Follows two Lagosians as they try to improve their families' lives when tragedy and fate intervene. Eyimofe is a diptych that tells the story of two people's quest for what they believe will be a better life in Europe.

The two parts of Eyimofe are entitled "Spain" and "Italy". The European countries remain invisible as we follow the stories of Mofe, a factory technician, and Rosa, a hairdresser, in Lagos. A passport, photos and a visa form recurring, yet still marginal elements in each part of the film, which only touch briefly, while the daily lives of the protagonists are described in detail. Their misfortunes are not narrated in overly dramatic fashion and seem normal as such, sketching out the need to leave Nigeria and accompanying problems. At the bottom of the socio-economic ladder, status, money, gender, skin colour and family structures are inextricably connected. Eyimofe speaks of these entanglements with emphatic patience, which grow ever tighter. The longing for another life is but one thread in this complex mesh, a promise that floats above things and far away from them at the same time.

starring
Jude Akuwudike, Temi Ami-Williams, Adetomiwa Edun, Cynthia Ebijie, Toyin Oshinaike, Jacob Alexander, Fortune Nwafor, Chioma Omeruah, Bimbo Manuel, Sadiq Daba

a film Arie & Chuko ESIRI

Nigeria, 2020, Feature drama, 1h56, drama

Country: Nigeria
Year: 2020
Language: English
Runtime: 1 hr 56 min (116 min)
Colour: Colour
Aspect Ratio: 1.66 : 1
Negative Format: 16 mm (Kodak)
Cinematographic Process: Super 16
Printed Film Format: DCP

CAST
Jude Akuwudike (Mofe)
Adetomiwa Edun (Seyi)
Temi Ami-Williams AKA Temiloluwa Ami-Williams (Rosa)
Cynthia Ebijie (Grace)
Toyin Oshinaike (Vincent)
Jacob Alexander (Peter)
Fortune Nwafor (Wisdom)
Chioma Omeruah (Mama Esther)
Bimbo Manuel (Clarence)
Sadiq Daba (Jakpor)
Ye-Eun Shin,
Charles Ukpong,
Goodness Emmanuel,
Sadiq Daba (Jakpor)
Odera Olivia Orji,
Kelechi Udegbe,
Nonso Odogwu,
Ejike Asiegbu (Goddey)
Imoh Eboh (Nurse)
Rita Edward (Peace)
Sunday Joy (Tolu)
Emmanuel Adeji... Blessing
Mary Agholor... Gloria
Kemi Lala Akindoju... Hope
Ivy Akinyode... Luciana
Temiloluwa Ami-Williams... Rosa
Ashia... Sisi Mrs Tejuoso
Chiemela Azurunwa (Doctor)
Derby (Angela)
Tomiwa Edun... Seyi
Oludara Egerton-Shyngle... Miya
Goodness Emmanuel... Mercy
Tope Etikerentse... Dr. Ojo
Chiemezie Imo... Guy
Sola Lawson... LJ
Bimbo Manuel... Clarence
Love Nebo... Gift
Kaline Njoku... Lola (as Kalibe Akinkugbe)
Emeka Nwabaracho
Emeka Nwabaracho... Akin
Fortune Nwafor... Wisdom
Nene Nwanyo... Pharmacist
Chidumebi Nzeribe... Celestine
Nonso Odogwu... Barrister Onuah
Evaezi Ogoro... Mummy Tolu
Chioma Omeruah... Mama Esther
Uzamere Omoye... Precious
Odera Olivia Orji... Receptionist
Toyin Oshinaike... Vincent
Christian Paul... Tailor
Kelechi Udegbe... Dauda
Charles Ukpong... Abu
Kenneth Uphopho... Okpara
Omoye Uzamere... Precious

Producers
Melissa O. Adeyemo, Arie Esiri, Chuko Esiri

Co-Producers
Adé Sultan Sangodoyin
Adetokunboh Sangodoyin

Executive Producers
Toke Alex Ibru,
Olorogun Oskar Ibru,
Salman Zoueihed,
Ifeoma Esiri,
Kayode Akindele
Albert Esiri
Christopher Ibru
Maiden Alex Ibru

