mi Corazon - Guadaloupe
The Life and Times of Winfred Hubert

Winner Is : The Education of Auma Obama - Nigeria/Germany


Best Short Film in Diaspora

Nominees:
John Doe - USA
White Sugar in a Black Pot - USA
The Lost One - USA

Winner Is: White Sugar in a Black Pot


Best Animation

Nominees:
The Legend of Ngog Hills - Kenya
Oba - Nigeria
Climate Change is Real - Kenya
Egu - Ghana
Nauliza Why - Kenya

Winner Is : The Legend of Ngog Hills - Kenya


Best Film by An African Living Abroad.

Nominees:
Mystery of Birds - US/Nigeria
Housemates - UK/Nigeria
Ben Kross - Italy/Nigeria
Paparazzi Eye in the Dark - USA/Nigeria/Ghana

Winner Is : Mystery of Birds - US/Nigeria


Best Achievement in Production Design

Nominees:
Somewhere in Africa - Ghana
Phone Swap - Nigeria
Otelo Burning -South Africa
Adesuwa - Nigeria
How to Steal 2 Million - Africa

Winner Is : Kunle Afolayan's Phone Swap


Achievement in Costume Design

Nominees:
The Captain of Nakara
Adesuwa
Rugged Priest
Somewhere in Africa
Queens Desire

Winner Is : Adesuwa

Achievement in Makeup

Nominees:
Rugged Priest - Kenya
State Research Bureau - Uganda
Adesuwa - Nigeria
Somewhere in Africa - Ghana
Shattered - Kenya

Winner Is: Shattered - Kenya


Best Achievement in Soundtrack.

Nominees:
Otelo Burning - South Africa
Alero's Symphony - Nigeria
Adesuwa - Nigeria
How to Steal 2M - South Africa
Somewhere in Africa - Ghana

Winner is : Alero's Symphony (soundtrack done by ex-Plantashiun Boiz star, Faze)


Prize for Achievement in Visual Effects

Nominees:
Behind the Mask - Ghana
Somewhere in Africa - Ghana
Adesuwa -Nigeria
State Research Bureau - Uganda

Winner is : Adesuwa


Best Achievement in Sound

Nominees:
State Of Violence – South Africa
Otelo Burning – South Africa
How To Steal 2 Million – South Africa
Man On Ground – South Africa
Algiers Murder – South Africa

Winner: State of Violence - South Africa


Achievement in Cinematography

Nominees:
How To Steal 2 Million – South Africa
Othello Burning – South Africa
Rugged Priest – Kenya
Masquerades – Ghana
Man On Ground – South Africa/Nigeria

Winner: Othello Burning - South Africa


Achievement in Editing

Nominees:
Algiers Murder – South Africa
Man On Ground – South Africa/Nigeria
Unwanted Guest – Nigeria
How To Steal 2 Million – South Africa
Otelo Burning – South Africa
Alero’s Symphony – Nigeria

Winner Is: How to Steal 2 Million


Best Child Actor

Nominees:
Rahman Junior Bande (Greg) – Behind The Mask
Tsepang Mohlomi (Ntwe) – Otelo Burning
Reginna Danies (Jenny) – Bank Job
Benjamin Abemigisha & Racheal Nduhukire (Derick And Margaret) – JAMAA
Ayinla O. Abdulaheem – Zr-7

Winner Is: Tshepang Mohlomi (South Africa)

Achievement In Screenplay

Nominees:
Ties That Bind – Ghana
Mr & Mrs – Nigeria
How To Steal 2 Million – South Africa
Otelo Burning – South Africa
Unwanted Guest – Nigeria
Two Brides And A Baby – Nigeria

Winner Is: Ties That Bind – Ghana


Best Actress In A Supporting Role

Nominees:
Terry Phetto –How To Steal 2 Million
Ebbe Bassey –Ties That Bind
Empress Njamah –Bank Job
Ngozi Ezeonu –Adesuwa
Thelma Okoduwa –Mr & Mrs
Omotola Jalade Ekeinde – Ties That Bind

Winner Is: Terry Phetto – How To Steal 2 Million


Best Actor In A Supporting Role

Nominees:
Rapuldna Seiphemo (Twala) – How to Steal 2 Million
Fano Mokoena – Man on Ground
Hafiz Oyetoro – Phone Swap
Okechukwu Uzoesi – Two Brides and a Baby
Godfrey Theobejane – 48
Lwanda Jawar –Rugged Priest

