The critically acclaimed feature film “The Man Died,” inspired by Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka’s prison notes, continues its successful run on the international festival circuit following a well-received screening at the Quramo Festival of Words (QFest 2024) in Lagos on October 5th.
According to a statement released by Jahman O. Anikulapo, Director/Co-Founder of iREP and Associate Producer of “The Man Died,” forwarded to the Explainer, the film, written by UK-based scriptwriter Bode Asiyanbi, directed by Professor Awam Amkpa of New York University, and produced by Femi Odugbemi for Zuri 24 Media, has yet to see a formal release in theaters or on streaming platforms.
However, it has been making waves at key venues, including a showing at the Africa Centre in London this past July.
The Foundation for the Promotion of Documentary Film in Africa, organizers of the iREPRESENT Documentary Film Forum and the annual IREP International Documentary Film Festival, is spearheading the film’s global tour. Before its wider international debut, “The Man Died” is slated for special screenings at prestigious educational institutions, including universities in Florence, Italy; Abu Dhabi, UAE; Johannesburg, South Africa; as well as Ivy League institutions in the United States such as New York University, Harvard University, Oxford University, and Ithaca College.
The film’s journey began with a “special premiere screening” on July 12th at the Alliance Francaise, Michael Adenuga Centre in Ikoyi, Lagos, symbolically marking Soyinka’s 90th birthday on July 13th.
The October 5th screening at Eko Hotel & Suites in Lagos played to a packed house, further cementing the film’s popularity.
As “The Man Died” garners critical acclaim, it is under consideration for major international film festivals, including Berlinale in Germany, Carthage in Algeria, the Johannesburg Film Festival in South Africa, the African Film Festival in New York, and FESPACO in Burkina Faso.
Additionally, at least three major global streaming platforms and international distribution channels are reviewing the film.
Closer to home, “The Man Died” is set to feature at the African Film Festival (AFRIFF) in early November and the Eastern Nigeria Film Festival (ENIFF) in Enugu.
The film’s synopsis describes it as the story of Wole Soyinka’s 27-month incarceration by the Nigerian government in 1967 at the onset of the civil war. Soyinka was seeking a truce between Biafra and the Federal Government to allow time for a negotiated settlement of the conflict.
The film provides a deeply personal account of Soyinka’s experience, exploring his mental journey as he coped with the brutality of his confinement.
Director Awam Amkpa, a Nigerian-American professor of drama, film, and social and cultural analysis at New York University, brings his extensive experience in theater, film, and curation to the project. Producer Femi Odugbemi, founder and CEO of Zuri24 Media Lagos, boasts a 25-year career spanning feature films, TV series, and documentaries.
The film’s upcoming screenings include Accra Streamfest, Ghana (October 11), where it will be shown followed by a Q&A session with key cast and crew members as part of the “Labone Dialogues 2.0” hosted by NYU Accra; Film Africa Festival, London (October 27); Eastern Nigeria International Film Festival, Enugu (November 27-30), where it will serve as the opening film at Viva Cinemas; and African International Film Festival (AFRIFF), Lagos (November 3-9), where it has been officially selected for the 13th edition.
The statement stated that additional tour dates are currently being finalized.
As “The Man Died” continues its journey across global festivals, it promises to bring Wole Soyinka’s powerful story to diverse audiences, showcasing the talent of Nigerian filmmakers on the international stage.
