Lagos, Nigeria, 18 March 2021 – GDN Studios, part of The Guardian Group, has announced the premiere and cinema release of its debut film Eyimofe (This is My Desire), following an extensive tour of the global film festival circuit. The movie will have its Nigerian premiere on Sunday, April 18, just days before opening in cinemas on Friday, April 23. Eyimofe has been praised by international audiences, festival directors, critics and industry media as an outstanding effort by Arie and Chuko Esiri, brothers and co-directors of their first feature film. The movie takes an unflinching look at the pressures of everyday life in Nigeria, the desperate measures people take to survive, and the unrelenting desire to escape to a better life abroad, by whatever means. It traces the parallel lives of Mofe, a stoic electrician and part-time security guard, and Rosa, a struggling hairdresser, both trying to navigate illegal ways of fleeing the country. Eyimofe has represented Nigeria globally, having been selected for festivals in twenty countries to date. These include the prestigious Berlin International Film Festival 2020, where it had its World Premiere; the British Film Institute’s London Film Festival; and the American Film Institute (AFI) Film Festival. It has garnered several festival awards including ‘Winner, Best Fiction, New Filmmakers’ at the São Paulo International Film Festival (Brazil), and ‘Winner, Achille Valdata Award’ at the Torino Film Festival (Italy). According to executive producer Toke Alex Ibru, the film has exceeded expectations. “We’ve been encouraged by the tremendous reception the film has received in London, Berlin, São Paolo (Brazil), Los Angeles and other cities. It’s really exciting to bring Eyimofe home to Nigeria and see how audiences react to seeing our lives portrayed onscreen in such a realistic way.” Co-directors Arie & Chuko issued a statement to mark the film’s release. “Eyimofe is very special to both of us – not just because it’s our first full-length feature, but due to the amazing support we have received from the cast, crew, and a host of backers. We’re grateful to GDN Studios for allowing us to tell this touching story without compromising on production values and for helping to give the film the global exposure it has received. Audiences abroad have taken this movie to their hearts and we look forward to having Nigerians embrace it, even as they discuss some of the issues it raises about the human condition.” Some of the film industry’s leading international publications have been very positive about Eyimofe. Variety (USA) said that the film is “a clear-eyed portrait of a vibrant informed by two talented native sons”; the British Film Institute’s Sight & Sound called it a “stunning feature debut” and Frieze (UK) suggested it was “an outstanding story of interwoven tales”. The Hollywood Reporter said it was “carefully observed and well-performed drama… a love-hate letter to a great and flawed city, from two talented young filmmakers”. The premiere of Eyimofe – This is My Desire takes place on Sunday, April 18, at EbonyLife Place in Victoria Island, Lagos, and opens in cinemas on Friday, April 23 in selected cinemas across Nigeria. For further information, visit www.eyimofe.film. Synopsis: Tragedy and fate intervene as two Nigerians try to better the lives of their families. Eyimofe (This is My Desire) is a film about two people’s quest for what they believe will be a better life on foreign shores. After Mofe loses his family and Rosa fails to deliver on a promise, their travel plans collapse forcing them to reconsider living abroad. As time passes and wounds heal, they learn the future they desperately seek can be built at home. About GDN An extensive range of locations, production services and post-production services under one roof. We also offer much more to cover all your project needs. We enable and facilitate entertainment, media and creative projects in Nigeria for production or co-production. This is made possible by our ecosystem of partners, deep knowledge of the market, government support, and access to funding participation from major banks and institutional partners. Our dedicated team will help you take care of end-to-end needs including legal and permits, security, medical assistance, insurance and logistic requirements to ensure every aspect of your experience with us is world class. Whatever your production needs, GDN Studios will deliver. About The Guardian The Guardian is an independent newspaper, established for the purpose of presenting balanced coverage of events, and of promoting the best interests of Nigeria. It owes allegiance to no political party, ethnic community, religious or other interest group. Its primary commitment is to the integrity and sovereignty of the Federation of Nigeria and beyond that to the unity and sovereignty of Africa. The Guardian is a liberal newspaper, committed to the best traditions and ideals of republican democracy. It believes that it is the responsibility of the state not only to protect and defend the citizens, but also to create the conditions, political, social, economic and cultural, in which all citizens have duties as well as rights. The Guardian does not, in principle, object to the ideology of the free enterprise, since this would be inconsistent with its commitment to individual liberty and freedom. But it believes that the state must intervene judiciously in the economic life of the nation, in order to minimise the adverse effects of free enterprise without prejudice to the right of individual citizens to exploit labour and capacity for their own benefit. The Guardian believes it is the duty of the state to ensure that less privileged citizens have reasonable and fair access to the basic necessities of life. The Guardian will at all times uphold the need for justice, probity in public life, equal access to the nation's resources, and equal protection under the laws of Nigeria for all citizens. The Guardian believes that Nigeria is a legitimate member of the international community, but holds that she can best fulfil her international obligations only if her own security and integrity are assured. The Motto of The Guardian is Conscience, Nurtured by Truth. * The Guardian was first published a weekly on February 27, 1983. It went daily five months later on Monday, July 4, 1983.
