Obi Emelonye’s New Film ‘Onye Ozi’ Set for Gobal Premiere

Award winning director, Obi Emelonye returns with ‘a psychological comedy thriller,’ Onye Ozi (The Mesenger) – the latest film from Emelonye would receive a global premiere in London on 18th Oct 2013. As the film is being premiered at The Lighthouse (Camberwell), London, it will also be streamed online simultaneously. That means Nollywood fans around the world can watch the film through online partners like Iroko, Ibaka and Distrify. First of its kind for Nollywood!!!

Onye Ozi is a Nigerian language film set in London, performed exclusively in the Igbo language (by Nigerian and British actors) and subtitled in English. The film introduces screen newcomer, model turned actress, Ngozi Thompson Igwebike in a leading role, with other fresh faces such as British lawyer turned actor Stephen Moriaty filling other roles in a film that is considered a surprising follow up to Emelonye’s hugely successful 2012 blockbuster, Last Flight to Abuja.

Despite the film having a micro budget, Emelonye sees this as an important film that makes his mother tongue 'Igbo' the star attraction. In his own words 'Onye Ozi is my humble attempt to contribute my little quota to the preservation of the Igbo language and to take Nollywood back to its roots’.

Onye Ozi tells the story of Metumaribe (Okey Bakassi) fresh into London with high expectations and a two-year plan to return to Nigeria a rich man. However, life in London with his new ‘wife’ Mkpurunma (Ngozi Thompson Igwebike) is not going to plan.

On one fateful night, TJ an old English man (Stephen Moriaty) is chased by masked men and shot in front of his eyes. As Metu attempts to help the dying man, he hands Metu an envelope and whispers a message as he takes his last breath. From that point on, Metu becomes involved in a psychological but hilarious adventure that will change his life and the lives of those around him forever.