Winner Is: Fano Mokoena – Man on Ground


Best Film

Nominees:
State Of Violence (South Africa)
Adesuwa (Nigeria)
Otelo Burning (South Africa)
Rugged Priest (Kenya)
How to Steal 2 Million (South Africa)
Ties That Bind (Ghana)
Man on Ground (South Africa/Nigeria)

Winner Is: How to Steal 2 Million (South Africa)


Best Nigerian Film

Nominees:
Unwanted Guest
Family On Fire
Alero’s Symphony
Adesuwa
Phone Swap


Winner Is: Adesuwa


Best Promising Actor

Nominees:
Neo Ntatleno (Oj) – State Of Violence
Ivie Okujaye (Alero) – Alero’s Symphony
Iyobosa Olaye (Adesuwa) – Adesuwa
Martha Ankomah – Somewhere In Africa
Thomas Gumede& Sihle Xaba – Otelo Burning

Winner Is: Ivie Okujaye


Best Film In An African Language
Nominees:

Chumo (Tanzania)
State Of Violence (South Africa)
Family On Fire (Nigeria)
Otelo Burning (South Africa)
Asoni (Cameroun)

Winner Is: State of Violence


Best Actress In A Leading Role

Nominees:
Nse Ikpe Etim – Mr & Mrs
Yvonne Okoro – Single Six
Ama K. Abebrese – Ties That Bind
Rita Dominic – Shattered
Uche Jombo – Damage
Millicent Makheido – 48
Kudzai Sevenzo-Nyarai – Playing Warriors

Winner Is: Rita Dominic – Shattered


Best Actor In A Leading Role

Nominees:
Menzi Ngubane – How to Steal 2 Million
Majid Micheal – Somewhere In Africa
Chet Anekwe – Unwanted Guest
Jafta Mamabolo – Otelo Burning
Karabo Lance – 48
Wale Ojo – Phone Swap
Hakeem Kae-Kazim – Man on Ground

Winner Is: Majid Micheal – Somewhere In Africa

Best Director

Nominees:
Adesuwa – Lancelot Oduwa Imaseun
Ties That Bind – Leila Djansi
Rugged Priest – Bob Nyanja
How to Steal 2 Million – Charlie Vundla
State Of Violence – Khalo Matabane
Man on Ground – Akin Omotoso
Otelo Burning – Sara Bletcher

Winner Is: Charlie Vundla For How to Steal 2 Million


Special jury Award goes to Akin Omotosho

AMAA AWARDS 2012: RITA DOMINIC, NSE IKPE-ETIM, UCHE JOMBO AND YVONNE OKORO CLASH FOR 'BEST ACTRESS' PRIZE

We’ve been waiting for months. Now, the producers have released the list of nominees for this year’s Africa Movie Academy awards.  AMAA, currently the continent’s most prestigious awards for filmmakers, announced the nominees last week in Banjul, the capital of The Gambia, at an exclusive ceremony attended by celebrities, top government officials and captains of industry from The Gambia and other African countries.

This year’s event, to be hosted by Haitian born international actor, Jimmy Jean-Louis will hold in Lagos on April 22.

See the full list of nominees below.

AMAA 2012 BEST SHORT FILM

JAMAA – Uganda
Look Again – Kenya
Maffe Tiga – Guinea
Braids On Bald Head – Nigeria
Hidden Life – South Africa
Mwansa The Great – Zimbabwe
Chumo – Tanzania
The Young Smoker – Nigeria

AMAA 2012 BEST DOCUMENTARY

African Election – Nigeria / Germany
Beyond The Deadly Pit – Rwanda
Awa Ogbe An African Adventure – Algeria
Dear Mandella – South Africa
White & Black, Crime And Colour – Tanzania
The Niger Delta Struggle – Ghana
There Is Nothing Wrong With My Uncle – Nigeria
How Much Is Too Much – Kenya

AMAA 2012 BEST DIASPORA FEATURE

Toussanat Louverture – France
Ghetta Life – Jamaica
High Chicago – Canada
Elza – Guadelupe
Better Must Come – Jamaica
Kinyanrwanda – USA

AMAA 2012 BEST DIASPORA DOCUMENTARY

The Education Of Auma Obama – Germany
White Wash – USA
Almendron Mi Corazon – Guadeloupe
All Me The Life And Times Of Winfred Hubert – USA

