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Nollywood Screening Gets a Facelift with Rootflix

NNPA NEWSWIRE — The African Film Industry is also known as Nollywood (Nigerian Cinema). The colloquialism was first used in the early 2000’s, and, according to Forbes, had surpassed the once popular Bollywood (Hindi Cinema) by 2011, making it the second largest in the world. However, there were still distribution issues for novice and budding filmmakers.

Published

7 years ago

April 24, 2019

Oakland Post

By Cormeshia Carson Batty, The Dallas Weekly

Dallas Software Engineer, Kelechi Eke, has made a solid imprint in the African Film Industry with roles spanning from writer, director, producer, and star. With less than ten years in the industry he has also created an African Film production company and founded The African Film Festival.

His latest business venture, Rootflix is a unique movie streaming platform revolutionizing the distribution process for budding filmmakers, allowing fans and critics access to film festival-quality films from around the world.

Eke moved to Dallas from Nigeria and studied computer science and mathematics at East Texas Baptist University. He went on to graduate from the University of Texas at Dallas, where he attained a double Masters in Science Information Technology and Masters of Business Administration. He’s currently a family man with twenty -plus years of experience as a Computer Engineer.

Despite having a full plate of responsibilities, Eke dove into the film industry in 2011 establishing a production agency, BiGObi Productions and debuting his first film, “Lost In Abroad,” in Dallas, TX at the Majestic theater to an audience of more than 750. He has since produced, written, directed, or starred in more than ten films. He’s an award-winning producer whose films can be found at several ivy league universities including Harvard, Yale and Texas A&M.

“I have a lot of passion for film and storytelling. I’m from Nigeria. Storytelling is part of our culture. We grew up with it and that’s the foundation behind my filmmaking,” he said and also explained that, “Distribution has been a major issue for filmmakers, especially budding filmmakers. A lot of them make good films [and have] quality work both here in the United States and back home in Africa,” he said.

“Being a festival owner, I see a lot of great films that come to our festival that after each festival people that miss it,” he explained, “I said, ok, something has to be done, at least for my side. So, I’d like to start building that platform.”

The African Film Industry is also known as Nollywood (Nigerian Cinema). The colloquialism was first used in the early 2000’s, and, according to Forbes, had surpassed the once popular Bollywood (Hindi Cinema) by 2011, making it the second largest in the world. However, there were still distribution issues for novice and budding filmmakers.

In 2015, Eke founded, and is now the Executive Director of, The African Film Festival (TAFF). TAFF is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization created to give back to the African Independent film community. It was made to “bridge cultures through films” by inviting a diverse audience to celebrate some of the best films about continental Africa. Once a film is qualified, TAFF requires the film to go through a judging process.

Eke began building Rootflix and in just under two years of development, it was launched. “I have a 9 to 5, I have a job and I also fun the African film festival. I’ve had a lot on my plate. It took a lot of effort and it took a lot of discipline to be consistent and doing it as a part time business,” he said.

“We saw the opportunity [and] that there are great films out there that don’t make it to Netflix. Rootflix holds a number of film festivals globally. Just imagine the festivals catching on that, Rootflix is becoming this collection of various films from various film festivals, the potential that it has. The vision is huge. We expect it to grow tremendously in five years.”

Rootflix requires festival standard films, and, unlike TAFF, does not require the films to be written about Africa or by a person of African decent.

“Rootflix is open, broad, it’s culture. Really anybody can put their film on Rootflix, it’s not limited,” Eke says. Thus providing budding filmmakers who make quality films an opportunity to showcase their work,” he said, then explained that,“This really will help us solve that [distribution] issue whereby we can now select more films, quality films and have online screening.

The opportunity there is unlimited, and then Rootflix, of course, when you look at it resonates with the motherland and then the culture focus of the films and, of course, for filmmakers, regardless of their background or origin, they can look back to their roots. Majority of the films are from the motherland and so forth, so there was really a lot of thought that went into calling it Rootflix.”

This year, 2019, TAFF will host the official launch of Rootflix and introduce it to the world. TAFF will also incorporate movie screenings on the Rootflix platform. Film fanatics and makers will no long miss out on films they have anxiously awaited to see due to previously viewing the trailer or miss films that are cut from the lineup do to time constraints. Eks has a goal to release an exclusive Rootflix series at the end of 2019.

