Radio & TV
Stream to scream: monster line-up on Showmax, from ‘Lovecraft Country’ to ‘Us’
2020 has been plenty scary enough: I imagine in years to come, kids will dress up in Covid-19 masks just to see the shivers run down their parents’ spines. But horror is about more than just the jump scares: it’s also about the collective release that comes after. So for everyone looking to let out some of that built-up fear and stress from the worst year in recent memory, Showmax has a monster line-up full of things that go bump in the night…
US | Movie
Kenyan Oscar winner Lupita Nyong’o (Black Panther, 12 Years A Slave)) stars as Adelaide Wilson, a woman returning to her beachside childhood home with her husband, Gabe (Black Panther’s Winston Duke), and their two children. But their idyllic summer getaway turns to chaos when their doppelgängers begin to terrorise them.
Directed by Jordan Peele, Us was the 31st biggest box office hit of 2019 globally, won 73 awards, and appeared in numerous Best of the Year lists for 2019. The horror has a 93% critics rating on Rotten Tomatoes, who listed it at #1 on their list of the best-reviewed horror movies of all times and #2 behind Black Panther on their list of The 100 Best Black Movies Of The 21st Century.“I was drawn to this idea that we are our own worst enemy,” says Peele. “That’s something we all know intrinsically, but it’s a truth we tend to bury. We blame the outsider; we blame ‘the other.’ In this movie, the monster has our faces.”
As The Wall Street Journal says, “It’s compulsory seeing for everyone who loves the horror genre, the movie medium and the notion of saying sage things about contemporary life without straying from entertainment’s twisty path.”
LOVECRAFT COUNTRY S1 | Series
In the 1950s, Atticus, a young African-American, sets out on a road trip with his friend and uncle to find his missing father. This catapults the three into a struggle for survival against the dual terrors of Jim Crow-era America and terrifying monsters that could be ripped from a paperback written by pulpy horror author HP Lovecraft.
Based on the cult novel by Matt Ruff, Lovecraft Country is a collaboration between Misha Green (creator of Underground, named Best New Cable/New Media Show of 2016 by the African-American Film Critics Association) and Oscar winner Jordan Peele (Us, Get Out), executive produced by JJ Abrams (Star Wars, Star Trek, Lost, Super 8, Westworld). The fantastic cast includes Black Reel nominee Jonathan Majors (The Last Black Man in San Francisco, Da 5 Bloods), Teen Choice nominee Jurnee Smollett-Bell (Birds of Prey, Friday Night Lights), four-time Emmy nominee Michael Kenneth Williams (When They See Us, The Night Of), Golden Globe nominee Courtney B Vance (The People Vs OJ Simpson, Law & Order), Abbey Lee (Mad Max: Fury Road, The Neon Demon), and Nigerian BAFTA winner Wunmi Mosaku (Luther, The End of the F*ing World, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them). Lovecraft Country is currently the sixth most popular horror series on IMDb and has a 90% critics rating on Rotten Tomatoes. As Newsday put it, “To call Lovecraft Country ‘wildly original’ seems almost a quaint understatement. But it is wild. And original. Little doubt about that.”
THE WALKING DEAD S10 | Series
Based on Robert Kirkman’s hit comics, The Walking Dead is the definitive zombie show, having won 77 awards globally, including Emmys, People’s Choice and Critics Choice awards.
The Walking Dead is currently the fourth most popular horror series on IMDb, while Season 10 has a 91% critics rating on Rotten Tomatoes, where the consensus is, “A few changes in front of and behind the camera allow The Walking Dead to create space for compelling new stories and some seriously scary new adversaries.”
Norman Reedus and Danai Gurira return in their People’s Choice-nominated roles as Daryl and Michonne, as does Melissa McBride in her Critics Choice-nominated role as Carol. Jeffrey Dean Morgan is also still alive as Negan, a role that won him MTV and Critics Choice awards, but the bigger threat this season is two-time Oscar nominee Samantha Morton (Harlots, In America, Minority Report) as Alpha, the leader of the Whisperers, who wear the skins of zombies, and live among them…
HEREDITARY | Movie
When Ellen passes away, her daughter’s family begins to unravel increasingly terrifying secrets about her life. The more they discover, the more they find themselves trying to outrun the sinister fate they seem to have inherited.
Winner of 45 awards, including Best-Wide Release Film and Best Kill at the 2019 Fangoria Chainsaw Awards, Hereditary stars Oscar nominee Toni Collette (Unbelievable) and Alex Wolff (Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle), who both won Chainsaw Awards for their roles. Golden Globe winner Gabriel Byrne (Vikings), Golden Globe nominee Ann Dowd (The Handmaid’s Tale), and Broadway child star Milly Shapiro (Matilda) co-star.
The eleventh best reviewed horror movie of all time on Rotten Tomatoes, where the film has an 89% score and the critics consensus says, “Hereditary uses its classic setup as the framework for a harrowing, uncommonly unsettling horror film whose cold touch lingers long beyond the closing credits.”
AMERICAN HORROR STORY | Series
Currently the ninth most popular horror series on IMDb, American Horror Story has the first eight seasons available on Showmax. The horror anthology moves each season, from a house with a murderous past to an insane asylum, from a witch coven to a freak show circus, from a haunted hotel to a possessed farmhouse, and from a cult to the apocalypse.
