22nd August, 2014
Funsho Arogundade
After four years in production, Lancelot Oduwa Imasuen’s much-anticipated epic movie, Invasion 1897 (Nogbaisi Ovonramwen), is set for series of international premieres.
P.M.NEWS Entertainment Cafe gathered that coming on the heels of the successful exclusive screening to a select audience last week at the Silverbird Galleria, Victoria Island, Lagos, the historical movie will be debuting at the Toronto African & Music Festival on 27 August as the opening film of the festival. It will be followed by a London VIP premiere alongside major Benin Bronze works exhibition on 13 September at the Odeon Cinema. This will be followed by a special premiere at the famous Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C on 17 September. Back home in Nigeria, the film will be screened at the Abuja International Film Festival. There will also be a three-day special Nollywood premiere on 23 to 26 September.
On 30 September, Invasion 1897 will have proper Lagos premiere, and followed by general screening in cinemas nationwide as from 1 October.
The historical movie is based on the invasion of the great Benin Kingdom by the British in 1897, and how they carted off ancient Benin arts and artefacts which, to date, still adorn some museums around the world. It stars both Nigerian and British actors like Segun Arinze, Charles Inojie, Nosa Ehimwen, Paul Obazele, Leo Mezie, Mike Omoriegbe (Oba Ovonrawmen), Idiata Otiagbe, the late Justus Esiri (cameo appearance), Rudolph Walker, Charles “Chucky” Venn, Annika Álofti, Garett Mort, Hannah Raehse-Felstead, Tim Robinson, Rob Spackman, Patrick Thompson and Keith Davinson.
“The food is ready and the snippet of it is what we have invited you to come and see. This film will answer certain questions that have to do with the invasion of Benin Kingdom by the British Empire in 1897. The stake is much higher than what we used to have before,” Imasuen, popularly called ‘The Governor’ told his guests at the Lagos exclusive screening.
The maverick moviemaker gave some background details about the big-budget movie.
Apart from Senator Daisy Danjuma, who heavily invested in the production of the film as the executive producer, Invasion 1897 was proudly supported by South Atlantic Petroleum, Hewlett Packard, Task Systems and FEVA TV, Canada.