Rootflix is available for online streaming with a monthly subscription of $5. Filmmakers, email info@rootflix.com for submissions.

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Michael: The King of Pop’s Story Returns to the Big Screen

BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — The curtain has finally lifted on one of Hollywood’s most anticipated films. Lionsgate has unveiled the official trailer and release date for “Michael,” the sweeping biopic about Michael Jackson that has been years in the making.

Published

1 week ago

November 6, 2025

Stacy M. Brown

By Stacy M. Brown
Black Press USA Senior National Correspondent

The curtain has finally lifted on one of Hollywood’s most anticipated films. Lionsgate has unveiled the official trailer and release date for “Michael,” the sweeping biopic about Michael Jackson that has been years in the making. Directed by Antoine Fuqua, the film will arrive in theaters on April 24, 2026, with the singer’s nephew, Jaafar Jackson, stepping into the spotlight to portray his legendary uncle.

The trailer wastes no time rekindling the aura of Jackson’s genius. Opening with a studio scene between Jackson and his longtime producer Quincy Jones, played by Kendrick Sampson, the clip builds from a quiet, familiar rhythm to the electrifying pulse of “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’.” Viewers catch glimpses of the singer’s childhood, flashes of “Thriller,” and the silhouette that redefined pop culture. Each frame reminds fans of why Jackson remains unmatched in artistry and influence. The cast surrounding the late pop king’s nephew, Jaafar Jackson, reads like a who’s who of Black entertainment and music history. Colman Domingo plays Joe Jackson, Nia Long portrays Katherine Jackson, and Larenz Tate takes on the role of Motown founder Berry Gordy. Laura Harrier portrays music executive Suzanne de Passe, while Kat Graham embodies Diana Ross. Miles Teller plays attorney John Branca, a towering entertainment lawyer and longtime Jackson confidant who later became co-executor of his estate. The film’s journey to release has been as complicated as the icon it portrays. Production wrapped in 2024, but legal hurdles over depictions of past controversies forced extensive reshoots and editing delays. Even so, Fuqua’s film now appears ready to reclaim the narrative, focusing on Jackson’s creative ambition and humanity beyond tabloid noise. IndieWire reported that the film had faced “a massive legal snafu” over a disputed storyline but was retooled to center the music and legacy that defined generations.

Maven. Photo Credit: Glen Wilson

“Michael” promises more than a chronological retelling. It aims to explore how a child star from Gary, Indiana, became the world’s most influential entertainer. The script, written by Oscar-nominated John Logan, traces Jackson’s early years with the Jackson 5 through the triumphs and isolation of global superstardom. With Fuqua’s cinematic eye and producer Graham King—who brought “Bohemian Rhapsody” to life—joining forces with estate executors Branca and John McClain, the film is positioned as both a tribute and a restoration of Jackson’s cultural truth. Branca’s work behind the scenes has long shaped Jackson’s posthumous success. After the singer died in 2009, Branca and McClain took control of the estate burdened by debt and turned it into a global powerhouse worth billions. Under their stewardship, Jackson’s projects have generated more than $3 billion in worldwide ticket sales and landmark deals, including a $600 million joint venture with Sony earlier this year. At its heart, though, “Michael” is a story about artistry that transcends scandal. It offers a reminder that, despite the noise surrounding his life, Jackson’s music still bridges continents and generations. The trailer’s closing moments capture that spirit. As the beat of “Billie Jean” swells and Jaafar Jackson moonwalks into a spotlight, audiences are left with a familiar feeling—the awe of witnessing something timeless return home.

“Michael” opens worldwide in theaters April 24, 2026. See the official trailer here.

Stacy M. Brown

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Donald Trump Is the Biggest Loser

BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — The Trump Brand took a significant hit as it was swept up in the Democratic blue wave of the election last night.

Published

1 week ago

November 5, 2025

Oakland Post

By April Ryan

The Trump Brand took a significant hit as it was swept up in the Democratic blue wave of the election last night.

Chris Jones, Democratic candidate for U.S. House of Representatives (AR-02), says, “Last night was electric, and it was unquestionably a wave.” Democrats won big in what is widely considered a repudiation of Trump’s 9 months at the White House in his second term.