Co-created by TV heavyweights Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk (Pose, American Crime Story, Glee), American Horror Story has won over 100 awards, including a Golden Globe and two Emmys for Jessica Lange, a Golden Globe for Lady Gaga, and an Emmy each for Kathy Bates and James Cromwell. It’s also been nominated as Outstanding Limited Series at both the Golden Globes and the Emmys.
With an 8/10 rating on IMDb, American Horror Story was renewed for another three seasons in January 2020.
WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS S2 | Series
From multiple Emmy nominee Jemaine Clement (Flight Of The Conchords) and 2020 Oscar winner Taika Waititi (Jojo Rabbit, Thor: Ragnarok), the hit mockumentary What We Do In The Shadows is a look into the daily (or rather, nightly) lives of three vampires who’ve lived together in New York for over 100 years – plenty of time to get on each other’s nerves.
This year the magnificently silly mock-doc series showed its teeth with eight Emmy nominations for Season 2, including one for Best Comedy Series and three for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series. It’s at #11 on Rotten Tomatoes’ Best TV of 2020 (So Far) list, with a 100% critics rating, and has been hailed as “TV’s best comedy” by The Hollywood Reporter, among others. It’s at #10 on IMDb’s list of the top-rated horror series of all time, with an 8.5/10 rating.
What We Do In The Shadows stars BAFTA winners Kayvan Novak (Four Lions) and Matt Berry (The IT Crowd, Toast of London) as Nandor the Relentless and Laszlo respectively. Sketch comedian Natasia Demetriou is Laszlo’s sultry sire, Nadja, while Mark Proksch (The Office, Better Call Saul) plays energy vampire Colin Robinson. But while the vamps flap and fuss in the foreground, it’s downtrodden little Guillermo, Nandor’s familiar, played by Harvey Guillén (The Magicians), who swoops into the spotlight this season, having discovered he’s descended from the famed vampire slayer van Helsing.
THE ADDAMS FAMILY | Movie
The 2019 reboot of The Addams Family is currently at #12 on IMDb’s list of the most popular horror movies. The world’s kookiest family is coming to town and this poor little New Jersey suburb has no idea what’s about to hit it. When Wednesday Addams befriends the daughter of reality TV host Margaux Needler, who’s hell-bent on building the perfect planned community, the Addams family find themselves way out of their league when it comes to “assimilation.”
The all-star voice cast is led by our own Oscar winner Charlize Theron as Morticia Addams; Golden Globe winner Oscar Isaac (Star Wars’ Poe Dameron) as Gomez; Teen Choice and Joey Award winner Chloë Grace Moretz (Greta, Kick-Ass) as Wednesday; and People’s Choice and Teen Choice nominee Finn Wolfhard (Stranger Things) as the death-defying, gene-pool-skimming Pugsley.
The Addams Family is rated 10-12 PGVH.
Emmy-nominated comedian Nick Kroll (Big Mouth) voices Uncle Fester, Emmy nominee Snoop Dogg is It, and Oscar nominee Bette Midler plays Grandma. The Needlers are voiced by Oscar winner Allison Janney as Margaux and Golden Globe nominee Elsie Fisher (Despicable Me’s adorable Agnes) as Parker. Also listen out for Emmy-winning comedy legends Catherine O’Hara (Schitt’s Creek,Beetlejuice) and Martin Short (SCTV, Three Amigos, Inner Space) as the voices of Grandma and Grandpa Frump.
RAGE | Movie
In Rage, a group of school-leavers descend on a tiny coastal town for a celebration of their freedom. Roxy, Sihle, Kyle, Leon, Tamsyn and Neo party on the beach and drink themselves silly every night. The townsfolk, Hermien and her son Albert, are welcoming – too welcoming. During a psychedelic trip on the beach, the friends witness a disturbing birth ritual, which could be a hallucination, or not. Soon fertility figurines start to appear at random places, and what is supposed to be the best holiday of their lives turns to horror as the teenagers are picked off one by one.
Nicole Fortuin, whose previous film, Flatland, opened the Berlin Panorama, stars as Tamsyn, with The Girl From St Agnes’ breakout stars Jane de Wet (Moffie, Still Breathing) and Tristan de Beer (Alles Malan, Doctor Who) as Roxy and Kyle. The cast also includes two-time Silwerskerm winner Carel Nel (Dwaalster, Hum, Slaaf); two-time Vita winner Linda Botha; Shalima Mkongi (Isithembiso, Nkululeko, Keeping Score); Fiesta, Kanna and Fleur du Cape nominee David Viviers (Kanarie); and Sihle Mnqwazana, who co-wrote and acted in The Fall, a New York Times critic’s choice play.
Rage is directed by Jaco Bouwer, a multi-award-winning theatre director who was SAFTA-nominated this year for Dwaalster. His short film, this country is lonely, premiered at International Film Festival Rotterdam in 2018 and he also directed Die Spreeus, one of the 10 most-watched local series on Showmax in 2019 – and another good local option.
