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‘76 set to premiere at Toronto film fest

By Florence Utor
21 August 2016   |   2:10 am
Prince Tonye Princewill’s military blockbuster, 1976,is set to hit movie shelf.The movie, which has been in production for over six years, and has passed the scrutiny of many movie critics, including having the endorsement....
Former President Obasanjo and the ‘76 team

Former President Obasanjo and the ‘76 team

Prince Tonye Princewill’s military blockbuster, 1976,is set to hit movie shelf.The movie, which has been in production for over six years, and has passed the scrutiny of many movie critics, including having the endorsement of the Nigeria Army, recently got the nod of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who succeeded General Murtala Mohammed, whose assassination is depicted in the film.
 
This is good for the Adonis Production team as Obasanjo was in 1976 among the top military hierarchy when the events happened. A private screening was held for the former president at his Presidential Library in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

The former president used the opportunity to reflect on the past events and re-emphasised the importance of unity.Describing the film as ‘a mixture of sweet and sorrow, Obasanjo commended the team for the production. He said: “It would remind us not to go back to the dark days, which put us in go-no-go situation. We might not yet have lived up to our best, but we have lived through our worst.


 
“We can have more of this, as there are more national issues that could be portrayed. We are capable of the best and that is what this film has shown,” he said.The Executive Producer, Princewill, who led a delegation of the cast and crew, which included Rita Dominic, Izu Ojukwu and Chidi Mokeme, disclosed that the movie is on tour of the country to seek support and endorsement, which is billed to premiere in cinemas in November.

“The youth of today need to have a sense of the past, we have no sense of history, hence the resolve to have the film 1976, which is simply called ’76,” he said.
Princewill noted that the visit to Obasanjo was important considering his position at that time in the country.
 
Hours after the former President gave his nod, the landmark cinematic production, hit another milestone by being the first all-Nigerian, made in Nigeria movie chosen to have its own world premiere at the 41st Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). This is the first of two in its world tour, which is set to span across six continents, according to Princewill. 
The film will have its specially laid out red carpet premiere on Sunday September 11 at Isabel Bader Theatre.

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