Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) nominated documentary filmmaker, Onyeka Nwelue, who is currently a Research Fellow at Ohio University in the US, has just wrapped shoot of his first fictional feature, Island of Happiness, based on his novel.
Island of Happiness is set in Oguta, Imo State and is delivered in Igbo and American Sign Language. It stars first-timers, Nnamdi Iwuala, Obinna Nwokedi and Vicky Worgu, Harry B. Anyanwu, Mfon Brutus, introducing child actor, Ifeanyi Akpati and the real Chief Priestess of Oguta Lake Goddess, Akuzzor Anozia.
It is the story of four friends who return to Oguta when NDDC promises to pay Oguta youths monthly stipends. When they spend 10 months and get nothing, they engage in crime, excessive drinking and then, they begin to protect the villagers from the two oppressors, Papi and Chief Mbanefo.
Nwelue first tried to make the film in 2011 as "The Distant Light" but it never happened. But, since getting nominated for the Best Documentary Award at the Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) in 2017, with his first documentary feature, The House of Nwapa, based on Flora Nwapa, he has gone on to rekindle the production.
#Congrats, Onyeka. We shall wait to see it. See more photos
