BEVERLY HILLS, January 20, (THEWILL) – Dr. Ngozi Okonjo- Iweala, Nigeria’s former Minister of Finance may have propelled the film dedicated to telling the story of the kidnapped Chibok schoolgirls, “Waiting for Hassana”, which was premiered in the U.S. on Friday.
According to a released by statement by Adam Segal, a representative of The 2050 Group, the film, “WAITING FOR HASSANA” is a powerful short documentary directed by Ifunanya ‘Funa’ Maduka and produced by Uzodinma Iweala (Ngozi’s son) and Ifunanya Maduka.
However, the younger Iweala revealed that he was contacted by his mother, Ngozi, over the need for people to hear the story of the girls.
“When my mother came to me and said that people need to hear about the strength of these young women who have suffered the worst and yet still have so much to offer the world, I said I would help to get that story out there,” he said.
The short documentary is the first Nigerian production ever selected to debut at the prestigious Sundance International Film Festival, the largest independent film festival in the U.S. with 46,660 attendees in 2016.
Held in January in Park City, Salt Lake City, and Ogden, as well as at the Sundance Resort, the festival is a showcase for new work from American and international independent filmmakers.
“The short documentary, WAITING FOR HASSANA, tells the story of the Chibok abductions from a single perspective — a voice of one of the fifty-seven escapees,” the statement read.
“The film was shot over the course of 2016 in Nigeria by acclaimed Nigerian cinematographer, Victor Okhai.
“Nnamdi Asomugha, a Nigerian-American and former NFL cornerback turned producer, is the primary backer and executive producer on the project.
“Gallerist, Edward Tyler Nahem, and philanthropists, Ann and Andrew Tisch, are also executive producers.
The statement quoted Maduka as saying: “This contained and intimate film introduces a new point of entry into the Chibok kidnappings.
“We know the global story, now we hear the personal one. As the director, my aim was to visually and sonically plunge audiences into the psychological and emotional landscape of our subject.
“My hope is that audiences will leave feeling inextricably linked to her life and her story – that it will become as much their story as it is hers.
“That radical intimacy is, to me, the basic and necessary function of art. It was also important to me that a Nigerian told this story, and I am proud that our crew reflects that drive.”
It also quoted Iweala as saying: “Within every tragedy there are incredible stories of resilience.
“WAITING FOR HASSANA is the result of a team of Nigerians dedicated to telling our own stories to ourselves and the world.”
