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The Kingdom of Eti-Oni located in Sub-Sahara West Africa in Osun State, Nigeria glorified as the oldest cocoa plantation in Nigeria is launched the global film festivals during “The Cocoa Festival” now in its 8^th edition. The historic event also plans to tackle the emerging entertainment market place since COVID-19 and the impact of “films of purpose,” and trends of New Age Technology that have ushered in a New World and system of how the arts & entertainment will be sustainable. Creating a historic and innovative platform has garnished the dedicated support from key entertainment decision makers and stakeholders internationally.

The Kingdom of Eti-Oni is the first Kingdom to found global film festivals by a Monarchy, and also makes history as the first ever film festival to celebrate cocoa. Royal Cocoa International Film Festivals (RCIFF) presented by Eti-Oni Development Group will launch during 8th annual edition of “The Cocoa Festival” and will host a series of hybrid and physical film events that include private workshops for film and television. Royal Cocoa International Film Festivals (RCIFF) was founded by Their Royal Majesties of Eti-Oni, King Dokun Thompson Gureje IV and Queen Angelique-Monet Gureje-Thompson during the annual New Generation In Action Artisan Festival International World Peace Initiative’s World Peace & Tolerance Program on July 13, 2021^, in Cannes, France as the organization continued 9 years of presence during Cannes Film Festival despite the pandemic.  Since the inception, the unique festival (RCIFF) has partnered with New Generation In Action’s (NGIA) Artisan Festival International (AFI) World Peace Initiative, an award winning NGO recognized with Consultative Status by the United Nations through Economic and Social Council. NGIA has used diversity of media platforms to promote RESPECT and DINITY across the broad spectrum of society regardless of gender, race, and ethnicity, or religion.

ABOUT ETI-ONI DEVELOPMENT GROUP

Eti-Oni Development Group has a global perspective and a long term objective to transform the rural cocoa producing community of Eti-Oni into a sustainable model smart town. It is made up of several accomplished individuals with diverse skills and experiences both locally and internationally who are visionary, creative and focused with the commitment and passion to achieve the group’s objectives.

According to the United Nations, Nigeria is poised to be the 3rd most populous country in the world by 2050 and there is a pressing need to creatively develop rural communities through different people and private initiatives and enterprises without relying on government intervention as a means to accommodate this rising population and new ways of generating the investments to fund the required social services and physical infrastructure.

ABOUT NEW GENERATION IN ACTION’S AFI WORLD PEACE INITIATIVE

New Generation In Action (NGIA) Artisan Festival International (AFI) World Peace Initiative is an award winning US based NGO, recognized with Special Consultative Status by the United Nations through ECOSOC founded by HRM Queen Angelique-Monet Gureje-Thompson of Eti-Oni, Osun State, Nigeria. 

NGIA/AFI has been utilizing the diversity of media platforms to promote RESPECT and DIGNITY across the broad spectrum of global society regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, or religion. With its AFI World Peace Initiative, the NGIA has chosen film as an impactful means to educate, enlighten and inform audiences of all ages around the world, with a better understanding of the existential issues facing us all today.

ABOUT THE COCOA FESTIVAL

HRM Queen Angelique-Monet, President of Eti-Oni Development Group stated that The Cocoa Festival was a celebration of the cultural heritage of Eti-Oni now in its 8^th edition and also celebrating 125 years of continued production of cocoa in Eti-Oni. She said the main objective of The Cocoa Festival was to create a renaissance in the cocoa industry in a manner that will first appreciate the farmers, return dignity and self-worth to the farmers so that the coming generation can embrace cocoa farming with pride. She said further that the group’s approach was through creating a cocoa culture and building platforms for cultural exchange, networking, exchange of ideas and opportunities for networking that will lead to establishing collaborations and partnerships to bridge the gap between cocoa production and consumption and ultimately achieve mutual and beneficial shared value to create wealth that can transform producing communities. It was reported that over the years, the festival has seen in attendance agriculturalists (new and established), agro-tourists as well as local and international travel enthusiasts who go to participate in somewhat divine and significant royal cocoa traditions of Eti-Oni showcased through music, dance, drama and poetry amongst other events through the entire week of celebration.

Royal Cocoa International Film Festivals (RCIFF) 2021 LAUNCH - EVENT & ACTIVITIES

The Launch of (RCIFF) in Nigeria will be a hybrid of virtual and physical events to give opportunity to several global stakeholders and decision makers who had been providing advice and support to make the festival, a truly international one but due to covid, most people who had shown keen interest to be part of the festival and the historic launch of the film festivals are still limited in international travels.

Details of the Virtual Launch:

Friday 19 November 2021, 7pm – 9pm: Virtual Launch of Royal Cocoa International Film Festivals via zoom.

Details of the Physical Launch:

Thursday 25 November 2021, 6pm – 10pm: Physical Launch of Royal Cocoa International Film Festivals at the Film House, Osun Mall, Osogbo

The Royal Cocoa International Film Festivals will be formally launched and the Film Festivals will be declared open by His Excellency Mr. Adegboyega Oyetola, the Executive Governor of the State of Osun.

The launch will screen one feature film and 4 short films:

– Premiere and Screening of two time Oscar Nominee Barry Alexander Brown’s “Son of the South” Executive Produced by Oscar winner, Spike Lee starring: Lucas Till, Lex Scott Davis, Lucy Hale, Cedric the Entertainer, Shamier Anderson and Dexter Darden.

