“The Interrogation of Lotanna,” a compelling Nigerian short film, has achieved international recognition. The movie won the Best Nollywood Short Film award at the prestigious Realtime International Film Festival in Birmingham, UK.

This thought-provoking piece is the brainchild of director and writer Reginald Jumbo. He is affectionately known as Grandmaster Prime. The collaborative efforts of producers Ibukun Serah Adetoyinbo and Ore Oba brought the production to life.

The film’s success highlights the growing global influence of Nigerian cinema. It tells the gripping tale of Captain Ardo, a military commander tasked with suppressing a rebellion in eastern Nigeria. Ardo’s primary objective is to locate and apprehend Zuru Nkwu, the elusive leader of the insurgency. After months of fruitless searching, a promising lead directs Ardo to a suspect named Lotanna. Despite enduring intense interrogation and torture, Lotanna steadfastly maintains his innocence, creating a tense and morally complex narrative.

A talented ensemble brings this story of “The Interrogation of Lotanna” to life.

It features performances by William Chinoyenem, Cassey Oritsejolomi, Anthony Nwahiri, Francis Sule, Michael Embraiz, and Mr. Rala. Their portrayals add depth and authenticity to the film’s exploration of conflict, loyalty, and the human spirit under duress.

The Realtime International Film Festival has been a pivotal platform for independent filmmakers since its inception in 2016 by Stanley Ohikhuare. This is where “The Interrogation of Lotanna” triumphed.

 

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A post shared by AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A MR REGINALD JUMBO (@grandmaster_prime)

Over the years, it has played an important role in nurturing talent and fostering a creative economy. The festival’s impact is evident in the successful careers it has launched. Moreover, over 150 young filmmakers see their work featured on major streaming platforms like Netflix and Amazon.

Additionally, this year’s festival showcased several other notable Nigerian productions alongside “The Interrogation of Lotanna.” What’s more, these included “Garden of Healing” produced by Ozor Uche, “Kaka” by Prince Daniel, and “Arinye” by Seun Afolabi.

In conclusion, the strong presence of Nigerian films at the festival underscores the country’s growing influence in the global film industry. Indeed, it highlights the wealth of talent emerging from Nollywood.

Nike Okundaye, the Director of Nike Art Gallery recently made a statement about challenges in the art industry. According to her, the biggest challenge artists face is related to their vision. She emphasized the importance of eyesight in the art world.

Okundaye pointed out that artists heavily rely on their ability to see. She stated that artists would struggle to create their work without their eyes.

“Our biggest challenge in the art industry is our sight. Without our eyes, we can’t do anything” Nike Okundaye, Director of Nike Art Gallery said.

Her comment shows how crucial visual perception is for most forms of artistic creation.

The problem:

More than 70 million Nigerians have uncorrected blurry vision. In other words, about one in three Nigerians just need a simple pair of eyeglasses to see clearly. Most of those who need eyeglasses and do not have them are in low-income communities.

Clear sight has a profound effect on many aspects of our lives, including our ability to work, read, and create. Blurry vision is an easily solvable problem that can outsize an individual’s earning capacity and quality of life.

VisionSpring is a part of the solution:

As a social enterprise, VisionSpring has been helping Nigeria’s low-income communities get eyeglasses since 2016. In six years, we have corrected the vision of more than 350,000 Nigerians through eyeglasses. We are especially committed to Nigeria’s artisans and low-income workers who use their hands for detailed tasks.

In April, VisionSpring published findings from THRIVE, a randomised controlled trial conducted with Queen’s University Belfast and BRAC. The study carried out in rural Bangladesh, found that participants who received reading glasses experienced a 33.4% boost in median monthly income compared to the control group.

Read more about THRIVE: visionspring.org/impact/thrive-rct

The event:

VisionSpring and Nike Art Gallery have come together to celebrate the intersection of art and vision. Hosted in the heart of Lagos, this event raises awareness of how a clear vision drives creativity, innovation, and prosperity in Nigeria.

Many artists in Nike’s network are experiencing age-related vision loss, affecting their capability to create and make a living. This unique art exhibition, highlighting some of the most talented artists in Nike’s network, demonstrates just how important vision correction is in preserving cultural heritage.

Guests will have the opportunity to interact with Nike and other artists and learn about VisionSpring’s mission to increase lifelong earning, learning, safety, and well-being through eyeglasses.

See pictures of the event below.

VisionSpring media contacts in Nigeria

• Abimbola Ogundirahun (Country Manager):+234 803-575-4036
• Kemi Vaughan (Global Senior Content Marketing Manager):+234 706-379-9373
• Friday Oke (Project Implementation Lead):+234 703-059-6912

Check out more updates on arts and culture here.