Mildred Okwo’s 2021 African neo-noir crime thriller, La Femme Anjola (The woman Anjola) is due for a North American premiere on Sunday, November 21, 2021. The screening, which will be at the prestigious MCC Theater is a collaboration between African Film Festival and MCC Theater, reputed to be one of New York’s leading non-profit Off-Broadway companies.
This first of its kind event precedes a global streaming of the film between November 25 and November 28, 2021.
Directed by Mildred Okwo and written by Tunde Babalola, the crime thriller which premiered in Nigeria in March to great reviews, tells the story of a young Lagos investment banker whose life is upended when he falls in love with the wife of a gangster. The film stars Rita Dominic, Nonso Bassey, Mumbi Maina and Femi Jacobs.
Speaking about the film, which recently got four Africa Movie Academy Awards nominations, (including Dominic and Bassey for their lead roles), Okwo said: “As a filmmaker, I am drawn to telling stories that capture the essence of my observations and La Femme Anjola, is one of such films. With this project, I had the opportunity to present a classic noir tale with a distinctively African twist; one that speaks for the times as it chronicles the journey of a young middle-class man who is simply a product of today’s Nigeria. In many ways, his story is the story of a modern-day Nigerian.”
Information from the parties, who were brought together by Walk Tall Girl Productions, a United States of America based boutique marketing, audience development and group sales agency for the performing arts, indicated that La Femme Anjola will be presented in conversation with MCC’s current production of ‘Nollywood Dreams’ written by Jocelyn Bioh and directed by Saheem Ali. The productions will be presented with strict compliance to COVID-19 protocols.
The Audrey Silva Company (TASC) is a leading Nigerian film company founded by Rita Dominic and Mildred Okwo, two female industry veterans. TASC has in a short time embarked on creating innovative film, television and web projects. Their main objective is to produce quality content inspired by Africa which meets world standards and capable of increasing the stakes for African content worldwide. TASC’s dedication to the craft has brought media support, high visibility and great audience patronage. TASC’s vision aligns with that of the NYAFF organisers and MCC whose goals are to provoke conversations and bridge the divide between post-colonial Africa and the American public through the medium of film.
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