– Premiere and Screening of “5150” Directed by Denzel Whitaker, written and produced by John Trefry and Denzel Whitaker Executive Produced by David Oyelowo starring Jovan Adepo

– Premiere and Screening of “Legend of the Cocoa King” 2D Animation Movie by HRM Oba (King) Dokun Thompson, The Oloni of Eti-Oni, Osun State Nigeria 

– Smartphone Cinema Block - Screening of “Come Back to Me” (India) by Vineesha Arora-Sarin

– Screening Trailer: A feature film shot entirely on smartphone “Between Mountains” (USA) by Vineesha Arora-Sarin starring Amit Sarin

Friday 26 November 2021: 4pm – 6pm: Virtual Session of Learning and

Discussion in the New World & New Generation of Entertainment.

Topics will include 

•       The New World of Casting - Casting in the New World of COVID-19, tips and trends

•       Breaking into the global Film Industry - Micro-budget to Blockbuster, is there a formula? Experts will advise based on The New World of entertainment  since the pandemic

•       New World of Smartphone Content - Success stories of filmmakers who make content on their smartphones for main stream audiences 

THE LAUNCH COMMITTEE

The Honorary RCIFF Launch Committee is a group of individuals who are stakeholders and decision makers in the global film industry that have provided support specific to “films of purpose,” and the launch of RCIFF within the arts sectors: In alphabetical order, they include:

Bruno Chatelin - Co-Founder of FilmFestivals.com, Festival Agent,  Film Executive (France)

Chief Ginew Benton – Award Winning Filmmaker, Native American Story Teller & Musician /Ojibwa Native American (USA)

Ed Umoja Herman – Producer and Filmmaker (USA)

Eve Pomerance - Casting Director, Film and Television Producer (USA)

Gregory and Ernie Schimizzi – Broadcast Television Pioneers (USA)

Jagrit Bajwa – Punjabi hip-hop Artist, 2030 SDG Youth Advocate (CANADA)

John Mathurin - Tourism, Arts & Culture Expert (St Lucia)

Lawrence David Foldes - Critically Acclaimed Filmmaker, Student Academy Awards (USA)

Michela Scolari – Award Winning Filmmaker (Italy)

Mike Doughty – Business and Entertainment Developer, Strategist, Publicist (USA)

Niquole Esters – Environmental Sustainability Advisor, Connector, Mentor and Traveler (USA)

Orlando Satchel - Culinary Arts & Film Enthusiast (St Lucia)

Otunba Dotun Olakunri – Award Winning Film Producer (Nigeria)

Peter Ferris – Award Winning Film Producer, Actor, Top 50 Global Teacher Prize 2021 (UK)

Princess Lamide Thompson-Odeneye – Cyber Security Professional (Nigeria)

Princess Moradeun Adedoyin-Solarin – Award Winning UK Nollywood Actress and Producer & TV Presenter (UK)

Professor Karl Bardosh - Award winning filmmaker, Pioneer in smartphone cinema, Professor (USA)

Ron Carter – Public Relations Strategist and Entertainment Media Practitioner (USA)

Sandeep Marwah - Founder of Noida Film City, President of Marwah Studios, Chancellor of AAFT University of Media and Arts (India)

Tina Tandon – Fashion Designer and Consultant (USA/India) 

SPECIAL GUESTS 

Son of the South - Barry Alexander Brown – Two Time Oscar Nominee

5150 - Denzel Whitaker -  Notable films include “The Great Debaters, Training Day, and Black Panther as well as TV Shows ER, Brothers and Sisters and The War at Home.

Come Back to Me and Between Mountains - Vineesha Arora-Sarin: Award Winning Filmmaker (USA, India) and Amit Sarin: Award Winning Actor, Producer, and Bollywood Star (USA, India)

INTERNATIONAL EVENTS

Eti-Oni Cocoa Events of Eti-Oni Development Group has continued to be innovative in cocoa culture creation and the bringing together of peoples and cultures. In April 2022, Eko Chocolate Show, the biggest show dedicated to chocolate and confectionery will hold its 3^rd edition. Alongside the show will be the 2^nd edition of the Nigerian Cocoa Awards. The award which debuted in 2017 is given in recognition and appreciation of excellent and outstanding contribution to Cocoa Development and Sustainability to individuals, corporate organizations or government agencies or programmes from around the world. 

HRM Queen Angelique-Monet also made an official announcement of the maiden edition of the much talked about International Cocoa Festival to be held between the 25^th and 29^th May 2022 at Soufriere, St Lucia alongside the St Lucia series of the Royal Cocoa International Film Festivals. It was said plans were being finalized to create a global stage in St Lucia for cocoa that will not only celebrate the best of the Caribbean region but also begin the development and deepening of the connection with Africa as the motherland and everyone especially cocoa and chocolate lovers from all the corners of the world were invited to join the celebration in St Lucia in May 2022. The Festival has been themed: “The Coming Together”

In her final remarks, Queen Angelique-Monet said that the Royal Cocoa Festival Dinner London now in its 5^th edition had continued to grow and participants had been building on the opportunities the event offered through partnership with several organizations like the Academy of Chocolate UK who had participated in every edition of the Dinner. Her Royal Majesty mentioned that the last 2 editions were done virtually again due to covid but plans were underway to expand the offerings with more interesting activities to be launched during the 6^th edition in October 2022.