The long-anticipated comedy thriller Streets of Calabar will have an exclusive screening and movie premiere before opening in cinemas throughout Nigeria.

Wondering when Streets of Calabar, the much talked-about movie from former CNN and BBC journalist Charles Aniagolu, will ever see the light of day?

Well, wonder no more.

In a press release sent exclusively to Nollyscope, Aniagolu—who wrote, produced and co-directed the film—reveals that there will be an exclusive screening of Streets of Calabar for the press and business partners in Lagos at 10 a.m. on Friday, December 14, 2012. The event will take place at the Silverbird Galleria located at Ahmadu Bello Way in Victoria Island, Lagos.

The movie premiere is scheduled to take place a week after the screening: befittingly, at the 2012 Calabar Festival at 5:00 p.m. on Friday, December 21, 2012. The venue will be the FilmHouse at the Marina Resort in Calabar. Streets of Calabar will open in cinemas nationwide on the same day.

Special guests to the premiere include Cross River State governor Liyel Imoke; his wife, Barrister Obioma Liyel Imoke; and the Minister of Tourism, Culture & National Orientation Chief Edem Duke. Additional celebrity guests will be announced within the next few days.

Production company Spirit Creations UK presents the movie in association with the Cross River State Tourism Bureau, Silverbird Distribution and UNICEM.

“We are thrilled to bring the premiere of the film Streets of Calabar to the newly completed ultra modern FilmHouse cinema at the Marina Resort and to the world-famous Calabar Festival,” said Michael Williams, Managing Director of the Cross River State Tourism Bureau. “The festival is a premier showcase of Nigerian cultural innovation, the finest achievements of African arts and the best in black creativity; and this movie definitely adds to that impressive diversity.”

Said Aniagolu about the Streets of Calabar: “This film is a must see. The storyline has several twists in it that will keep moviegoers glued to their seats. Nollywood fans will be thrilled with both the revelatory narrative style and the production value of this movie. I’m happy that the premiere is taking place in the fabulous metropolis of Calabar, one of the most visually beautiful cities in West Africa and the same location where much of the movie was filmed.”

Rita Dominic, 2012 winner of the AMAA Best Actress award and one of the stars of the movie, had this to say: “Streets of Calabar is an international-standard movie which was shot on location in London, England and against the spectacular backdrop of Calabar and Cross River State, with a great storyline and an international cast. The film really is something for the moviegoer to get excited about.”

Streets of Calabar is about two down-on-their-luck scammers compelled to become part of a covert police mission to stop a mysterious gangster from taking over the peaceful streets of Calabar. The movie is written in a mixture of English and pidgin, takes optimal advantage of Calabar’s festive and colorful backdrop, and infuses humor and wit in a story of crime and danger.

Aniagolu directed Streets of Calabar with Frank Macaulay. Apart from Dominic, other cast members include Wale Ojo (Phone Swap), Anthony Ofoegbu, Maynard Eziashi, Keppy Ekpenyong, Lisa Kill and Vicqui Christie. — DCA

http://www.nollyscope.com/news/streets-of-calabar-gets-premiere-date/

The trailer can be found here

http://www.streetsofcalabar.com/trailer/index.html