Rage has been hailed as ‘briljant’ (Son), “hair raising” (Daily Sun), “gripping” (IOL), “scary as hell” (9Lives), “quite stunning and brilliantly filmed” (Channel24), and “genuinely creepy… one of the best attempts at the genre ever made in this country” (Fortress of Solitude), with Daily Maverick saying it will “scare the living daylights out of you.”
Other local horrors on Showmax include Beer Adrianse’s Parable and Darrell Roodt’s Siembamba | The Lullaby, which both picked up international awards, and Jerome Pikwane’s The Tokoloshe, which opened the 2018 Durban International Film Festival.
INTO THE DARK S1 | Series
In this horror anthology from Oscar-nominated producer Jason Blum (Us, Get Out, The Purge, Paranormal Activity, and more), each episode is inspired by a holiday, from Thanksgiving, Christmas to New Year’s Eve.
Look out for the likes of Emmy nominee Jimmi Simpson (Westworld), Teen Choice Award winner Josephine Langford (After), Dermot Mulroney (My Best Friend’s Wedding, August: Osage County), and Harvey Guillén (Guillermo in What We Do In The Shadows).
Into The Dark was nominated as Best Series at the 2020 Fangoria Chainsaw Awards and hailed as “a spooky Halloween treat” by Rotten Tomatoes.
SCARY STORIES TO TELL IN THE DARK | Movie
From the dark imaginations of Oscar winner Guillermo del Toro (Pan’s Labyrinth) and acclaimed director André Øvredal (Trollhunter) comes Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, based on the iconic book series.
It’s 1968 in America. Change is blowing in the wind but the small town of Mill Valley seems far removed from the unrest in the cities. For generations, the shadow of the Bellows family has loomed large there. In their mansion on the edge of town, Sarah, a young girl with horrible secrets, turned her tortured life into a series of scary stories, written in a book that has transcended time – stories that have a way of becoming all too real for a group of teenagers who discover Sarah’s terrifying home…
Scary Stories To Tell In The Dark won Best Horror/Thriller Film at the National Film and Television Awards in the USA in 2019, as well as Best Creature FX at the 2020 Fangoria Chainsaw Awards.
THE PRODIGY | Movie
“Mommy, will you always love me, no matter what I do?” asks Miles, at the end of the viral hit trailer for The Prodigy. But Miles is not like other children, so we can forgive his mother for not answering straight away… Jackson Robert Scott (Georgie in It) earned a 2020 Fangoria Chainsaw Award nomination for his chilling performance as Miles, while Golden Globe and Emmy nominee Taylor Schilling (Piper in Orange Is The New Black) plays his increasingly terrified mother.
The Los Angeles Times hailed The Prodigy as a “tense and gripping, persuasively acted horror-thriller that evokes such evil-child flicks asThe Omen, The Exorcist, The Bad Seed and The Good Son.”
CHILD’S PLAY | Movie Chucky’s back. Even better, he’s now a smart home assistant, and voiced by Mark Hammil (Luke Skywalker in Star Wars). From the producers of It, Child’s Play cleverly updates the 80’s horror icon for the Internet of Things era – and as RogertEbert.com says, the result is “nastier, more playful, and just as good if not better than the original film.”
Nominated for a 2020 Fangoria Chainsaw Award for Best Creature Effects, Child’s Play also stars Gabriel Bateman (Outcast, Lights Out) as Max and MTV Movie and TV Awards nominee Aubrey Plaza (Parks and Recreation, Legion) as his single mom, Karen.
Octavia Spencer (The Help, The Shape of Water, Hidden Figures) kicks her Oscar-winning actress mould to the curb and stomps on it in this bonkers horror flick, with a little help from her best friend and former housemate, BAFTA-nominated writer/director Tate Taylor (The Help, The Girl on the Train), who hand-picked the stereotype-smashing role at her request.
Ma centres on a group of teens who luck out when middle-aged single Sue Ann (aka Ma) offers them her basement to hang out and party in. But just as it seems things couldn’t get sweeter, they begin to suspect there’s something a little off about Ma…
Produced by Oscar-nominated, Emmy-winning producer Jason Blum (Get Out, Us, BlacKkKlansman), Ma was nominated at both the Teen Choice and Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Film awards last year.
The cast includes Oscar winner Allison Janney, Oscar nominee Juliette Lewis (Cape Fear, Natural Born Killers), Teen Choice winner Luke Evans (Shaw in Fast & Furious 6, 7 and 8, and Beauty and the Beast’s Gaston) and Diana Silvers (Space Force).
“Audiences will walk out with that good chiropractor feeling,” says San Francisco Chronicle, “the one that says, ‘Yes, I have been manipulated. I have been nothing but manipulated and pounded on for the last 90 minutes. And it was a very satisfying thing.’”
PET SEMATARY | Movie
Dr Louis Creed and his wife, Rachel, move to rural Maine with their two young children. When their daughter Ellie discovers a mysterious burial ground hidden deep in the woods near their new home, Louis is quick to put her at ease. But these woods belong to something else. Something that brings things back from the dead.
This 2019 adaptation of the Stephen King novel stars Oscar nominee John Lithgow (The Crown, 3rd Rock from the Sun), Jason Clarke (John Connor in Terminator Genisys), and Amy Seimetz (Eleven’s aunt Becky in Stranger Things), with Jeté Laurence (Sneaky Pete) as Ellie.