Consulting producer
Bose Oshin

DIRECTORS:
Arie Esiri,
Chuko Esiri

Written by
Chuko Esiri

Cinematography
Arseni Khachaturan

Editing
Andrew Stephen Lee

Music
Akin Adebowale

Sound Design
Randy Matuszewski

Sound
Pius Fatoke

Production Design
Taisa Malouf

Costumes: Daniel Obasi
Make-Up: Francisca Otaigbe
Casting: Kemi Lala Akindoju
Assistant Director: Monica Palmieri

Production Manager: Jide Opoola Adewale
Art Director: Abisola Olarenwaju Effiong

Makeup Department
Olofinlade Adetunji... key hair stylist
Victor Akpan... practical effects supervisor
Otaigbe Francisca... key makeup artist
Ajibola Mojisola... makeup assistant
Segun Olotu... assistant makeup artist

Production Management
Jide Opoola Adewale... production manager
Ezekiel Akhiromen... executive in charge of production
Nagham Osman... post production office pa
Brittany Quickel... post production office pa
Diane Shaibu... NY production assistant
Gladys Tivkaa... welfare supervisor (as Gladys Tivka)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Temitope Joshua... third assistant director
Austine Lordlaz... second second assistant director
Alan Oyadiji Moses... third assistant director
Godwin Ndotenyin... second assistant director
Monica Palmieri... first assistant director

Art Department
Kola Adeniji... property master
Ayobami Aribisala... art department intern
Mustapha Abiola Azeez... production design assistant
Dylan Brown... Leadman
Abayomi Lawore... Assistant Props
Aina Olarenwaju... production design assistant
Suja Ono... Set Decorator

Sound Department
Pius Fatoke... sound mixer (as Pius Olamilekan Fatoke)
Bolaji Gbolagade... boom operator
Randy Matuszewski... re-recording mixer / supervising sound editor
Jamil Munoz... re-recording mixer
Bryn Neuenschwander... sound project manager

Special Effects by
Jamil Munoz... special effects assistant
Connor Simpson... graphics designer

Visual Effects by
Rob Bellon... visual effects artist
Camera and Electrical Department
Nojeem Ajala... Key Grip (as Nojim Ajala)
Hakeem Ajibola... electrician intern (as Ajibola Hakeem)
Adesola Ashola... electrician
Shola Ashola... best boy electrician
Cedric Cheung-Lau... 2nd unit cinematography
Troy Dobbertin... first assistant camera
Chad Dougherty... gaffer
Adeyemi Emmanuel... Grip
Chukwuebuka Enejere... company electrician
Ebuka Enejere... electrician
Mebinuaye Olusola... Grip Assistant
Philey Sanneh... 2nd unit assistant camera
Morgan Shane... second assistant camera
Bayo Yusuf... Best Boy
Daisy Zhou... gaffer

Casting Department
Kemi Lala Akindoju... casting (as Lala Akindoju Fregene)
Costume and Wardrobe Department
Adeyemi Adedamola... wardrobe manager
Ifeoma Kalu... wardrobe assistant
Daniel Okei... wardrobe assistant
Laura Ugbegua... wardrobe assistant
Lauretta Yemoja... wardrobe assistant

Editorial Department
Kyle Casey... digital intermediate producer
Fernanda Frotte... on-set editor
Keith Jenson... colorist
Andrew Stephen Lee... editor
Matt Medeiros... dailies producer
Josh Olive... colorist: dailies
Pete Olshansky... account executive
Luciana Siracusano... NY editing intern
Michael Thurston... NY editing intern

Location Management
Adebowale Adedeji... location coordinator
Ego Bernard Awele... location manager
Joseph Daoudu... location coordinator
Muri Sabili... location coordinator
Script and Continuity Department
Lilian Ukwu... script supervisor

Transportation Department
Christopher... tent van driver
Akanbi Derrick Dennis... camera van driver
Chidi Eheke... production driver
Patrick Obi Ekwulo... crew bus driver
Emeka... set bus driver
Umanah Idiong... production car driver
Idowu... equipment driver
John... crew bus driver
Afolabi James Olusoji... production driver
Olaleye Tosin Oluwaseun... production driver
Adaraniwon Olanrewaju Samuel... transportation coordinator
Shina... camera van driver
Taiwo Shobode... driver generator operator