AMAA 2012 BEST DIASPORA (SHORT FILM)

John Doe – USA
White Sugar In A Black Pot – USA
The Lost One – USA

AMAA 2012 BEST ANIMATION
The Legend Of Ngog Hills – Kenya
Oba – Nigeria
Climate Change Is Real – Kenya
Egu – South Africa
Chomoka – Kenya

AMAA 2012 BEST FILM BY AN AFRICAN LIVING ABROAD

Mystery Of Birds – USA / Nigeria
Housemates – United Kingdom / Nigeria
Ben Kross – Italy / Nigeria
Paparezzi Eye In The Dark – USA / Nigeria / Ghana

AMAA 2012 ACHIEVEMENT IN PRODUCTION DESIGN

Somewhere In Africa – Ghana
Phone Swap – Nigeria
Otelo Burning – South Africa
Adesuwa – Nigeria
How To Steal 2 Million – South Africa

AMAA 2012 ACHIEVEMENT IN COSTUME DESIGN

The Captain Of Nakara
Adesuwa – Nigeria
Rugged Priest – Kenya
Somewhere In Africa – Ghana
Queens Desire

AMAA 2012 ACHIEVEMENT IN MAKE-UP

Rugged Priest – Kenya
State Research Bureau – Uganda
Adesuwa – Nigeria
Somewhere in Africa – Ghana
Shattered – Kenya

AMAA 2012 ACHIEVEMENT IN SOUNDTRACK

Otelo Burning – South Africa
Alero’s Symphony – Nigeria
Adesuwa – Nigeria
How To Steal 2 Million – South Africa
Somewhere In Africa – Ghana

AMAA 2012 ACHIEVEMENT IN VISUAL EFFECTS

Behind The Mask
Somewhere In Africa – Ghana
Adesuwa – Nigeria
State Research Bureau – Uganda
Otelo Burning – South Africa

AMAA 2012 ACHIEVEMENT IN SOUND

State Of Violence – South Africa
Otelo Burning – South Africa
How To Steal 2 Million – South Africa
Man On Ground – South Africa
Algiers Murder – South Africa

AMAA 2012 ACHIEVEMENT IN CINEMATOGRAPHY

How To Steal 2 Million – South Africa
Otelo Burning – South Africa
Rugged Priest – Kenya
Masquerades – Ghana
Man On Ground – South Africa / Nigeria

AMAA 2012 ACHIEVEMENT IN EDITING

Algiers Murder – South Africa
Man On Ground – South Africa / Nigeria
Unwanted Guest – Nigeria
How To Steal 2 Million – South Africa
Otelo Burning – South Africa
Alero’s Symphony – Nigeria

AMAA 2012 ACHIEVEMENT IN SCREENPLAY

Ties That Bind – Ghana
Mr & Mrs – Nigeria
How To Steal 2 Million – South Africa
Otelo Burning – South Africa
Unwanted Guest – Nigeria
Two Brides And A Baby – Nigeria

AMAA 2012 BEST NIGERIAN FILM

Unwanted Guest
Family On Fire
Alero’s Symphony
Adesuwa
Phone Swap

AMAA 2012 BEST FILM IN AN AFRICAN LANGUAGE
Chumo – Tanzania
State Of Violence – South Africa
Family On Fire – Nigeria
Otelo Burning – South Africa
Asoni – Cameroun

AMAA 2012 BEST CHILD ACTOR

Rahman Junior Bande (Greg) – Behind The Mask
Tsepang Mohlomi (Ntwe) – Otelo Burning
Reginna Danies (Jenny) – Bank Job
Benjamin Abemigisha and Racheal Nduhukire (Derick and Margaret) – JAMAA
Ayinla O Abdulaheem – ZR-7

AMAA 2012 BEST YOUNG / PROMISING ACTOR

Neo Ntatleno (OJ) – State Of Violence
Ivie Okujaye (Alero) – Alero’s Symphony
Iyobosa Olaye (Adesuwa) – Adesuwa
Martha Ankomah – Somewhere In Africa
Thomas Gumede and Sihle Xaba – Otelo Burning

AMAA 2012 BEST ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

Rapuldna Seiphemo (Twala) – How To Steal 2 Million
Fano Mokoena – Man On Ground
Hafiz Oyetoro – Phone Swap
Okechukwu Uzoesi – Two Brides And A Baby
Godfrey Theobejane – 48
Lwanda Jawar – Rugged Priest