Pet Sematary was the 66th biggest box office hit of 2019, grossing over $112m worldwide. The horror was also nominated for three 2019 Saturn Awards from the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, for Best Horror Film, Best Supporting Actor (John Lithgow) and Best Make-Up.
“The movie honours King by raising fresh hell for a new generation,” says Rolling Stone. ”It will make you jump out of your seat, but what matters are the provocations you take home and can’t shake. That’s the stuff of nightmares.”
CRAWL | Movie
If the storm doesn’t get you, the alligators will… Following a Category 5 hurricane, competitive swimmer Haley and her estranged father, Dave, find themselves trapped in the flooded basement of their run-down house, where every shadow conceals the waiting jaws of a brutal apex predator.
Four-time Teen Choice nominee Kaya Scodelario (Maze Runner and Pirates of the Caribbean: Salazar’s Revenge) and Golden Globe nominee and Emmy winner Barry Pepper (Maze Runner, The Green Mile) co-star as Haley and Dave.
This excellent schlock creature-feature horror is a 2020 nominee for both Best Horror Film at the Hollywood Critics Association Awards and Best Wide Release Film at the Fangoria Chainsaw Awards. It’s directed by Alexandre Aja (The Hills Have Eyes) and produced by the legendary Sam Raimi (Evil Dead, 30 Days of Night and Spider-Man).
The 71st biggest box office hit of 2019, Crawl has an 83% critics rating on Rotten Tomatoes, where the critics consensus describes it as “an action-packed creature feature that’s fast, terrifying, and benefits greatly from a completely game Kaya Scodelario.” Vulture called it “a perfect horror film for the summer, as much an ode to the cataclysmic, humbling aspects of Mother Nature as it is a love letter to father-daughter relationships.”
OVERLORD | MovieFrom Emmy-winning super-producer J.J. Abrams (Star Wars, Star Trek, Super Eight, Lovecraft Country), Overlord follows a group of American paratroopers dropped behind enemy lines on the eve of D-Day. As the soldiers approach their target, they soon begin to realise that there’s more going on in the Nazi-occupied village than a simple military operation. Making their way to an underground lab, the outnumbered men stumble upon a sinister experiment that forces them into a vicious battle against an army of the undead.
Overlord has an 81% critics rating on Rotten Tomatoes, where the consensus says, “Part revisionist war drama, part zombie thriller, and part all-out genre gorefest, Overlord offers A-level fun for B-movie fans of multiple persuasions.”
Starring 2020 Emmy nominee Jovan Adepo (Watchmen) and Teen Choice nominee Wyatt Russell (22 Jump Street, The Good Lord Bird),Overlord was nominated for a 2019 Fangoria Chainsaw Award for Best Wide-Release Film and for a Saturn Award for Best Horror Film from the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films.
HELLBOY | Movie
It takes a brave director to take over a dearly loved franchise over from Guillermo del Toro (The Shape of Water, Pan’s Labryinth).
Enter Emmy nominee Neil Marshall (Game of Thrones, The Descent), who inherits the Hellboy franchise from the two-time Oscar winner. He’s brought in an all-star cast as backup, including Golden Globe nominee David Harbour (Stranger Things) in the title role; Teen Choice nominee Milla Jovovich (The Fifth Element, Resident Evil) as Nimue, The Blood Queen; and the likes of Golden Globe winner Ian McShane (Deadwood, Pirates of the Caribbean, John Wick) and Oscar nominee Thomas Haden Church (Sideways, Easy A, Spider-Man 3).
Anything based on Mike Mignola’s graphic novels will always be worth watching for us, but just be warned: this one got more love from the Razzie Awards than critics…THE HOUSE WITH A CLOCK IN ITS WALLS | Movie
Ten-year-old orphan Lewis Barnavelt (Owen Vaccaro) goes to live with his strange uncle in a creaky old house whose walls contain a mysterious tick-tocking magic. When Lewis accidentally disturbs the dead, the sleepy town comes alive with dark witchery.
Based on John Bellairs’ children’s book, The House With A Clock In Its Walls stars Oscar winner Cate Blanchett and Golden Globe nominee Jack Black, as well as Golden Globe winner Kyle MacLachlan (Twin Peaks).
It’s the first younger-audience film from gore maestro Eli Roth (Hostel, Cabin Fever), who’s called it a “starter horror movie.” Slate calls it “a bullseye… perfectly balanced between funny and scary.”
Rated 10-12PGVH, The House With A Clock In Its Walls was the 54th biggest box office hit of 2018, grossing over $130m globally.
THE STRAIN S1-4 | Series
Created by Oscar-winning director Guillermo del Toro (The Shape of Water, Pan’s Labyrinth), The Strain opens with a mysterious outbreak on a plane, which escalates to the entire city of New York falling prey to a viral strain of vampirism.
Nominated for eight Saturn Awards from The Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, including Best Horror TV Series, The Strain stars Golden Globe nominee Corey Stoll (Ant-Man, House of Cards), BAFTA winner David Bradley (Walder Frey from Game of Thrones, Filch from Harry Potter), Oscar nominee Sean Astin (Stranger Things, Lord of the Rings), and Kevin Durand (Wolverine).
