‘76’ becomes Africa's first movie to sign $10m deal

It’s been torrential tributes to Adonaijah Owiriwa and Izu Ojukwu, the producers of the movie titled ’76 but formerly Lion of ’76, for the essence it captured, the stellar cast and the near-perfect execution of the project. These and more explain why the Nigerian historical drama has been the highest grossing in the history of Nigerian movies. We have it on good authority that aside over $2million dollars deal for sale and distribution across Africa, the DStv Box Office had also requested that the movie be retained by popular demand, a feat yet to be rivaled by any other film, Nigerian or foreign. Interestingly so, it’s still till date the movie with the fairest negotiation with the distributors and exhibitors who hitherto demanded 60percent of the movie proceeds while the producer gets 40 percent at the cinema for the first week of showing. It gradually shrinks from 40 to 30 percent for the producer if the movie remains at the cinema at subsequent weeks. Indications are rife that ’76 broke that jinx. It may well interest you to know that the chart-topping film is the first in Africa to sign a whopping $10million deal with Hollywood for sale and distribution everywhere across the world aside Africa where the right had been secured. The grand success of the film aside carting away numerous awards in months of its release has encouraged the producers to get back to work to start filming another blockbuster.

Set six years after the civil war, a young officer from the Middle Belt gets into a romantic relationship with an O-level student from the South-eastern region. However, their relationship is strained by constant military postings. The soldier gets accused of being involved in the 1976 unsuccessful military coup and assassination of General Murtala Mohammed, and the heavily pregnant wife, gets entangled in an emotional dilemma.

The historical account in '76 went through a seven-month approval period at the Nigerian Military before filming started. The film which is set in the '70s was shot in Ibadan, Oyo. The film was in production for five years before its grand release last year.