AMAA 2012 BEST ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

Terry Phetto – How To Steal 2 Million
Ebbe Bassey – Ties That Bind
Empress Njamah – Bank Job
Ngozi Ezeonu – Adesuwa
Thelma Okoduwa – Mr & Mrs
Omotola Jalade Ekeinde – Ties That Bind

AMAA 2012 BEST ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE

Menzi Ngubane – How To Steal 2 Million
Majid Micheal – Somewhere In Africa
Chet Anekwe – Unwanted Guest
Jafta Mamabolo – Otelo Burning
Karabo Lance – 48
Wale Ojo – Phone Swap
Hakeem Kae-Kazim – Man On Ground

AMAA 2012 BEST ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE

Nse Ikpe Etim – Mr & Mrs
Yvonne Okoro – Single Six
Ama K. Abebrese – Ties That Bind
Rita Dominic – Shattered
Uche Jombo – Damage
Millicent Makheido – 48
Kudzai Sevenzo-Nyarai – Playing Warriors

AMAA 2012 BEST DIRECTOR

Adesuwa – Lancelot Oduwa Imaseun
Ties That Bind – Leila Djansi
Rugged Priest – Bob Nyanja
How To Steal 2 Million – Charlie Vundla
State Of Violence – Khalo Matabane
Man On Ground – Akin Omotoso
Otelo Burning – Sara Bletcher

AMAA 2012 PRIZE FOR BEST FILM

State Of Violence – South Africa
Adesuwa – Nigeria
Otelo Burning – South Africa
Rugged Priest – Kenya
How To Steal 2 Million – South Africa
Ties That Bind – Ghana
Man On Ground – South Africa / Nigeria

EXCLUSIVE: FIGHT BETWEEN RITA DOMINIC AND INI EDO GETS MESSIER, AS BOTH SHUN PEACE MEETING

The cold war brewing between two hot Nollywood actresses, Ini Edo-Ehiagwina and Rita Dominic, may not be over soon as expected going by the latest development.

According to an industry source, who divulge this gist to Nigeriafilms.com, the two thespians may still keep status quo on what is between them for as long as no one knows.

We learnt that a peace and reconciliation meeting was initiated some days ago by some friends of the two actresses, who were not happy at their enemity, but were further disappointed when the meeting did not hold as scheduled.

As we were informed, both Rita and Ini didn't show up for the peace and reconciliation meeting put up by their friends in one of the regular joints in Lagos.

According to the source, Rita gave an excuse of being busy with her movie, The Meeting, while Ini said she was attending to some indispensable functions.

The fight between them got messier late last year when Rita went to twitter to point out an overnight abnormality in a voting system for who to be the best actress for an award.

The beef between them survived 2011 and as things are going, it might still survive 2012, though it is still early to conclude that way.

FAMILY AND FRIENDS MOUNTS PRESSURE ON RITA DOMINIC TO MARRY

 Popular screen goddess, Rita Nwaturiocha Dominic, apart from having an alluring appeal that makes one feel welcome, her smooth, soft voice is sensuous, especially when she wears one of her red trade mark lipsticks, which she has traded for a more matured look for now.

Without mincing words, Rita is the fans' delight anyday, anytime.

Rita's stage presence in movies largely draws from the emotions and passion with which she enraptures her audience, as she successfully interprets her roles to the last detail. Often as sweet as candy, she's got the looks such that one could at once feel she was born for the screens.

In the case at hand,this particular actress seems to be finding right men for marriage elusive. She was at a time said to be dating Nollywood bad boy,Jim Iyke,she was said to be very serious with him,but their love story was put on hold when Jim was not forthcoming with marriage proposal.

Although Rita denies her supposed relationship with Jim then by saying I'm not denying the fact that Jim and I are good friends. If you ask him if he could add somebody else to his family, he would add me to his family, likewise me. To me you can have a best friend that is a guy and there's nothing happening between you.I's just a pity that here when they see you guys talking or playing, they say you guys are going out.she said

Apart from Jim Iyke,she has been romantically linked with several other guys that yielded no fruit.

In a nutshell, the talented thespian has not been lucky with men.

The latest gist swirling around the actress is that she is right now under unprecedented pressure by friends and family to marry and settle down.

The family was concerned that the concept of success should be all encompassing and not limited to money and stardom which are temporal.

On the side of well meaning friends,the ground for pressure is that as a woman a little bit above forty that her biological clock is ticking.