Also nominated for a Critics Choice Award for Most Exciting New Series, The Strain has a 79% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes, with BuzzFeed calling it “some of the most intense and disturbing scenes ever on television.”
THE PURGE | Movie
In an America wracked by crime and overcrowded prisons, the government has sanctioned an annual 12-hour period in which any and all criminal activity – including murder – becomes legal. The police can’t be called. Hospitals suspend help. It’s one night when the citizenry regulates itself without thought of punishment. On this night plagued by violence and an epidemic of crime, one family wrestles with the decision of who they will become when a stranger breaks into their gated community.
Four-time Oscar nominee Ethan Hawke earned his first and only MTV Awards Best Scared-As-S**t Performance nomination as the father, with Golden Globe nominee Lena Headey (Cersei in Game of Thrones) playing his wife.
The #1 box office hit spawned another three movies, The Purge: Anarchy (2014), The Purge: Election Year (2016), and The First Purge(2018) – all of which are available on Showmax – and a TV series. A fifth movie, The Forever Purge, is expected in 2021.
The opening credits of the first movie date the opening credits to 2020, making this the perfect year to revisit this modern horror classic.
People & Lifestyle
‘Cooking With GameChangers’ first Episode Features Abiodun Adigun of Credit Direct and Joy Adesanya Odunlami of The Braiding Vault
Cooking with GameChangers is now live!
The debut edition features Abiodun Adigun, Chief Marketing Officer at Credit Direct Finance Company Limited, a leading consumer lending company in Nigeria, and Joy Odunlami, Founder of The Braiding Vault, a top specialist braiding salon.
The GameChangers battle for the title of “Ultimate GameChanger” as they create their unique versions of “Rice & Beans with Plantain”. Our show host, Daniel Etim-Effiong, and Judges M.I Abaga, Kaffy, and Captain Toba have a hard task of watching and judging the GameChangers.
Who will win this episode?
Watch a-day-in-the-life of these top business minds even as they go on to battle for the title of “Ultimate GameChanger” in the kitchen. Watch now: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SSZMFIIUiUs
A-day-in-the-Life of Abiodun Adigun, Chief Marketing Officer at Credit Direct Finance Company Limited.
Watch now – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDPw_WsCwR0
A-day-in-the-Life of Joy Odunlami, Founder of The Braiding Vault.
Watch now – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fHMP2o4Q9Dw
Cooking with GameChangers is a spinoff of the popular inspirational TV show, ‘Binging With GameChangers’, which is Nigeria’s most syndicated talk show with over 60 million monthly viewers. Cooking with GameChangers is now airing on YouTube and on TV stations nationwide.
Each episode of Cooking with GameChangers follows a day in the life of a top corporate executive and entrepreneur who end up in a Cook-off that is supervised and judged respectively by celebrity host, Daniel Etim-Effiong, and judges M.I Abaga, Kaffy, and Captain Toba.
Watch the first episode here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLH_-OcY4pX3GoR_WSsKTwzbP7WRcHJc_O&si=Mkj4DKPPrL7yEQrT
YouTube Channel: @B2GNetwork
You can also Catch the show every weekend on TV stations nationwide:
SATURDAYS:
NTA Network: Saturdays at 10.30 AM
Silverbird: Saturdays at 1.30 PM
Views Channel: Saturday 6:30 PM; Repeat: Mondays at 9:30 PM; Wednesdays at 9 PM
SUNDAYS:
Africa Magic Family: Sundays at 3.30 PM: Repeat: Wednesdays at 1.30 PM
TVC: Sundays at 5.30 PM
NTA2: Sundays at 5.30PM
Wazobia Max: Sundays at 5.30 PM; Repeat Mondays at 7 PM
Wazobia TV: Sundays at 5.30 PM; Repeat: Mondays at 7 PM
Follow the show:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cookingwithgamechangers/
Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/cookingwithgame
Threads: https://www.threads.net/@cookingwithgamechangers
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@cookingwithga…
LinkedIn: @CookingwithGameChangers
Cooking with GameChangers is supported by Power Oil, 2Sure and Aquafina.
Media Partners: BellaNaija, Pulse.ng and Ameyaw Debrah.
Radio & TV
MultiChoice Announces Head Judge and a Date for 10th AMVCA
MultiChoice, in partnership with Africa Magic, has announced that the 10th edition of the prestigious Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards (AMVCA), will be held from 10th – 11th of May 2024. The organisers also revealed ace filmmaker, director, producer and pioneer Academy Director of the MultiChoice Talent Factory, Femi Odugbemi as head judge of the awards.
In her press conference held in Nigeria today, Dr. Busola Tejumola, Executive Head of Content and Channels, West Africa, MultiChoice described the 10th AMVCA as a celebration to mark a decade of brilliance, innovation, and the sheer magic of African storytelling on screen.
“The AMVCA has established itself as the benchmark for excellence in the African film industry. This edition is not just the celebration of excellence in filmmaking, but also a heritage of an award that has improved careers and boosted talent development on the continent”.
