O-Town (film)

Last updated • 1 min readFrom Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia

O-Town
O-Town Film Poster.jpg
First film poster
Directed by C.J. Obasi
Written byC.J. Obasi
Produced byOge Obasi
C.J. Obasi
Starring
CinematographyTunji Akinsehinwa
Edited byC.J. Obasi
Music byBeatoven
Wache Pollen
Production
company
Fiery Film Company
Release date
  • November 2015 (2015-11)(African International Film Festival) [1]
Running time
129 minutes
CountryNigeria
LanguageEnglish

O-Town is a Nigerian crime gangster film written and directed by C.J. Obasi. [2] The film stars Paul Utomi as Peace, a hustler at the center of various issues in the small town of Owerri, also known as O-Town. [3] [4] The film's music was composed by Beatoven and Wache Pollen and filming took place in Owerri. [2] [5]

Contents

Of the film, Obasi has described it as a "crime-gangster thriller". It’s a semi-autobiographical tale because it draws from some of the crime stories I knew and heard; growing up in a small town called Owerri in Imo State. It’s also my exploration into genre Film-making, where I explore basically my love for film." [5]

Story

The film is set in a lightly fictionalised version of Owerri ruled over by a sadistic gangster, The Chairman (Kalu Ikeagwu). The story is told from the viewpoint of an omnipresent, anonymous filmmaker and it follows the travails of Peace (Paul Utomi), a small time hustler with an ambition to become the head of the streets. [4] [6]

Cast

Reception

Release and reception

It first premiered at the 2015 edition of the Africa International Film Festival held in Lagos. [7] [8] Nigerian critic Oris Aigbokhaevbolo described it as "overindulgent but brilliant". [6]

Goteborg Film Festival's artistic director Jonas Holmberg described O-Town as a “Tarantinesque” drama. [9]

Official Selection

Awards and recognition

YearAwardCategoryRecipientResult
2016 Screen Nation Film and Television Awards Favourite International MovieO-TownNominated [12] [13] [14]
2016 Africa Movie Academy Awards Most Promising Actor Ifu EnnadaNominated [15] [16]
2016Africa Movie Academy Awards Best Nigerian Film O-TownNominated [15] [16]
2016Africa Movie Academy Awards Achievement in Soundtrack O-TownWon [17] [18]

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