Let's hope that the wedding bells will soon be ringing

STEPHANIE OKEREKE AND RITA DOMINIC RESUME THEIR HOSTILITY

If information at our disposal is anything to write home about, then the relationship between two actresses Stephanie Okereke and Rita Dominic has got messier.

The two beautiful and sexy actresses,we gathered have resumed their hostility.

The lastest issue is on who will be the spokesperson at Aso Rock,the city of power of Federal Republic of Nigeria.

We gathered that the two actresses clashed recently when it was reported that for any actor or actress to gain access to the Presidency,the person must go through Stephanie Okereke.

This did not go down well with Rita Dominic,who felt insulted that such a high post should be given to Stephanie.

Whoever thought of such made a mistake.How can I go through her before getting to the Presidency? Rita was said to have fumed.

RITA DOMINIC SETS TO HIT THE BIG SCREENS MARCH WITH 'THE MEETING'

Sultry and talented Nollywood actress, Rita Dominic, has almost already concluded plans to take her first effort as a producer to the cinemas.

The light skinned role-interpreter guru in 2011 stepped into the shoes of her fellow colleagues, Uche Jombo, Monalisa Chinda, and others, by
becoming a co-producer with Mildred Okwo in a new movie. The title of the movie by Rita is The Meeting.

According to information available to NigeriaFilms.Com, Rita is set to make The Meeting be at the big screens accross the country by March.

The film casts top Nollywood faces like Kate Henshaw, Chinedu Ikedieze, Jide Kosoko, Nse Ikpe-Etim, Tariah Basorge Jnr, Femi Jacobs, Bankole Kehinde, Rita Dominic and many others.

The Meeting was directed by Mildred Okwo and shot in Lagos and Abuja.

2011 ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY NEWSMAKERS

In 2011, two kinds of people ruled the entertainment industry like colossus. Some were busy making news without the attendant noise, while others were busy making noise without the substance of news.
There were those who graced the red carpet for the fun of it, while others were the ‘ish’ to complete the word ‘distinguish’ on the red carpet.

Their presence lit up the atmosphere and they were topics of discussion long after events were over. Some of the newsmakers chose to be silent without the drama and undue attention that characterize every move of noisemakers.

Identifying the noisemakers isn’t hard. They grace every available red carpet, dress to kill, smile to the paparazzi, walk around, and then leave. They are the first to announce every of their moves on twitter, change Blackberry pictures and issue press releases for all kinds of unworthy news. We won’t waste precious newspaper space mentioning their names; we shall, however, concentrate on those who made the news without the news making them.

Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde
2011 couldn’t have been better for the superstar actress; it was during the course of the year that she attended the Grammy and MoBo awards, and consolidated her place as a premium brand in Nollywood by grabbing only the big budget movies in and outside Nigeria. She became the highest paid Nollywood actress by collecting over N5 million fee for a movie shot in Nigeria. She played alongside Hollywood’s Kimberley Elis, the highly publicized Layla Djanzi’s movie Ties that bound, shot in Ghana. The same year, she starred in Amina alongside high profile British actor in the UK.

Shuga Band
In the business of live performances, Shuga Band topped the chart in 2010. It was expected that the Akin Tofowomo-led band would slow down in 2011, but alas! The critics were wrong. From East, West, North and South, even as far as Sri Lanka, Dubai, and France, Shuga Band grabbed all major events, leaving the rest for other bands. The band headlined Doyin Abiola’s daughter’s wedding in Dubai and shook Sri Lanka with talk-of-the-town performance. Ask any major event person, if you are not talking six digit figures, Shuga Band might be out of your reach.

Ini Edo
A Nollywood observer once said that apart from Genevieve Nnaji, Ini Edo is the actress with the highest number of corporate endorsements - Globacom, Chi, Noble Hair - are some of the corporate bodies that sought brand affiliations with the Uyo-born actress. Aside grabbing the mouth-watering Noble Hair deal in the course of the year, Ini Edo produced two major movies, I Will Take My Chances and Weekend Getaway. She also became the United Nations Youth Envoy on Environment. A United Nations appointment necessitated her visit to dustbin estate, where the despicable sight led her to make the commitment of building a school for the ghetto.

Mahmood Alli-Balogun
He is the type you may want to call “old school’’, especially for age and longevity in the industry. But the grey-beard filmmaker rebranded to teach the “new school’’ some filmmaking techniques. His movie, Tango With Me, went on to become the highest grossing local movie at the cinemas with over N32 million. The movie starred Genevieve and Joseph Benjamin. It is a 2011 record that only Ije beat in 2010.