In the state of Virginia, which produced the first big election night win and saw the election of the first woman governor, Democrat Abigail Spanberger, 56% of Virginia’s residents disapprove of President Trump. In New Jersey, 55% of state residents disapprove of the president; in New York, 69% disapprove; and in California, 63% disapprove of the president. The Trump brand or his support for any candidates did nothing to benefit those he endorsed in this election. They actually lost in each race he publicly put his name behind. Trump endorsed former New York Democratic Governor Andrew Cuomo, who lost the New York mayor’s race in his run as an independent. And New Jersey Republican Jack Ciattarelli, who ran for governor with the presidential endorsement, also lost his prospective race.

The next question is, will the democratic momentum be sustainable? Jones further explained, “This can become a 2026 tsunami, but turning a wave into a tsunami takes energy. A lot of energy. It doesn’t just happen. The conditions are there. Now we have to work!”

Some Democrats would argue that the work is already underway. The pushback against Trump’s national redistricting efforts received a thumb in the eye from California voters. Prop 50, California Governor Gavin Newsom’s counterbalance to President Trump’s redistricting efforts, passed in California last night. Although Trump’s name was not on the ballot last night, his Republican policies were. The United States has now entered the longest government shutdown in its history. Forty-two million Americans are not getting SNAP benefits. Economists are acknowledging that the government shutdown is contributing to the rise in delinquent debt in the student loan, automotive, and credit card industries. These items are among the negatives Americans are protesting against.

Compounding Trump’s political problems is a tariff battle that’s directly impacting pocketbooks. The day after the elections, the Trump administration was arguing before the US Supreme Court in favor of the president’s tariff powers. Meanwhile, President Trump‘s poll numbers are underwater, standing at a 37% national disapproval rate

Oakland Post

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Historic Beatdown: Democrats Sweep Virginia as Speaker Don Scott and Jay Jones Make History

BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — In a clear rejection of the policies of President Donald Trump, history repeated itself in Virginia.

Published

1 week ago

November 5, 2025

Oakland Post

By Lauren Burke

In a clear rejection of the policies of President Donald Trump, history repeated itself in Virginia. Democrats once again swept all three statewide offices as they did in 2017 during Trump’s first term. Abigail Spanberger easily won the office of Governor, and State Senator Ghazala Hashmi won her race over John Reid to be the next Lieutenant Governor. The victories occurred against the backdrop of a historic win in Virginia by Spanberger that will give Virginia its first woman Governor.

Spanberger’s widely predicted win over Republican gubernatorial nominee Winsome Earle-Sears was called 17 minutes after the polls closed in Virginia at 7 pm. Former Delegate Jay Jones won his race against incumbent Attorney General Jason Miyares. His victory means Jones will be the first Black Attorney General in Virginia’s history. Jones’ win was particularly noteworthy since the last month of his campaign was consumed by the issue of private text messages from 2022 to Republican Delegate Carrie Coyner. Republicans ran a non-stop barrage of negative ads against Jones for a month.

Del. Coyner lost her bid for re-election to Delegate-elect Lindsey Dougherty. The Dougherty race was the number one target for House Speaker Don Scott and his campaign lieutenant, Delegate Dan Helmer. Coyner’s defeat was one of at least 13 victories for Democrats who have now added to their ranks in the Virginia House to historic margins. When the Virginia General Assembly returns to session in January, there will be at least 64 Democrats in the chamber. The widespread Republican defeat is a testament to a combination of historic fundraising, Democrats running in all 100 seats, dislike of President Trump’s policies, and an ineffective top of the ticket featuring Lt. Gov. Earle Sears.

+13: Speaker Scott and Del. Helmer Hit Historic Numbers in Fundraising and Power

As the evening ended, a glaring historic fact became clearer: The Virginia House of Delegates will expand to a historic number. The change means the largest Democratic House chamber in the modern era. There were several notable wins by Democrats running for the Virginia House. They include Virgil Thornton, Lilly Franklin, and Kim Pope Adams. Speaker Don Scott and his campaign chair, Dan Helmer, undertook a record fundraising effort never before seen in Virginia’s history. The moment of success for Virginia Democrats will be viewed as a positive signal for Democrats moving into the 2026 elections.