Additional Crew
Ego Bernard Awele... estate location manager
Ishola Emmanuel Ayodeji... production assistant
Biola Bankole... Production Accountant (as Biola Sokenu)
Janine Beach... Legal & Business Affairs
Isheri Kitchen... Caterer
Nick Monu... acting coach
Faranpojo Afolake Moromoke... production assistant
Omoluwa Nyerhovwo... production intern
Christopher Ohwo... marquee supervisor
Samson Ojediran... post-production accountant
Godson Efeturi Ojonah... GDN Legal
Ejike Okoye... production coordinator for Kimiera Media
Adebiyi Olumide... production assistant
Happy Umukoro... marquee coordinator
Ella Utomi... production coordinator

PRODUCTION
GDN Studios
Kimiera Media

In association with
GDN Productions
Ominira Studios

Distributors
Janus Films (2021) (USA) (all media)
The Criterion Collection (2022) (USA) (Blu-ray)

Camera: Panavision Cameras and Lenses
Laboratory: Postworks, New York, USA

LINKS
www.eyimofe.film
www.janusfilms.com/films/2034
www.facebook.com/gdnstudios


FESTIVALS / AWARDS
* Won Best Director Award /// 2021 Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) (Lagos, Nigeria 2021)
* Won Best Nigerian Film Award /// 2021 Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA)
* Won Best Editing Award /// 2021 Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA)
* Won Best Sound Award /// 2021 Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA)
* Won Best First Film by a Director Award /// 2021 Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) (Lagos, Nigeria 2021)
* Won five awards /// 2021 Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) (Lagos, Nigeria 2021)
* Nominated in seven of the 26 categories /// 2021 Africa Movie Academy * Nominated Golden Stallion /// FESPACO 2021 (Ouaga, Burkina Faso, 2021)
* Best Young Actress Award by ECOWAS (1 000 000 FCFA to actress Temi Ami-Williams) /// FESPACO 2021 (Ouaga, Burkina Faso, 2021)
* Winner: Best Feature Narrative Award /// Blackstar Film Festival 2021
* Nominee: Best International Film (Feature Film Award) /// Galway Film Fleadh 2021
* Winner: Golden Gate Award (New Director) /// San Francisco International Film Festival 2021 (San Francisco, USA, 2021)
* Winner: New Directors Competition /// Seattle International Film Festival 2021 (Seattle, USA, 2021)
* Winner: Best Film /// World Cinema Amsterdam 2021 (Amsterdam, Netherlands, 2021)
* Winner: Ciné+ Distribution Support Award /// Entrevues Film Festival 2020 (Belfort, France, 2020)
* Nominee: Grand Prix Janine Bazin Award /// Entrevues Film Festival 2020 (Belfort, France, 2020)
* Nominee: Grand Prize City of Lisbon (International Competition) /// IndieLisboa International Independent Film Festival 2020 (Lisbonne, Portugal, 2020)
* Winner: Best Fiction (New Directors Competition) /// São Paulo International Film Festival 2020 (São Paulo, Brazil, 2020)
* Nominee: Prize of the City of Torino (Best Feature Film) /// Torino Film Festival 2020 (Torino, Italy, 2020)
* Nominee: Best Feature Film (Meeting Point) /// Valladolid International Film Festival 2020 (Valladolid, Spain, 2020)
* Nominee: Best First Feature Award /// Berlin International Film Festival 2020
* World Premiere //// 70th Berlinale (Berlin, Germany, 2020)
www.berlinale.de/en/archive-selection/archive-2020/programme/detail/202003854.html

________

CZ

Mofeho a Rosu spojuje nejen život v jednom domě, ale i touha tento dům opustit a odjet daleko za hranice rodné Nigérie. Přestože jsou jejich sny vystaveny mnoha nástrahám, ani jeden se nevzdává a každý po svém hledají způsob, jak žít, větším či menším katastrofám navzdory. Snímek Touhy je pestrobarevnou zprávou plnou naděje o současné Nigérii. Kouzlo filmu spočívá v přirozenosti, jemném humoru i přesně odpozorovaném prostředí. (MFF Karlovy Vary)