Funke Akindele
Her story is as inspirational as inspiration could get. With a humble beginning and a teenage role in the popular sitcom, I Need To Know, Funke Akindele, a Lagos indigene, rose to become a force in the English and Yoruba movie genres, where she rose from being an outsider to one of the major players in the industry. Her movie, The Return of Jenifa, a sequel to the popular movie, Jenifa, went on to become the fastest box office movie at the cinemas, grossing over N29 million in just three cinemas. In the course of the outgoing year, she became a bona fide brand and Globacom renewed her appointment as Ambassador, while she starred in So Klin promo advert and reportedly pocketed several millions of naira for her efforts. She was also compere at several events, among them the Ice Prince album launch, and several corporate events.

Rita Dominic
Apart from Omotola, there is perhaps no busier actress on big budget movies than Rita Dominic. She represented Nollywood well in Kenya, where she starred in a big budget movie, Shattered. She was also the lead act in Izu Ojukwu’s movie and ended the year being the executive producer of her movie, The Meeting, alongside her longtime producer, Mildred Okwo. For Rita, it wasn’t all about movies alone, as telecoms giant, Globacom, re-appointed her Ambassador.

KOGA Entertainment
Not many gave the Chris Jeyibo-led entertainment firm a chance at the beginning of the year when Koga opened its door for business. But 12 months down the line Koga is the new song on everybody’s lips in both the music and movie industry. During the course of the year Koga played host to many entertainers, who used one of its four visual studios for music videos or movies. Others were there to record songs, mix and mastered different songs. The biggest news the entertainment company made was acquiring the latest and most expensive camera in the world, Alexa. The camera and its accessories are said to have cost over N40 million. The production arm of Koga also embarked on production of television soap, Eve, and a yet to be released movie, Heroes and Zeros, directed by Niji Akanji. The icing on the cake was Koga’s reality show, Dance234 and talk-of-the-town concert, Top10 MICS. The concert, according to industry buffs, is the best seen in Nigeria so far.

Tonto Dike
For Tonto Dike, there is no in-between, it is either you love her with untold passion, or hate with equal passion. Tonto is a major newsmaker of 2011. If she’s not making news with her out-of-the-world and eye-popping displays in numerous nude movies; she is getting people to talk about her tattoo. If you didn’t see Tonto’s tattoo in 2011, you definitely didn’t get to know what real news is in the past 12 months. Just when the year was about to end, Tonto gave scholarships to two kids and decided to pay late rapper, Dagrin, a visit. What is Tonto doing beside Dagrin’s grave? You might never be able to tell. Tonto is the kind of brand that stands not for your reason, but her own reason. Lest we forget, she still has the Asaba and Enugu movie mafia in her grip.

MoHit
Abuse them all you want for lacking in musical depth, but the MoHit crew were the news in 2011. From making the people dance to Oliver, making the Wande Coal trend for the second time, to getting signed on on Good Music owned by Kanye West, MoHit is it on the news blogs. For the record, D’banj became the highest earning musician of his generation in the past 12 months.

Wizkid
Ask anybody about the reigning musician in the industry, they won’t hesitate to tell you it’s Wizkid. The kid singer released a chart bursting album, went up the rank of high-earning musicians and made news for fathering a baby by a Ghana-based Nigerian undergraduate. No concert is complete at the moment without Wizkid heading it.

WAR BETWEEN RITA DOMINIC AND INI EDO CONTINUES: RITA DOMINIC IS ONLY JEALOUS OF INI EDO - INSIDER

The ongoing war between two Nollywood’s actresses, Rita Dominic and Ini Edo Ehigwene might not come to an end soon if what we are getting from camps of both sides is anything to go by.

The storm in the tea cup started when Rita took to a social networking site, twitter to show her displeasure at what she indirectly referred to as a sham in the number of votes Ini got overnight while AFRIFF was one.

Both thespians had canvassed for votes to win in the Best Actress of the year category at the just concluded Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF) in Lagos. The category had Patience Ozorkwo, Funke Akindele, Joke Silva, Rita Dominic, Ini Edo and others.

According to reports, winners of the awards would get return tickets to Tribeca Film Festival in New York next year courtesy of Arik Air, which is one of the sponsors of AFRIFF.

