The Milkmaid–Nigeria’s first-ever qualifying submission for Best International Feature Film at the Academy Awards – will have its European premiere at 2pm Saturday 10 July 2021 at BFI Southbank as part of the BFI African Odysseys programme, followed by a one-off Q&A with Director Desmond Ovbiagele and Executive Producer Oluseun Sowemimo.

An unflinching exploration of the human cost of the religious extremism sweeping across the African continent like a virus, The Milkmaid tells the story of two sisters, Aisha and Zainab, who are abducted from their village on Zainab’s wedding day in a deadly attack. This traumatic encounter forever alters their path, destroying their relationships and forcing them to fight for their lives, their freedom, and their sanity.

A story about Nigeria, made by Nigerians,  – told in Hausa, Fulfulde and Arabic. Ovbiagele’s film combines stunning cinematography with a powerful script to shine a spotlight on the ordinary people victimised by extremist terrorists, transforming them from another horrifying statistic into real, flesh-and-blood characters with lives, loves, desires, and hopes

In The Milkmaid, Ovbiagele skilfully juxtaposes the visceral horror and harrowing ordeal faced by victims of conflict with the serene natural beauty of West Africa – especially the jungle, forest, and mountains of Taraba State in north-eastern Nigeria. Ovbiagele approaches difficult topics sensitively, carefully considering how trauma and indoctrination creates perpetrators of violence as often as it creates victims. Indeed, the filmmakers have taken the deliberate decision not to name the Islamic extremists as Boko Haram, commenting that the scourge of extremism has now transcended their most infamous group.

Director Desmond Ovbiagele said: “The religious extremist insurgency that has raged in northern Nigeria for almost a decade has reduced human lives in the consciousness of the general public to mere statistics, typically nameless and voiceless. Inspired by the two Fulani milkmaids depicted on the Nigerian ten naira note, I felt a strong obligation as a filmmaker to harness the considerable tools available within the medium of cinema to help give a voice to those, living or dead, who are not in a position to speak for themselves.”

The crew themselves overcame unimaginable challenges while filming in order to complete the film. The team were apprehended at a checkpoint when their cargo – including props for the film – was deemed suspicious by local police. The situation escalated when a member of the local community – believing the crew to be insurgents themselves – advocated for violence. A number of the team were severely beaten and detained for several days before they could convince officers of their innocence and be allowed to continue on their way, as seen in the documentary: The Making of The Milkmaid.

T-B: Anthonieta Kalunta (Aisha), Maryam Booth (Zainab), Gambo Usman Kona (Dangana)

Starring Anthonieta Kalunta and Maryam Booth and Gambo Usman Kona, The Milkmaid has already garnered critical acclaim, winning five Africa Movie Academy Awards for Best Film, Best Film in an African Language, Best Nigerian Film, Best Supporting Actress and Achievement in Make-Up, with UK and USA release dates to be confirmed.

Now in its 15th year, BFI African Odysseys programme monthly events at BFI Southbank, as well as larger seasons and celebrations of work by and about the African diaspora. The series is programmed by the African Odysseys Steering Group in collaboration with a cross section of activists, cultural figures and community leaders; the group also runs dedicated training and education and programmes to support diverse filmmakers and develop better understanding of Africa and African diaspora film culture.

Recent highlights of BFI African Odysseys include special screenings of Rafiki (Wanuri Kahiu, 2018), Toni Morrison: The Pieces I Am (Timothy Greenfield-Sanders, 2019), If Beale Street Could Talk (Barry Jenkins, 2018), Pressure (Horace Ové, 1974) and Sarraounia, an African Queen (Med Hondo, 1986) and seasons exploring work by and about the African diaspora that were subject to censorship (Black and Banned, October 2018) and a series of documentaries which highlight the injustices experienced by Black British communities at the hands of the police (African Odysseys Presents: Injustice, September 2020).

BFI Southbank is currently operating with robust health and safety measures in place, including social distancing and the wearing of face coverings as standard. The cinema will continue to operate with these measures until government guidance advises otherwise. A full list of the health and safety measures can be found on the BFI website.

