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Dakore on FIFTY – ‘I’m honoured to play Tola’

‘Tola is the quintessential diva with a heart, but on the inside she’s deeply wounded’

– Dakore Egbuson-Akande

FIFTY, the widely anticipated movie from EbonyLife Films is set for its grand premiere at the prestigious Eko Hotel & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, on December 13, 2015. The 2015 BFI London Film Festival official selection is also scheduled to start showing in cinemas nationwide as from December 18, 2015. As we await both grand premiere and cinema release, one of the stars of the movie, FIFTY, and a leading light of the entertainment industry, Dakore Egbuson-Akande (who plays Tola in the movie) chats briefly with ENCOMIUM Weekly about the movie and offers some insight into the amazing film.

 

Can you briefly describe the role you played in FIFTY?

I play ‘Tola’ in the movie. She’s the quintessential diva with a heart but on the inside she’s deeply wounded.

What sort of person is going to love this character that you played?

I think it’s a character people may not understand, maybe people would dislike her but once they come to understand her story, they’d be filled with love and empathy for her.

How is this character like you?

Tola is like me in the sense of her philanthropic nature, being in front of the camera as a TV star, being glamorous and that’s about it.

What do you love about this character?

I love the fact that it’s a multi-dimensional character. In some films you see people being mean but there’s no explanation. In this film, you feel her pain and learn that we all have our issues.

What do you hate about this character?

I hate what happened to make her the way she is.

What’s the biggest challenge about taking on this role?

Because my character touches on a very taboo subject and I had to play it with a lot of sensitivity and strength. Also it was challenging because I understood the importance of being true to those who might have experienced it. To tell the story on their behalf in a brutally honest way.

What’s your favourite line of dialogue in your role and why?

‘That man is nothing but a beast, I ought to get someone to slit his throat!’ of course!

Beside yourself, which actor in FIFTY is going to blow audiences away? And why?

All the actors brought their ‘A’ game but I’d be biased and single out my brother, Timini Egbuson who plays ‘Jamal”.

If you could play any other character in FIFTY, who would it be? And why?

I would love to have played ‘Elizabeth”. The role has a lot of layers, like a big juicy onion. Having said that, I’m extremely honoured to have played Tola.

 

With one month to Grand Premiere, FIFTY packs a punch, set to wrap up 2015 on a resounding high

FIFTY’s grand premiere is scheduled to hold on Sunday, December 13, 2015, at the Eko Hotel & Suites in Lagos, Nigeria. The film is slated for its nationwide cinema release from December 18, 2015, precisely five days after the highly anticipated premiere.

“Without a doubt, FIFTY is going to be the most electrifying event of the final quarter of 2015,” assured Executive Producer of FIFTY, Mo Abudu. “Our persuasion is that there should be no better way to round off an eventful year such as this but on a resounding high. This is the promise of FIFTY and we’re pulling out all the stops and throwing a high-intensity, full-blown premiere that will certainly be unmissable for all our invited guests to include corporate, government officials, the film and entertainment industry, individuals, families and friends.”

The world premiere of FIFTY comes with an exciting cocktail of table booking options for various categories of people, to include Platinum Exclusive, Platinum Plus and Platinum Premium.

The Platinum Exclusive option is a Row VVIP Table for 10 that comes with the following benefits: Red carpet interviews, Performances by KSA, Tiwa Savage and Waje. Fine dining and champagne, The exclusive premiere of FIFTY, Meet and Greet with the FIFTY stars, Photo opportunities with the FIFTY stars and Access to the FIFTY Old Skool After Party.

The Platinum Plus option is a Gold Circle Row VVIP Table for 10 that comes with the following benefits: Red carpet interviews, performances by KSA, Tiwa Savage and Waje, Fine dining and champagne, The exclusive premiere of FIFTY, Meet and Greet with the FIFTY stars, Photo opportunities with the FIFTY stars and Access to the FIFTY Old Skool After Party.

The Platinum Premium option constitute Tables and Special seating for couples and singles with the following special benefits: Red carpet interviews, Performances by KSA, Tiwa Savage and Waje, Fine dining and champagne, The exclusive premiere of FIFTY, Meet and Greet with the FIFTY stars, Photo opportunities with the FIFTY stars and Access to the Fifty Old Skool After Party.

The grand premiere certainly packs a thrilling punch. As a result, tickets to the event are limited and are available at www.fiftythemovie.com and a number of outlets around Lagos. A few lucky people are also going to win tickets to the premiere. To benefit from this all people have to do is follow the hoopla on the social media platforms of the company as the upcoming weeks will be one of competitions galore. Some competition participants have already won tickets to see FIFTY at the cinemas but the forthcoming weeks will see contestants win tickets to attend the grand premiere and it could be just about anyone!

FIFTY, the only film selected from Nigeria, and one of only five films from the entire continent of Africa from 238 films selected globally for screening at the 2015 BFI London Film Festival, has continued to soar high on the wings of remarkable reviews from reputable key global concerns, including CNN, BBC, The London Film Festival and The British Council, not to speak of the greatly inspiring support from the local media and industry aficionados.

For CNN, FIFTY is “a movie that shows African women like before”. According to the Vice President of Content and Creative at Turner Broadcasting, Jane Mote, FIFTY “is celebratory of Lagos, strong women and African success. It is not high art, it is popular entertainment that shows people and places in one of the fastest growing economies in a refreshing new light.” For BBC One’s controller, Charlotte Moore, the film is “funny, full of melodrama and disarmingly touching and courageous at the same time.”

Among other film connoisseurs who were at the London screening was Ojoma Ochai, Director, British Council, and she opines, “Thanks again for the invitation to see FIFTY. It was an amazing film – the music, costumes, story, the elegance with which the plot was delivered… I loved it.”

Nadia Denton, film industry specialist, publicist and author of The Nigerian Filmmaker’s Guide to Success commented thus:”I attended the Leicester square premier which I thoroughly enjoyed. These occasions for Africans in the mainstream are rare. I found the film entertaining and feel that it will be an unquestionable box office hit amongst its audience.”

Nigeria’s highly respected film maker, Tunde Kelani, also observed that “Nigerians can look forward to a big treat when FIFTY, a new film by EbonyLife Films hits the cinemas nationwide from December 18, 2015. We were all highly impressed and full of praises after the media screening yesterday evening in Lagos. Kudos to my sister Mo Abudu and the entire cast and crew of FIFTY.”

Directed by Biyi Bandele, FIFTY, captures a few pivotal days in the lives of four Nigeria women at the pinnacle of their careers in the resurgent, ever-bustling, 24-hour mega city of Lagos, the commercial capital of Africa’s biggest and most vibrant economy. Tola, Elizabeth, Maria and Kate – four friends entrapped in the intense and pulsating story of love and lust; power and rivalry; life and loss.

Tola (Dakore Akande) is a reality TV star whose marriage to lawyer Kunle never stood a chance thanks to an unpleasant family secret. Elizabeth (Ireti Doyle) is a celebrated obstetrician whose penchant for younger men has estranged her from her daughter. Forty-nine year-old Maria (Omoni Oboli) has an affair with a married man that results in an unexpected pregnancy and Kate’s (Nse Ikpe-Etim) battle with a life-threatening illness has plunged her into religious obsession. Four lead characters who must muster courage, put on their six-inch heels, work hard and party too, as they battle to tackle life’s curve balls head-on.

Encomium

Written by Encomium

A media, tech and events company.

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