Winning the award was initially by public voting system on AFRIFF’s website. This made nominees canvass for votes from fans by every means available at their disposals. The organizers later settled for a lucky dip system, which produced Ini Edo as the winner, after the initial voting system generated lots of controversies.

We gathered that Ini’s votes rose from 2586 to 6693 votes between the night of Wednesday to Thursday morning. This made Rita tweet, Ok, I have to announce this o! INI EDO who had 200 votes last night has eclipsed the first place actress by 200 votes. JEZUXXXX.

According to the information gathered by NigeriaFilms.Com from an insider, we were told that Rita is just jealous of Ini Edo. According to the insider, “Rita is just jealous of Ini Edo. It is very clear that the people love Ini more than her, she should just wake up to that reality.”

When NigeriaFilms.Com asked why the assertion of jealousy by Rita, the insider said further, “If she weren’t jealous, why would she go on twitter to tweet what she did. The exclamation mark (….this o!) and the use JEZUXXXX explain everything. She has always never liked Ini, she sees her as a competitor and never like a colleague. This is just too bad of her. Let her go to h**l for all I care.” I hope she can now see that Ini Edo is better than her in all ramifications, Ini won what she was dying to get with ease. Rita is just a busy body. That is all.

Going to a source close to Rita, we were informed that there is no reason to be jealous of Ini Edo by Rita. “they are colleagues, there is no point being jealous of Ini. Though you guys [press] have always made the people believe Rita is at war with Ini but Rita does not have the time to do that.” The source said.

Speaking further, Rita never accused Ini of cheating but only came on twitter just to inform the people of the latest results of the votes cast. That was just it and nothing more.”

RITA DOMINIC BEATS GENEVIEVE,INI EDO, STEPHANIE OKEREKE,OTHERS TO WIN ARIK AIRLINE BEST ACTRESS

Was Rita Dominic desperate to win the newly instituted Arik Airline Awards category for Best Actress at the just concluded African International Film Festival(AFRIFF), or was it just providence?

Recall that Dominic accused Ini Edo of manipulating the online voting result which led to the cancellation of the exercise, a week before the festival kicked off in Lagos.

But in a twist of fate, last weekend, the actress eventually emerged the winner of the same award.

However, she won the award not by voting, instead through a lucky dip conducted by former Miss World, Agbani Darego.

At last weekend’s AFRIFF awards night held at Oriental Hotel, Lekki, Lagos, BBA regular host IK Osakioduwa who anchored the glamorous event with Rita Dominic had called out the ex-beauty queen, all for the purpose of selecting a winner of the award through lucky dip. After all said and done, Rita Dominic emerged the lucky winner beating Stephanie Okereke, Omoni Oboli, Genevieve Nnaji and others who were also nominated for the award. But Ini Edo’s name was conspicuously missing during the lucky dip.

Interestingly, this happened to be the first time, where a winner would emerge in an international contest of this magnitude through lucky dip.

But for IK, the organisers decided to adopt that means as the sponsors insisted on giving out the award to a winner, no matter the odds.

By winning the award, Rita Dominic will be flown to the Tribeca Film Festival, billed to hold in New York next year, by Arik Airline.

Apart from the Best Actress award, there were also winners in other categories of indigenous awards instituted by the airline. They were ace-film maker, Mahmood Ali-Balogun, whose “Tango with Me” remains one of the best movies ever shot by a Nigerian, won the Best Producer of the Year, and actor Desmond Elliot who won the Best actor award.

Kenyan Jane Murago-Munene’s “The Unbroken Spirit”won the Best Documentary category while Le Parrian by Pale Sie Lazare won in the area of Best Animation.

The Viewers’ choice award, awarded in terms of feedback of the audience concerning movie screened in the course of the festival, went to The Education of Auma Obama while Niji Akanni’s Aramotu lift the country at the event by winning the Best Feature Film prize, considered to be the most coveted award of the whole lot.

The film beat such films as Lancelot Imasuen’s epic film “Ädesuwa’, “Better Mus Come’by a Jamaican director, Storm Saulter, “Elza’s Happiness” directed by Marietter Monpierre from France amongst other films to cliche the prize.

The awards night was graced by a galaxy of celebrities across the world who dressed to kill. Mostly Nollywood super actors and actresses were the cynosure of attraction at the event. Kate Henshaw, Genevieve Nnaji, Stephanie Okereke, Omoni Oboli, Ini Edo, Monalisa China, Nse Etim Ipe, Rita Dominic, Uche Nnanna, Amaka Igwe, Celine Loaderand, Desmond Elliot, Kunle Afolayan, OC Ikeje, and a host of others.