Dr. Tejumola further disclosed that the pool of quality entries this year will be a significant task the jury and head judge to review.
“For this edition, we received entries from films and talent across Africa. Shortlisting has begun and we will now move to the judging phases. For this special edition, we are making changes to the award categories. The Best Actor and Best Actress, as well as Best Supporting Actor and Actress categories will now be determined by the jury. We are also delighted to announce ace filmmaker, director and producer, Femi Odugbemi, as the Head Judge for the 10th AMVCA.
“In partnership with our sponsors, Amstel, Pepsi, Promasidor and Martell, we call on Africa to join in this celebration, as we begin with the announcement of final nominees in each category, live across all Africa Magic channels, on March 24, at 8pm. The voting portal will open immediately after the announcement,” Tejumola said.
The 10th AMVCA’s two-day celebration will kick start on the 10th May with the Young Filmmakers and Content Creators event in the morning, followed by the Cultural Day and Opening Night celebration in the evening and the Main Awards Ceremony the night of 11th of May 2024.
Commenting on the task before the award jury, Odugbemi said: “This prestigious award is celebrated for its unwavering dedication to excellence, and the jury remains steadfast in ensuring only the most outstanding works earn a spot on the nomination list. Having served as the head judge in previous editions, I can unequivocally state that evaluating the remarkable submissions by talent across Africa is an extremely challenging task I assure everyone that the final selection will truly represent the best in the field”.
Other sponsors of the 10th AMVCAs include TECNO, Verve, QuickTeller, Tiger Beer, MTN and Indomie. The Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards is an annual accolade presented by MultiChoice recognizing outstanding achievements in film and television production in Africa.
People & Lifestyle
Cooking With GameChangers Premieres in Lagos with a Sublime Unveiling Mixer
Cooking With GameChangers was unveiled to guests at an intimate mixer held at the prestigious business club, Capital Club Lagos, on Thursday, March 7th 2024. The brand new TV Show format was premiered in a room full of top executives, entrepreneurs and culinary experts.
Daniel Etim-Effiong who is the host of the brand new show, also played host to guests alongside show creator, Seyi Banigbe. M.I Abaga, Kaffy, and Captain Toba Abifarin are judges on the new show, Cooking with GameChangers, and were all present to participate in exciting activities at the premiere.
Guests arrived to drinks and Hors d’oeuvres as they mingled. The host after that asked for guests to interact with at least five people to memorise their full names and occupations for a chance to win a cash prize. Popular blogger, Tai, of Foodie in Lagos emerged as the winner of this challenge.
Show creator, Seyi Banigbe, who is a lawyer, media executive, and host of talk show, Binging with GameChangers, welcomed guests, introduced the new show and gave insight into how the new show was created and developed. She showered accolades on the show’s judges and host highlighting how each person performed phenomenally well during the filming of Cooking with GameChangers.
The judges participated in a fun meal-plating game where they were challenged to make the best plating with the jollof rice and vegetables provided. Guests had a lot of fun cheering the judges who were judged this time by leading food bloggers and chefs. Gina Ehikodi-Ojo of Geena Foodies and Spice chose Captain Toba’s plating as her favourite.
Guests proceeded to watch an episode of Cooking with GameChangers while they enjoyed a specially curated 2-course dinner. Notable culinary experts and influencers present were Chiamaka Nwakalor-Egemba, Tai of Foodie in Lagos, Abisodun of Meals with Abi, Grace of Velvety Foods, Atinuke Obele of Teekayskitchen and many more.
The GM of LASODA, Adenike Oyetunde-Lawal, was present alongside featured GameChangers such as the GM of LASWA, Damilola Emmanuel, Segun Dada of CAPSA, Segun Bankole of Sovereign Trust Insurance, Ngozi-Ezeka-Atta of Jaga Beauty, Yemisi Obe of Grandios Pap amongst many others.
Cooking with GameChangers is a spinoff of the popular talk show, “Binging With GameChangers”, which airs on TV stations nationwide and has amassed over 60 million monthly viewers in its 7 years of airing on television.
Each episode of Cooking with GameChangers follows a day in the life of a top corporate executive and an accomplished entrepreneur who ends up in the Cooking with GameChangers kitchen for a cook-off to determine the “Ultimate GameChanger”. The cooking competition is supervised and judged by celebrity show host, Daniel Etim-Effiong, and judges M.I Abaga, Kaffy, and Captain Toba.
Watch Episode 1 here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SSZMFIIUiUs
Subscribe to @B2GNetwork on YouTube for updates on fresh episodes of Cooking with GameChangers.
Follow Cooking with GameChangers here:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cookingwithgamechangers/
Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/cookingwithgame
Threads: https://www.threads.net/@cookingwithgamechangers
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@cookingwithga…
LinkedIn: @CookingwithGameChangers
You can also watch the show every weekend on TV stations nationwide:
SATURDAYS:
NTA Network: Saturdays at 10.30 AM
Silverbird: Saturdays at 1.30 PM
Views Channel: Saturday 6:30 PM; Repeat: Mondays at 9:30 PM; Wednesdays at 9 PM
SUNDAYS:
Africa Magic Family: Sundays at 3.30 PM: Repeat: Wednesdays at 1.30 PM
TVC: Sundays at 5.30 PM
NTA2: Sundays at 5.30 PM
Wazobia Max: Sundays at 5.30 PM; Repeatt Mondays at 7 PM
Wazobia TV: Sundays at 5.30 PM; Repeat: Mondays at 7 PM
Cooking with GameChangers is supported by Power Oil, 2Sure and Aquafina.
