By Bolarinwa Akande
Actress turned filmmaker, Omoni Oboli, has received the endorsement of President Goodluck Jonathan and other politicians for her new movie, entitled Being Mrs Elliot.
Omoni received accolades for the film during its screening at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, last week, where the president and party cohorts were in attendance.
The president who said Omoni’s flick was the second film premiere he had attended ever, described it as a must-see. “Being Mrs Elliott is a good movie. I particularly like the element of reality in it. We are a people of strong culture and that is what Being Mrs Elliott has projected. It is a beautifully-told story that everyone can relate to. This is my second movie premiere ever. The first was a movie about me, the second is Being Mrs Elliott, and I am not disappointed. I recommend this movie and encourage everybody to go and see it at the cinema.”
Also speaking, CEO of Silverbird Group, Mr. Ben Bruce, said: “I would rate this movie high on several fronts, good production value; the movie is very clear, compelling story and commercial value.”
In the words of Ondo State Governor Olusegun Mimiko, “I particularly like the strong cultural thrust of the movie Being Mrs Elliott. The movie did not seek to disregard our culture. We are a people of culture and the way to build a nation is to sustain good and viable culture. I commend the producer for coming up with a movie as good as this.”
The Movie which opened the Nollywood Week Film Festival in Paris about three months ago and got 11 nominations at the Nollywood and African Film Critics’ Awards (NAFCA) in California, USA, is the story of a successfully married woman, who was torn between two worlds after a life changing incident. She found out that the best life has to offer are not things but moments.
Sponsored by MRS, Access Bank and Keystone Bank, the private screening in Aso Villa, was attended by top dignitaries, including President Goodluck Jonathan; Vice-president Alhaji Namadi Sambo; Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke; Governor of Ondo state Hon. Olusegun Mimiko; Chief Edwin Clark; Minister of Information, Chief Labaran Maku; Minister of Culture, Tourism and National Orientation, Chief Edem Duke; Mr Ben Bruce; Governor-Elect, Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose; filmmaker Mahmood Alli-Balogun; CEO of AFRIFF Chioma Ude, film director, Mildred Okwo; CEO Bigsam Media, Samuel Olatunji; cast of Being Mrs Elliott, AY, Lepacious Bose, Chika Chukwu and Tomi Adeoye among others.
The filmmaker has fixed September 5 for the release of the movie in the cinemas.