Canadian High Commission Partners With Stephanie Linus To Empower The African Child

Award winning actor and film maker, Stephanie Linus, was a keynote speaker at the ‘African Child Campaign’ organized by the Canadian High Commission in Abuja, Nigeria last Thursday 21st July. She spoke alongside the Canadian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Perry John Calderwood under the theme “Empowering African girls to reach their full potential by delaying marriage and staying in school”.
The two-part event included a the screening of Africa’s Best Overall Movie ‘DRY’ and a Press Conference where Mrs Linus and the Canadian High Commissioner highlighted the efforts they have been employing to enable African women and girls reach their full potential, free from coercion, discrimination and violence. 

In her remarks, Mrs Linus spoke passionately about the need for educating the African Child and how DRY has been shifting conversations around the world, thereby shinning the spotlight on the African girl-child. “As we watch this movie and as we discuss here today, let it be foremost in our minds that the education of girls, especially the most marginalized, is key to their survival & that of the future generation,” she said.

The Canadian High Commissioner also reiterated the Canadian government’s commitment to gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls, while highlighting some of their recent campaign efforts in Nigeria and other African countries.

The movie was well received by members of the press, staff of the Canadian High Commission and all invited guests who lauded Mrs Linus’ efforts in producing a world-class movie which is being used as a tool to create awareness about the plight of the African Child.

Stephanie Linus' DRY Wins Big At The Pan African Film Festival, USA

Stephanie Linus’ movie ‘DRY’ has again recorded another feat. The movie has won the Programmers’ Award for Narrative Feature at the recently concluded Pan African Film Festival in Los Angeles, USA.
This award was given alongside other prestigious awards to film makers from across the world whose movies were screened at the largest and most prestigious black film festival in America.
It would be recalled that DRY has also won a host of local and international awards including the ‘Best Protagonist’ Award at the Bentonville Film Festival in Arkansas, USA.
DRY is nominated in 9 categories at the Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards 2016 (AMVCA) which comes up this March, and has also won at the BON Awards and Zafaa Global awards in categories such as: Movie with the best social message, Best Cinematography, Best Screenplay, Best Child Actress and Best Producer.
Produced, directed, and starring Nollywood’s A-List actress, Stephanie Linus, the film is an inspired true story that depicts the life of two young girls living as child brides in West Africa. The critically acclaimed movie focuses on child marriage and Vesico Vaginal Fistula (VVF), journeying into the heart-wrenching details of a culture not too many films dare to explore.
DRY is currently available on online platforms such as iTunes, Amazon, Google Play, Sony PlayStation and VUDU for viewers throughout the U.S.

Stephanie Okereke-Linus’s movie, 'DRY' signs A Film Distribution deal in the U.S.

Stephanie Linus and her award winning movie, DRY, have recently signed a deal with ARC Entertainment for the film’s distribution in the U.S.  DRY is currently available on online platforms such as iTunes, Amazon, Google Play, Sony PlayStation and VUDU for viewers throughout the U.S. 
Produced, directed, and starring Nollywood’s A-List actress, Stephanie Linus, the film is an inspired true story that depicts the life of two young girls living as child brides in West Africa. The critically acclaimed movie focuses on child marriage and Vesico Vaginal Fistula (VVF), journeying into the heart-wrenching details of a culture not too many films dare to explore. 
The journey has resulted in awards and nominations, with a successful international film festival screening tours. DRY was screened and won “best Protagonist” award at the  Bentonville Film Festival, USA; official selection at the St Louis International Film Festival, USA; the Montreal Black Film Festival, Canada , African in Motion Film Festival, Scotland; and a screening at the Lancaster University, UK. DRY  also has been selected to screen at the Toronto Black Film Festival in early 2016.
Adding to the list are nine nominations at the Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards 2016 (AMVCA) in categories such as Best Director, Best Overall Movie (Africa), Best Movie (West Africa) and Best Supporting Actress,etc.
Dry has already won at the BON Awards and Zafaa Global awards in categories such as: Movie with the best social message, Best Cinematography, Best Screenplay, Best Child Actress and Best Producer.
Click here to watch dry:

Stephanie Okereke-Linus unveiled as ambassador for the ‘Stop Violence Against Women In Elections’ Campaign


Nigerian actress and producer, Stephanie Okereke-Linus has been unveiled as  ambassador for the ‘Stop Violence Against Women In Elections’ campaign. The honour was bestowed unto her by The United States Agency for International Development(USAID) and the National Democratic Institute (NDI), a US-based International Agency.

