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The Cameroon Entertainment Awards CEA team has made public the criteria used in the selecting nominees for the first edition of the event. This is contained in a press released issued in New York. According to the release, the selection of nominees was done on the basis of a three-point criteria – public interaction (email, facebook, general feedback nominations), handpicking of prominent faces and skills judgment.The release further explains how these points were considered and what exactly went on during the nominations.
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Last Updated on Monday, 23 April 2012 01:41 |
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During this period of the year, news publications have the applauded habit of saluting women who have delved into daring ventures and made it. They do this by writing stories that reveal or recall success stories of some women/girls who have pointed their heads out of doldrums of unpopularity. These publications usually say it is their own way of joining the womenfolk in celebrating March 8, commemorated the world over as International Women’s Day. This year, TIPTOPSTARS pays tribute to some women who have created an indelible mark in filmmaking and movie acting.
EARLY GENERATION
The pioneering Sita Bella
 A young Sita-Bella, working as a pilot.To talk about the early generation of female filmmakers in Cameroon, the name Sita Bella is mentioned in the first position. She was Cameroon’s pioneer female journalist who took interest in filmmaking as well. In 1963, Sita Bella produced one of the earliest documentary films titled Tam-Tam a Paris which featured at the maiden edition of the Week of African Cinema (today known as FESPACO) six years later in 1969.
The legendary Margaret Fombe
Margaret Fombe is yet another big name in the Cameroonian female filmmaking landscape. Today the most senior female TV director, working for the State-run television, CRTV, Fombe produced documentaries as far back as the 80s. She has produced countless documentaries screened over CRTV over the years. Some popular ones include Sirri Cow, Femmes et Hommes en Milieu Rural Camerounais, Ces Gosses Qui Bossent, etc.
CURRENT GENERATION
There have been a good number of female filmmakers after the Sita Bella and Margaret Fombe generation. We will try to establish few categories to which they fit and try to remember these them.
PRODUCERS
Josephine Ndagnou: From TV hostess to filmmaker
Among the producers of the new generation, we can mention names such as Josephine Ndagnou. Formerly working as TV presenter at CRTV (presented Tam-Tam Weekend), Ta Zibi as she was easily called following her role in Gervais Mendo Ze’s Etoile de Noudie (telefilm) became one of the most popular female filmmakers when she released Paris a Tout Prix four years ago. The film fast became a hit, stormed cinema halls and grabbed several awards including one from FESPACO.
Ariana Astrid Atodji and the AMAA eye opener
While Ta Zibi made strides with Paris a Tout Prix at FESPACO, Ariana Astrid Atodji did same at the annual Africa Movie Academy Awards, AMAA held in Nigeria. Her film Kondi Et Le Jeudi National became the first ever Cameroonian production to grab a prize at the prestigious awards in 2011.
Naah Joyce: Short films heroine
On her part, Naah Joyce has been on the limelight for quite some time with seller productions. Perhaps what will forever remain the Yaounde-based female filmmaker’s most memorable things in her career is Rape, a short film which has bagged home countless awards. Her latest production, First Cry is making its entry into the film landscape.
Sunjo Petra’s sound film education background
She is one of the best things happening in film education in Cameroon. Petra has a sound educational background in filmmaking, having amassed a wealth of known in filmmaking from one America’s most renowned film schools. She is the producer/director of Bongfen, a short film that swept awards.
Nintai Vivian with Facts and Fun
Almost rounding off her Masters in an aspect of cinematography in the University of Yaounde I, Vivian Nintai is a well-known producer/director of short films meant for TV. She is the brain behind the Facts and Fun projects by Jedida Pictures. The said short films were screened on CRTV for quite some time.
Ayi Chatou Inoua: Destined to succeed!
Based in Yaounde, Ayi Chatou will be remembered for being one of the most daring female film producers of her time. In 2009, the UNIYAO II Law graduate flew in some of the most sought-after Nollywood actors, Emeka Ike and Tonto Dikeh. The resultant production Royal Destiny also starring Solange Yijika and directed by Neba Lawrence became a sellout.
Itambi Delphine: Mistress of the camera
She normally had been quite involved in filmmaking, but it was the release of A Woman’s World, her maiden production that shot Delphine Itambi to the elitist ranks. She has always yearned to know more, reason why the Buea-based female filmmaker opted to go for further film studies in Dubai where she was enrolled in an American film institute. Earlier, Itambi made a few trips including to Tanzania where she shared experiences with colleagues from other countries. She just returned to Cameroon after several months away and will surely be coming up with yet another hit.