RITA DOMINIC's PENCHANT FOR SPA

Nollywood actresses are known to have a penchant for one thing or the other. While some are known to be incurable party goers, others have the penchant for spending their birthdays with motherless children.

Recently, thirty-something-year old Nollywood star, Iniobong Edo, one of the most recognisable faces on the movie scene, chose to celebrate her birthday at a Lagos slum which attracted media attention.

While others are showcasing their proclivity in some noble causes, others like Rita Dominic are living the life.

The sultry Nollywood actress is said to have a penchant for visiting the spa and her day is said not to be complete without visiting the spa when she is not on set.

NOLLYWOOD ACTRESS RITA DOMINIC DOES A NO-SHOW FOR SHATTERED

Nollywood actress Rita Dominic does a no-show for shattered

Kenyan fans waiting to see their screen idol Rita Dominic today will be shocked to learn t that the beautiful actress will not be attending her Kenyan movie launch.

It made news when the Nollywood actress joined Kenyan cast and crew on the set of the movie Shattered. The actress was even reported to have confessed her undying love for Kenya and her Kenyans fans.

Well, according to information, Rita has chosen to be on another movie set rather than attending the movie launch which is scheduled for tonight at Westgate.

The movie produced by Dream House Productions deals with social issues in the society.

ANOTHER WAR BREWING BETWEEN INI EDO AND RITA DOMINIC

The organizers of Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF) announced some days back, that this year's event will hold between the 29th of November, 2011 till 5th of December, 2011 in Lagos.

Arik Airline partnered with the festival as its official partner and Nollywood stars like Omotola jalade, Genevieve Nnaji, funke Akindele , Mercy Johnson,patience ozokwor, joke silva and others were nominated in Best female actress category .

Nollywood actors like saheed balogun ,ramsey noah, jim iyke , Nonso diobi,others were nominated in Best Actor category while producers emem isong,Kunle afolayan ,Lancelot imaseun,Tunde kelani and others were nominated in the Best producers/directors category.

According to the organizers,the winners will be chosen by the general public and it is a poll for the public's favorite Nollywood Stars.

We gathered that Arik Airline will provide a free return ticket to the 2012 Tribeca Film Festival holding in New York, for the winners (Nollywood Star) of the poll/competition.

The latest development now is that,those that have been monitoring the voting since it started are pointing fingers at Ini Edo that the vote may have been rigged

According to ace journalist, dimokokorkusstella I have been monitoring this voting since it started and it beats my imagination that actress Iniobong Edos votes rose from 2586 to 6693 votes in less than a fraction of a second.!

I am definitely not implying anything but what happened speaks for itself and at this point i would say that the award is a sham,a big lie and a cotton over the eyes of innocent voters.

They should Tear down the bloody polls and let us concentrate on something else!

Star actress Rita Dominic is also accusing Ini Edo of foul play.

Entertainers Besiege Clothing Stores For(Headies) Hip Hop World Awards

Nigerian entertainers have began preparations towards attending and performing at the much talked about Hip Hop World Awards tagged The Headies. Those who should know, disclosed that entertainers in and outside Lagos are so ecstatic about the award ceremony so much that some have besieged fashion and clothing stores to equip their wardrobes in readiness for this year’s edition of the awards ceremony.

Those names weren’t disclosed, it was further gathered that first time performers and nominees are the guiltiest of the ecstatic preparation towards the awards ceremony. Already entertainers like M.I, Dr. Sid, Banky W, Flavor Nabaniya, Ice Prince have been billed to perform at the awards while Omawumi, Muna, Waje, Olamide, Tiwa Savage, Brymo and others would be making their first entry to the HHWA stage this year.

Leading hip hop acts -Wizkid, Iceprince, Olamide, Goldie and Tiwa Savage- are hopeful of wining one of the Hip Hop World Awards plaques known as ‘Headies.’ These hip hop acts, already nominated for different categories aside the ‘Next Rated’ category of the awards ceremony, have been busy canvassing the votes of their fans and watchers of the industry. Kennis Music Duchess, Goldie, has been nominated in the category of Best Pop Female and Best Video, but the ‘Next Rated’ category, which comes with a prize, is said to be the most-talked about in the industry and industry watchers are divided over who should win it.