PRICE: £15 Adults, £12 Concessions (BFI Members pay £2 less). Get your tickets here

FILM CREDITS

• Languages: Hausa, Fulfulde, Arabic
• Film Duration: 136 minutes
• Writer, Director, Producer: Desmond Ovbiagele
• Executive Producer: Oluseun Sowemimo
• Co-Producers: Jumafor Ajogwu, Maxwell Mijinyawa, Akin Salami
• Director of Photography: Yinka Edward
• Production Designer: Pat Nebo
• Editor: Chuka Ejorh
• Costume Designer: Obijie Oru
• Makeup Supervisor: Rahila Manga
• Music Composer: Michael Ogunlade
• Starring: Anthonieta Kalunta, Maryam Booth, Gambo Usman Kona

BIOGRAPHIES

Desmond Ovbiagele, Director

Desmond Ovbiagele worked for over a decade in investment banking before exiting to pursue a passion for movie production. He wrote, produced and co-directed his debut feature film, renderto Caesar, which was selected to screen in official competition at FESPACO, Africa’s largest film festival, in 2015, as well as at the Pan African Film Festival in Los Angeles. It also received awards for Best Screenplay at the Nollywood Movies Awards and Best of Nollywood (BON) Awards respectively, in addition to the award for Best International Feature Film at the Nile Diaspora International Film Festival in Kampala, Uganda.

The Milkmaid, which he also wrote, produced and directed, is his second feature film, winning 5 Africa Movie Academy Awards in December 2020, including for Best Film. Also, in December 2020, The Nigerian Official Selection Committee announced The Milkmaid as the country’s official selection for the 93rd Academy Awards in the category of Best International Feature Film.

Oluseun Sowemimo, Executive Producer

Seun Sowemimo is a nationally recognized, board-certified general and bariatric surgeon specializing in laparoscopic and minimally invasive weight-loss surgery in New Jersey USA. He is the Medical Director for Bariatric Surgery at Centrastate medical centre in New Jersey.

Dr. Seun Sowemimo earned his medical degree at the University of Lagos and completed his residency at Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons, followed by fellowship training in Laparoscopic and Bariatric surgery at Yale University, Hospital of St. Raphael. A fellow of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (FASMBS) and the American College of Surgeons (FACS), Dr. Sowemimo maintains a life-long interest in the creative arts and their capacity for effecting positive social interventions.

Yinka Edward, Cinematographer

Born in Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria, Yinka Edward is an award-winning Nigerian cinematographer. For his work on The Figurine, Yinka won the 2010 African Movie Academy Award (AMAA) for cinematography. He was nominated for best cinematography at the 2015 Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Award (AMVCA) for his work on October 1 (Winner, Best Movie), which also won the Festival Programmers‟ Award for Narrative Feature at the 2015 Pan African Film Festival (PAFF), Los Angeles. Something Necessary, a Kenyan/German feature movie production which Yinka shot in Kenya, screened at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2013 and was nominated for the Audience Choice Award at the Chicago International Film Festival 2013. In addition, Yinka was nominated for his work in cinematography for 76 (2017 AMVCA Winner for Best Movie, Official Selection for Toronto International Film Festival & BFI London Film Festival) as well as 93 Days (Toronto International Film Festival, Chicago International Film Festival). Most recently, Yinka shot A Love Story, winner in the Best British Short Animation Category of the 2017 British Academy Film Awards (BAFTA) and won the 2018 AMVCA for Best Cinematographer for Okafor’s Law.

Yinka is an alumnus of the National Film and Television School, Beaconsfield, England, where he received a Masters of Arts degree in Film and Television production with a concentration in cinematography. In November 2020, Yinka’s work in The Milkmaid received an Africa Movie Academy Award (AMAA) nomination in the category of Achievement in Cinematography.

Pat Nebo, Production Designer

A veteran of over 25 years in film production, Pat Nebo is one of the most prolific Production Designers in the continent of Africa. He graduated from a leading arts academy in Rome, following courses in architecture and fine arts, also in Italy. Over the years he has considerable acclaim for his work in art decoration, winning several laurels at the most prestigious film competitions in the continent, including the award for Best Art Director at both the 2017 Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Award (AMVCA) and the 2017 African Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) for 76, as well as the award for Best Art Director at 2015 AMVCA for October 1.

Anthonieta Kalunta – Aisha

A Theater Arts graduate of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State, as well as an On-Air-Personality with a local media organization, Anthonieta Kalunta emerged from an extensive audition process with her selection for the lead role of the elder sister, Aisha in The Milkmaid, her film debut.

Maryam Booth – Zainab

A rapidly rising star in Kannywood and increasingly in its forerunner, Southern Nigeria’s Nollywood. Educated in both Nigeria and Malaysia, Maryam is the daughter of veteran Kannywood actress Zainab Booth; she commenced acting at the age of 8 and has since featured in several top-tier productions in the industry.

Gambo Usman Kona – Dangana

He is an accomplished actor and filmmaker in the local film industry in Taraba State with consistent participation in several movie productions over the last decade.