Ngassa Nina: Youngest producer with unbroken record
In 2011, Ngassa Nina, then putting up in Buea (recently moved to Yaounde) created a yet-to-be beaten record by producing a feature film in just three weeks. Vanity Fair, directed by Neba Lawrence was a well admired piece. It won the CAMAG fatest production awards in May 2011 in Yaounde.
Quiniva Dinga; Daring as well
Limbe-based female producer Quiniva Dinga is making her debut into the seventh art, yet she is doing good. Her movie, Caught Within is at the verge of being released. She promises to get to the apex of the art/business.
THE ACTORS
Some of the most competitive actors in thee Cameroonian film industry have been women.
Solange Yijika: Most sought-after
She came on board in 2005 and soon became the female actor every producer wants to have in their movie. Solange, a talented match has featured in some of the best-selling productions – Royal Destiny starring Emeka Ike and tonto Dikeh, Land of shadows starring Jim Iyke, Great Pain, Trials of Passion II, Troubled Kingdom (yet to be released), etc.
Quinta Eyong aka Mama Queen: Queen of her art
She is easily assessed to be one of the best-selling female actors. She has featured in virtually all the biggest productions in the country including Royal Destiny, Before the Sunrise, The Blues Kingdom, Land of Shadows and Nexus. Quinta lives in Mamfe.
Madaleine Agbor (Mama Meg): Making great strides
Buea-based Mama Meg as the civil society activist is affectionately called is a female actress of high repute. Her mastery of the Queen’s language puts her at the top. Watch her in The Blues Kingdom, Land of Shadows, just to name these.
MUST-WATCH FEMALE ACTORS
These are female actors who are extra-ordinarily talented and need to be watched. Their featuring have given movies the artistic coloration they deserve. The list in inexhaustible – Ruth Nkweti (ZAFAA 2011 nominee), Rita Zembe (2009 ACE Awards laureate), Ebot Vera, Fri Louisa, Maureen Abia, Nchin Mabel, Awubang Perine, Dinga Noella, etc.
THOSE CAMEROONIANS WITH NOLLYWOOD EXPERIENCE
This group is made up of Cameroonian female actors who have performed in Nollywood movies. Sylvie Mbuta leads this chart. Currently in the USA, Syl Anim as she would love to be called has featured in several Nigerian films including Mamush , Saving Sarah, Broken Edge, Last picnic, The Mistress, Jardon, Mask of death, The wrong woman, Without sham, Cyberia and My Mum and I. Other Cameroonian female actresses with Nollywood experience include Inorie Fotso, Tita Matilda and Yuh Solange.
THE USA MOVIE QUEENS
It’s certain there is a crop of talented Cameroonian female actress making great inroads of late. They are fast winning the admiration of movies lovers in Cameroon and throughout Africa. Taka Tanni, Trina Takoh and Mairo Sanda are now household names.
Happy women’s day the girls!!!!!!!!!
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Last Updated on Thursday, 08 March 2012 12:15 |
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 CEA date fixed
The much-awaited Cameroon Entertainment Awards (CEA) night has now hit the fast lane that heads to the event. July 28, 2012 has been fixed as the date for the last phase of the event which is the recognition night proper. It enters the annals as the day one of the biggest events to celebrate Cameroon’s talent-rich entertainment industry hosted by the USA.
Akon Cameroon concert presenters to host CEA
Yves Tchouta and Sophie Aiida are well-known matches in showbiz in the diaspora. The two young Cameroonians are signed up to present at the Akon concert billed for March 24 in Douala Cameroon. Their next big job soon after will be the crowd-puller Cameroon Entertainment Awards inaugural at the famous Howard University Cramton auditorium in DC. Tchouta, a Mass Communication degree holder, is a film writer and director of international repute. His films including the famous Wamba have enjoyed selection and nomination privileges at several awards. An event like the CEA night is Tchouta’s kind of a thing, just like his July 28 co-host Sophy Aiida. Raised in Douala, Paris, Florida, Sophy who now lives in New York is a talented female actor. She is a radio host and has excelled as an event communicator. She has countless showbiz events she has hosted to her credit. The CEA will add on the list come July 28. Someone whispered to this writer that when Yves Tchouta and Sophy Aiida are paired on stage for such an event, expect their performance to remain in your subconscious mind for the rest of your life.