Media Partners: BellaNaija, Pulse.ng and Ameyaw Debrah.
Radio & TV
Sisters Are Doin’ It For Themselves on Crackle
Join your friends from Crackle in celebrating the strong women of Hollywood with these FREE titles starring some of your favorite leading ladies leading the action!
DOWNLOAD THE FREE CRACKLE APP FOR YOUR MOBILE, TABLET, LAPTOP, OR CONNECTED TV AT YOUR FAVORITE APP STORE and watch all of these titles and MORE this month!
Outbreak
Crackle Original Series
A dangerous virus appears in a group of homeless people, causing a risk of outbreak. How long will it take Anne-Marie Leclerc, director of the Emergency Public Health Laboratory, to realize that an actual epidemic is starting to take shape?
Cast: Julie LeBreton (True North), Guillaume Cyr (Bungalow), Mélissa Désormeaux-Poulin (Ruptures)
Available: 3/1/24
The Wall Season One
Crackle Original Series
Detective Sergeant Celine Trudeau is assigned to investigate a strange homicide that took place in Fermont, a small mining town on the Labrador border. Upon arriving, she discovers “The Wall”-an immense structure that protects the inhabitants from the icy Arctic wind. This place of refuge for the population becomes a crime scene.
Cast: Isabel Richer (Trauma), Alexandre Landry (True North), Maripier Morin (The Fall of the American Empire)
Available: 3/1/24
Blast
Crackle Original Feature Film
In a Parisian parking lot a bomb disposal expert finds herself trapped in her car with her kids as an anti-tank mine has been set under the car. Sonia is used to face dangerous situations, but with the children’s lives on the line and her boyfriend left outside, powerless, the stakes have never been higher. They have 30 minutes to diffuse the bomb and work out who could be the mastermind behind this. Will they stand united until the end or will the family implode under pressure?
Cast: Nora Arnezeder (Leopard Skin), Pierre Kiwitt (Das Boot), Radivoje Bukvic (Taken)
Available: 3/1/24
Colonia
Feature Film
In the heat of the 1973 Chilean military coup, a young woman’s desperate search for her abducted boyfriend draws her into the infamous Colonia Dignidad, an ex-Nazi cult from which no one has ever escaped. Inspired by true events.
Cast: Emma Watson (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone), Daniel Brühl (Inglourious Basterds), Michael Nyqvist (Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol)
Available: 3/1/24
Black Mamba
Feature Film
When a woman is killed by corrupt cops, she is reincarnated as an assassin charged with destroying those who killed her and her friends.
Cast: Dawna Lee Heising (The Paradise Motel), Lyindaa Russell (The Land), Anita Farmer Bergman (On Sacred Ground)
Available: 3/1/24
Hangmen
Feature Film
Ex-CIA agents–one good (Rick Washburne), one bad (Jake La Motta)–slug it out on the streets of New York City.
Cast: Sandra Bullock (Miss Congeniality), Jake La Motta (Maniac Cop), Rick Washburne (Mississippi Burning)
Available: 3/1/24
Girl
Feature Film
A young woman returns to her small hometown intent on killing her abusive father only to discover someone murdered him the day before. As the girl searches for answers, she uncovers a family legacy more dangerous than she’d imagined.
Cast: Bella Thorne (Paradise City), Elizabeth Saunders (From), Mickey Rourke (Sin City)
Available: 3/1/24
Intensive Care
Feature Film
Three low-life criminals plan to rob an elderly woman’s home, but her caregiver turns out to be a former special ops agent with an agenda of her own.
Cast: Tara Macken (NCIS: Hawaii), Jai Rodriguez (The Rookie), Kevin Sizemore (NCIS)
Available: 3/1/24
Absolution
Feature Film
Harmony is a super-empath, born with the power to absorb the fear of others. With a storm of negative energy encroaching, Harmony must find the strength to take hold of her power to save the man she loves and the world around them.
Cast: Jacqueline McKenzie (Deep Blue Sea), Eamon Farren (The Witcher), Lewis Fitz-Gerald (Pitch Black)
Available: 3/1/24
Juncture
Feature Film
Diagnosed with a terminal illness, a young woman hunts down criminals who evaded justice while trying to stay one step ahead of the police
Cast: Kristine Blackport (Californication), Jason Coviello (Stranger Things), Charles Thomas Doyle (There Will Be Blood)
Available: 3/1/24
My Sisters
Feature Film
A women’s support group becomes the target of a misogynistic brotherhood when the youngest member tries to conceal a deadly secret.
Cast: Chandler Young (9-1-1), Diana Sanchez (The Neighborhood), Cait Bidwell (Mayans M.C.)
Available: 3/1/24
Deadly Dispatch
Feature Film
After her best friend is tragically murdered in an apparent robbery gone wrong, Tiffany Jackson takes justice in her own hands to find his killer.
