Nigerian Feature Film 'Eyimofe' Set to Premiere at the Berlin International Film Festival

Nigerian feature film Eyimofe is set to premiere at the 70th Berlin International Film Festival (BIFF) which will begin today, according to PulseNG.

Eyimofe (translated to "this is my desire"), which tells the story of migrants and their pursuit for better lives in Europe (Italy and Spain specifically), is the first independent film from Nigeria to premiere at the festival.

Written by Chuko Esiriand produced by Melissa Adeyemo is a migrant tale of two Nigerians from Lagos who set out for Europe in the hopes of discovering better opportunities for themselves. A description of the film is given by the BIFF in the following excerpt:

"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.

The film stars local talent including Jude Akuwudike, Tomiwa Edun, Temi Ami-Williams, Cynthia Ebijie, and Jacob Alexander and international act, Goodness Emmanuel among several others.

In 2018, Eyimofe was one of the winners of New York University's Purple List, an annual selection of the best production-ready screenplays from its Tisch School of the Arts.

Additionally, the film has now landed an international deal with the New York-based Aspect Ratio Sales which taken sales rights of the film which exclude Africa and Asia where GDN Studios will continue to retain the rights.