Celebrities as guests
Many Cameroonian celebrities have bought-in the CEA idea and have promised they’ll be present at the event. Plans are underway to that effect. The CEA will be an occasion to meet the big names in music, cinema, modeling, sports, etc. In a subsequent update, TIPTOPSTARS will unveil the package. Affaire a suivre…
CEA gets initial flyer
It’s so gorgeously designed and befits the events. The official flyer for the Cameroon Entertainment Awards (CEA) has been published and is now being shared among Cameroonians on various forums. The brown-coated flyer carries vital information on the up-coming event – logo, date of the CEA night, venue, hosts, contacts of the organizers and some great symbols of the host country USA. Perhaps what gives the CEA flyer more meaning is the seal of the Republic of Cameroon.
Cramton auditorium is home for CEA
It couldn’t have been anywhere else. The grandeur of CEA makes it normal for the event to hold in a deserving venue such as the University of Howard’s (in Washington DC) Cramton Auditorium. The 1508-capacity hall that is expected to host Cameroonians and friends of the country from around the globe has a sound system and lighting that is comparable to none. Named for Louis Cramton, a former Congressional Representative from Michigan who played an instrumental role in gaining the passage of an Act of Congress authorizing federal appropriations to the University, Cramton Auditorium is where many events on Howard’s campus are held. Blessed are those who will be at Cramton, ‘where everything happens’.
Voting kicking off in short while
Meantime, a complete list of nominees for the maiden edition of CEA will be made available in the coming hour. Voting kicks off thereafter. La suite dans un instant…
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Usually described as Africa in miniature, Cameroon has more than enough to show in music, cinema, fashion, craft, cuisine. Examples abound. Yet the media, especially the print pay very little attention to  this. Cameroonian newspapers are known to have little room for arts and culture news, especially when it is not institutional. There has been a disturbing absence of regular entertainment columns in frontline newspapers published in English, if we must limit the observation to that. Even when stories on showbiz are reported in the papers, they are only sporadically done with no in-depth approach to it, contary to what would obtain with politics and perhaps sports.
On radio or television, such stories are lined at the bottom of the news menu, usually coming at the close of the newscast. Whether they find an audience at that time is another story on its own.
For quite some time now, there has been an outcry to reverse this phenomenon which does not reflect a country said to be a cultural Eldorado. Even when arts and culture reporters and stakeholders in the entertainment industry have sought lasting solutions, the habit has refused to die so soon.
However, there is silver lining in the dark cloud of entertainment reporting in Cameroon. There has at least been an active revolution happening online, thanks to some entertainment portals. Amongst them is four-year-old www.nexdimempire.com which undoubtedly is one of the leading Cameroonian online publications. Reputed for capturing the attention of a huge audience worldwide, www.nexdimempire.com has become a big market place for Cameroonian showbiz news and sports. Hardly would any Cameroonian showbiz event or celebrity go unnoticed by the site which can today boast of countless articles, published over the past four years.
Run under the banner of NexDim Empire, an entertainment outfit, www.nexdimempire.com has won a huge reputation for reporting regularly on the contemporary music landscape and the Cameroon’s young movie industry. “NexDim is my window on the Cameroonian entertainment industry,” Terence, an Ohio USA resident told TIPTOPSTARS Editor. The young lover of art and culture who has been away from Cameroon for over a decade now confessed to us that he feels at home each time he logs on www.nexdimempire.com “The site is so rich in content and a big asset to Cameroon’s entertainment industry,” he went further.
Perhaps what makes the NexDim story more exciting is that the outfit goes beyond reporting events. www.nexdimempire.com also plays an admirable promotional role, helping out artists in the areas of advertizing, online sales, marketing, event and concert organization, mass production of CDs, printing of posters, stickers, banners and T-shirt graphic design.
With the indefatigable Steveslil as CEO, NexDim saw the light of day in 2009. The idea had been nursed a year earlier by Njang Stephen Mbu and Mambe Churchill Nanje. “We have a defined objective of instilling the value of creative imagination and throwing light in the music, arts and film industry in Cameroon,” the outfit’s mission statement reads.
Like Terence, hundreds of thousands of NexDim fans including those living in Cameroon are glad they can at least be feed with soft news, even when the politically-inclined hard copy news publications have fail to offer it to the reading public. If you’ve not been on the site yet, you can henceforth become one of its regular visitors by simply clicking on www.nexdimempire.com. That could just be the beginning of a new life in an empire of entertainment, an experience you probably might not have had before. Kudos Steveslil and co.!
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Last Updated on Friday, 24 February 2012 00:04 |
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