Her formal presentation as an ambassador took place on September 1st 2015  at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja. The event was attended by the Acting INEC Chairman Hajiya Amina Zakari, the former Deputy Governor of Plateau state Mrs Pauline Tallen, the NDI Country Director Jasper Veen, the Team Leader of Democracy and Governance USAID Blair King, a representative of the Inspector General of Police Solomon Araseamongst others.  

Stop-VAWIE (Violence Against Women In Elections) Campaign is a project that seeks to create public awareness on various forms of violence against women before, during and after elections in Nigeria, which often militates their active participation in the electoral process.

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This project which is funded by the USAID is an initiative of the NDI in partnership with the International Federation of Women Lawyers(FIDA). Ahead of the Kogi and Bayelsa gubernatorial elections, Stephanie as an ambassador will create awareness around the project and elicit the support of different segments of society to report cases of violence against women and bring an end to this menace.

Stephanie, who is very passionate about the cause and happy to be an ambassador, pledged her full support to the campaign. 

 “I pledge my full support, my voice and everything within my capacity to make sure that these issues are brought to light and to help educate people about this violence and see ways we can put an end to it so that we can have a better society for ourselves and the future generation.”‎


Actress, Stephanie Okereke-Linus speaks on why she waited for 3 years after marriage before getting pregnant.

Mum-to-be and Nollywood Actress, Stephanie Okereke- Linus in a recent interview with Genevieve Magazine opened up on why she waited 3 years after she and her hubby, Linus Idahosa exchanged marital vows in France to get pregnant. 
“Waiting this long to have a baby is a personal choice, and God ultimately decides. You have to be ready mentally and physically. I had a film I was shooting and I was travelling a lot to, My movie is out now, and I cannot even promote it across Africa like I wanted to, because am stuck in one place. It’s also Gods timing, neither my husband nor I were pressurized. I feel this is the right time for it to happen. Right after we got married, I was on set shooting. but this year is different. It’s the perfect year for me to get pregnant.” The producer explained

Stephanie Linus's Movie "DRY" Premiers in Nigerian Theaters Nationwide August 14th

After a successful screening debut in Wales, UK, the critically acclaimed movie ‘Dry’ will premiere nationwide in Nigeria beginning August 14th, 2015. Produced, directed, and starring Nollywood’s A-List actress, Stephanie Linus, the film is an inspired true story that follows a trail of Zara’s (played by Stephanie Linus) trip to Africa, her constant turmoil as a result of inexplicable horrors from her child hood, her experiences and heartaches while working with young girls suffering from complications from early child birth as child brides, against the backdrop of a rich African culture. It is full of intrigue, suspense, unbelievable surprises, the joy of reconciliation and the power of the human spirit that is guaranteed to captivate and engage moviegoers. 
The film stars: Darwin Shaw as Dr. Alex, the legendary Liz Benson Ameye as the Matron, Bill McNamara as Dr. Brown, and Introducing Zubaida Ibrahim Fagge as Halima the teenager who had to endure a life not designed for a child: to be married to a man who was more than four times her age. Produced by Next Page Productions, this film was supported by the Office of the special adviser to the president on MDGs Nigeria, Aberystwyth University Wales, Diamond Bank, Ford Foundation, Project Act Nollywood, USAID Acquired fistula,Vlisco and more.
Also starring in the film are Olu Jacobs, Tijjani Faraga, Hauwa Maina, Rahama Hassan, Rekiya Attah, Hakeem Hassan and Afamefuna Klint Igwemba (aka Klint da drunk). The production’s creative team includes director of photography, Angel Barroeta, executive producer, Linus Idahosa, co-produced by Jane Lawalata with Akanimo Odon and Murtza Ali Ghaznavi as line producers and Chinedu Omorie as first assistant.
“Dry journeys into heart-wrenching details of a culture not too many films dare to explore. The issue might seem controversial, but if it will set one girl free and open the minds of the people, and encourage us all to take action, then the movie would have served its purpose.” – Stephanie Linus, Writer, Director & Producer.
The movie trailer for DRY can be watched through this link-http://youtu.be/soXkS9BnKu0
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