Cast: Tamala Jones (Booty Call), DomiNque Perry (American Hero), Martinez (The Walking Dead)
Available: 3/1/24
Radio & TV
“It’s a whole new ball game”: Shirley Frimpong-Manso on ENO S2, now streaming on Showmax
The long-awaited second season of the hit Ghanaian drama series ENO is now streaming on Showmax, with new episodes releasing every Thursday.
Directed by Shirley Frimpong-Manso and produced by Ken Attoh, ENO S2 sees Gloria Osei-Sarfo’s Abena grapple with her authoritarian past and the repercussions it has had on her daughters. Her newfound peace is shattered when her ex-husband’s estranged daughter makes a dramatic entrance into their lives.
Emelia Asiedu and Esi Hammond also return alongside John Dumelo, Michael Katahena, Godwin Namboh, Michelle Hammond, Brian Angels, Dela Seade and Kabutey Ocansey, with Darlyn Adu-Gyamfi, Melvin DK Asinyo, and Kwame Dzokoto Amanda Jissih joining the cast.
Radio & TV
TV Personality Efya Stard Edna Launches “Eat Ghana Agenda” to Celebrate Ghana Month
As Ghana celebrates its vibrant cultural heritage during the annual Ghana Month, esteemed TV personality Efya Stard Edna is proud to announce the launch of her innovative “Eat Ghana Agenda.” Through her popular shows, Fanzone and Chef’s Apron, Efya Stard Edna will lead a month-long celebration of Ghanaian cuisine, highlighting the richness and diversity of local dishes while engaging audiences in fun and interactive culinary experiences.
The “Eat Ghana Agenda” aims to promote Ghanaian cuisine and culinary traditions, showcasing the country’s diverse array of flavors, ingredients, and cooking techniques. As the host of Fanzone, a dynamic talk show that explores various aspects of Ghanaian culture, and Chef’s Apron, a popular cooking program that features delicious recipes and cooking tips, Efya Stard Edna is uniquely positioned to spearhead this exciting initiative.
Throughout the month of March, viewers can look forward to special episodes of Fanzone and Chef’s Apron dedicated to celebrating Ghanaian cuisine.
From showcasing traditional dishes to exploring modern twists on classic recipes, Efya Stard Edna will take audiences on a culinary journey across Ghana, highlighting the country’s rich culinary heritage and vibrant food culture.
One of the highlights of the “Eat Ghana Agenda” will be interactive segments where Efya Stard Edna challenges viewers to test their knowledge of Ghanaian dishes. Through fun quizzes, trivia games, and cooking challenges, audiences will have the opportunity to learn more about their favorite Ghanaian foods while engaging in friendly competition and camaraderie.
In addition to her television programs, Efya Stard Edna will also utilize her social media platforms to share mouth-watering recipes, cooking tutorials, and behind-the-scenes glimpses of her culinary adventures. By leveraging the power of social media, she hopes to inspire Ghanaians to embrace and celebrate their culinary heritage in their own homes and communities.
Commenting on the launch of the “Eat Ghana Agenda,” Efya Stard Edna expressed her excitement about showcasing Ghanaian cuisine to a wider audience and fostering a greater appreciation for local flavors and ingredients. She emphasized the importance of preserving and promoting Ghana’s culinary traditions as a means of preserving national identity and fostering cultural pride.
“I am thrilled to launch the ‘Eat Ghana Agenda’ as part of our celebration of Ghana Month,” said Efya Stard Edna.
“Through this initiative, we hope to shine a spotlight on the rich diversity of Ghanaian cuisine and inspire people to explore and enjoy the delicious flavors of our country.”
The “Eat Ghana Agenda” is part of Efya Stard Edna’s ongoing commitment to promoting Ghanaian culture and heritage through engaging and entertaining programming. As Ghana continues to celebrate its unique identity during Ghana Month, Efya Stard Edna invites viewers to join her in celebrating the flavors, aromas, and traditions of Ghanaian cuisine.
- Buzz1 week ago
Waakye’s death: I fear ‘same mistake’ could cause my death – Maame Dokono
- Fashion7 days ago
Holyco turns up in style!!!
- People & Lifestyle1 week ago
Accra-New York- Accra: Experiencing the past, now and future of Delta Airlines
- Buzz7 days ago
Rita Dominic Details Reason For Marrying At Age 46
- Buzz21 hours ago
Kuami Eugene Survives Car Crash, Sustains Injuries
- World News1 week ago
Nearly naked John Cena presents Oscar for best costume design at 2024 Academy Awards
- Buzz7 days ago
I’m humbled by the recognition at 67th Independence Day – Amerado
- Buzz7 days ago
I will sue lilwin for accusing me of using weed toffee – Mr Logic
- Buzz6 days ago
You can rule a country if you can cope with a woman – Pete Edochie
- People & Lifestyle1 week ago
MTN Ghana Foundation Hands Over 60 Bed Maternity and NICU for Keta Hospital
- Gossip1 week ago
Popular Nigerian Producer Rexxie arrested in Uganda
- People & Lifestyle1 week ago
Empowering Women Creators with the Jane Can Do Creative & Tech Expo, Ghana’s First Creative Women Expo