By Jonathan Ugbal
The Lost Café, a movie produced by Norway based Cross Riverian, Regina Idu Udalor has now won five awards, been nominated seven times and screened at ten different film festivals since its premiere in October 30, 2017 at the African International Film Festival (AFRIFF) in Lagos.
A list compiled by CrossRiverWatch shows that the movie tells a story of migration, love and discovery where the dreams of an immigrant face a complex reality won the Audience Choice Prize at AFRIFF 2017; the Golden Palm Award at the Mexico International Film Festival; the Jurors Choice at the Women of Africa Descent Film Festival; the Audience Choice Award at the maiden 5movies and the word festival in Calabar and the Achievement in Narrative Filmmaking award at the Silicon Valley African film Festival (SVAFF).
The film was nominated in seven different categories at the African Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) which include achievement in cinematography; achievement in sound; achievement in screenplay; best actress category; best director; best Nigerian film category and best picture Africa.
Since its premiere at AFRIFF less than a year ago, the movie has also been screened at the Nollywood Week Paris; Mexico International Film Festival; Denton Black Film Festival; Women of Africa Descent Film Festival; Twin City Black film Festival in Minnesota, USA; SVAFF; Real Time Film Festival; 5 movies and the word film festival and the Light, Camera, Africa Film Festival in Lagos.
The movie which was directed by Kenneth Gyang starred Tunde Aladese. Another Cross Riverian, Belinda Effah and Ann Njemanze among others also featured in the film which was a collaboration between Nigeria and Norway.
Most of the principal photography in Nigeria was carried out in Calabar.
Mrs. Udalor told CrossRiverWatch in a telephone interview that she was excited that her first feature film was having positive reception from viewers and film pundits. She said that: “This is my first feature film as a producer and I am very happy that the film came out the way it did. I just wanted to tell a story and since my inspiration comes from family, friends and personal, it is amazing to see the response to this film.”
When asked how she felt that her movie had achieved such in her first feature film, she said that: “Honestly, I haven’t thought about it in that way. I have just been thrilled that through festivals more and more people can get to watch The Lost Cafe. The awards to me shows that that means we did something right even though it is a low budget film. And this means we have to do way better in the future projects.”
Also, she said her fans should, “expect a different kind of storytelling,” even as she lauded their support so far.
On a sequel for the lost cafe, she averred that: “Lots of people have been asking about a sequel. I don’t know, we are not planning for a sequel though.”
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