By Christian Agadibe
Nollywood movie, Nnewi the land of Gold, produced by Chinwe Eboh has received 14 nominations for the 2024 Toronto Film Festival to be held in Canada. film
The nomination was as a result of the hard work and persistence of the actor and screenwriter, whose journey into the movie industry was almost truncated early in her career by a producer who had looked down on her ability to excel in the film industry due to her diminutive stature.
“I was told by a producer I was too tiny to act and be paired with top stars for a movie role. I started writing scripts for people for free and got them to feature me in their movies in exchange of payment which was how people started noticing me and paying me little by little,” Eboh recalled.
Born in Imo State and a graduate of Public Administration from Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT), Eboh has proved that one can achieve milestones in the make-believe industry.
Speaking on what inspired the movie, she said: “I’ve always wanted to go into the history of our Igbo people. I spoke with a friend about my plans to write a script about the Owerri people and my friend told me that she could introduce me to someone who could tell the history of the Nnewi people. Nnewi is a very big place and I took the trip there. I met up with Nnayi Anyanwu Igbo who told me this captivating story of Nnewi as the land of gold.”
Eboh who had also produced ‘Ultimate Deceit and so many others, explained how she embarked on research for her latest movie focusing on Nnewi.
“It took me about six months. I was in Nnewi for two months, searching, going through Google, libraries, reading books, visiting bookshops and interviewing residents of Nnewi. While I was there, I noticed that Nnewi people are very creative and industrious. They also help each other. Nnewi people are down to earth even the richest man in Nnewi still rides motorcycle.”
She said further: “Some people believe that the Nnewi people are ritualists and that’s why they are more successful than other Igbo communities. Nnanyi Anyawu actually told me how it all started.
He even told me how they were protected and made invisible during Biafran war, such no bomb was dropped in the town all through the war.
Commenting on the synopsis, Eboh said: “Nnewi is rated the Nigerian town with the highest concentration of billionaires There have been negative perceptions about the Nnewians because of how famous, successful and wealthy they are, so I decided to use star power of our movie stars for public enlightenment aimed at enhancing the reputational aspect of the people and also educate our children and generations to come about our roots.”
She continued, “This project was sponsored by an Nnewi man, Prince Ifeamuma Nwafor-Orizu and we are showcasing both Nnewi of the past and Nnewi of the present. We shot in four places; Abuja, Lagos, Enugu and Nnewi. The reason for this is to have variety. The glamour part was shot in Lagos and Abuja, the epic part of the film was shot in Enugu, we shot in Nnewi too in some of the industries like Chikason, Innoson, and others.
Stars in the movie include Pet Edochie, Chiwetalu Agu, Zubby Michael, Jim Iyke, Patience Ozokwor, Ebele Okaro, Lilian Esoro, Ada Ameh, Sambasa Nzeribe, Enyinna Nwaigwe, Steve Eboh and a host of other top stars.
Eboh who also acted a prominent role in the movie said that the viewers should expect to connect with the film that tells a true African story.
The movie was nominated in the following 14 categories: Official Selection, Best Drama Nollywood, Best Supporting Actress (Lilian Esoro), Best Supporting Actor (Jim Iyke), Best Supporting Actor Africa (Chiwetalu Agu), Best Supporting Actor African (Jim Iyke), Best Actor African Film (Pet Edochie), Best Actress African Film (Patience Ozokwo), Best Hair and Makeup, Best Costume, Best Art Director, Best Cinematographer, Best African Female Filmmaker (Chinwe Eboh) and Best Director Africa (Toka Mcbaror)
