''O-Town'' is a Nigerian crime gangster film written and directed by

C.J. Obasi C.J. Obasi (also known as "Fiery" or "The Fiery One") is a Nigerian film director, screenwriter and editor. His debut feature – a zero budget film '' Ojuju'' premiered at the Africa International Film Festival in November 2014, and won the ...

. The film stars Paul Utomi as Peace, a hustler at the center of various issues in the small town of Owerri, also known as O-Town. The film's music was composed by Beatoven and Wache Pollen and filming took place in Owerri. Of the film, Obasi has described as a "crime-gangster thriller. It’s a semi-autobiographical tale because it draws from some of the crime stories I knew and heard; growing up in a small town called Owerri in

Imo State Imo State ( ig, Ȯra Imo) is a States of Nigeria, state in the South East (Nigeria), South-East geopolitical zone of Nigeria, bordered to the north by Anambra State, Rivers State to the west and south, and Abia State to the east. It takes its n ...

. It’s also my exploration into genre Film-making, where I explore basically my love for film."

Story

The film is set in a lightly fictionalised version of Owerri ruled over by a sadistic gangster, The Chairman ( Kalu Ikeagwu). The story is told from the viewpoint of an omnipresent, anonymous filmmaker and it follows the travails of Peace (Paul Utomi), a small time hustler with an ambition to become the head of the streets.

Cast

* Paul Utomi as Peace * Brutus Richard as Sheriff * Ifeanyi Delvin Ijeoma as Paami * Chucks Chyke as The Artiste *

Ifu Ennada Iheme Faith Uloma (born 23 July 1992) better known as Ifu Ennada is a Nigerian film actress and fashion designer and a former ''BBNaija'' housemate. She is also an actress, known for winning the AMAA award for Best Young and Promising Actor in ...

as Amara * Lucy Ameh as Jenny * Kalu Ikeagwu as The Chairman * Olu Alvin as Viper

Reception

Release and reception

It first premiered at the 2015 edition of the Africa International Film Festival held in Lagos. Nigerian critic Oris Aigbokhaevbolo described it as "overindulgent but brilliant".

Goteborg Film Festival Göteborg Film Festival (GFF), formerly Göteborg International Film Festival (GIFF), known in English as the Gothenburg Film Festival, formerly Gothenburg International Film Festival, is an annual film festival in Gothenburg, Sweden and the larg ...

's artistic director Jonas Holmberg described ''O-Town'' as a “Tarantinesque” drama.

Official Selection

* Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF), 2015 *

, 2016

Awards and recognition

References

External links

* {{IMDb title, 3981614 English-language Nigerian films Gangster films 2015 films Nigerian crime films 2015 crime films 2010s English-language films