Stephanie Linus Daily

Tag: DRY

  • DRY Is Now Available On Amazon Prime!

    I’m so thrilled to announce to StephanieDaily readers all over the world that DRY is now available on Amazon Prime! The movie, which brings to the fore, conversations about fistula, the girl-child, child marriage, gender equality and more, is now accessible to even more viewers.

    To rent or buy, simply CLICK HERE

    An inspiring true story of Zara, a successful doctor who lives in Wales, and Halima, a young 13 year old girl who is about to be wed in a rural part of Africa. However as time goes on Halima develops a disease, which she gets shunned for. Through out her journey she is some what alone until her path collides with Zara. The day they meet their lives change forever.

    Already, DRY has a 5-star review on Amazon!

    Don’t forget to leave a review on Amazon after you watch it. I’ll love to know what you think 🙂

  • Taking Fistula Advocacy To The Grassroots

    The vision for me is to end the suffering of girls and women who are left incontinent as a result of fistula in Nigeria.

    This gained some momentum recently when I took this campaign to the nooks and crannies of Sokoto state in northern Nigeria in my capacity as the UNFPA Ambassador for Maternal Health in West & Central Africa and an advocate for girls and women’s rights. 

    This campaign was particularly important as it not only took place in a region with the highest prevalence rate of fistula but also included meetings with traditional rulers, religious leaders, policymakers, women leaders and other stakeholders who are tasked with creating policies and encouraging lifestyles that directly affect their communities.

    To deliver my advocacy message even better, I screened the award-winning movie, Dry, a masterpiece that connects the dots between underage marriage, poor maternal health and fistula.

    The movie which has now been translated into Hausa appealed to the local audience.

    The awareness campaign also included visits to fistula hospitals where I had discussions with various doctors, nurses, fistula patients, and health workers.

    Obstetric fistula is a preventable condition which is prevalent in Nigeria and most poor resource countries of the world.

    An estimated 50,000- 100,000 new cases occur annually in Nigeria, hence it is a major public health problem.

    The UNFPA has been at the forefront in tackling this issue, spearheading several outreach programs and putting its full weight behind campaigns such as this.

    The organization is also credited with ensuring the message of the movie gets to every relevant community.

    Dry has taken on a life of its own and continues to take me around the world.

    The education and awareness it delivers to everyone who watches it inspires me to do more.

    Dry is more than just a movie. It is a movement, and the plight of the girl child is a cause I must continue fighting for. I’m not slowing down anytime soon.

     

  • Photos From Dry Screening At The Pan African Film & Arts Festival

    Hi lovelies,

    We just completed three awesome screenings of the movie DRY at the Pan African Film & Arts Festival (PAFF) and I am totally overwhelmed by the positive feedback and support from everyone who was a part of this.

    In 2016, Dry won the Best Narrative Feature at the PAFF. I’m so honored that we were called again this year for another screening. This goes a long way to show that the message of speaking out for girls and women never gets old and should always be at the forefront. Going by the immense positive impact Dry has made across the world in changing the narrative concerning child marriage and other forms of social injustice, we are not relenting anytime soon.

    Meanwhile, Some notable guests who were present at the screening were Darwin Shaw (Dr. Alex in DRY), veteran actress Sheila Frazier, veteran actor Danny Glover, co-producer and editor of Dry Jane Lawalata and many more. My darling husband Linus Idahosa was by my side during this event and I’m immensely grateful for his love and support. 

    Big thanks to everyone who showed up or supported this screening in one way or the other. I’m so grateful!

    Here are some photos from Day 2 of the screening:

  • A Special Recognition for DRY at the Los Angeles City Council ahead of Pan African Film & Arts Festival (PAFF) Screening

    Hello Lovelies,

    I got a Special Recognition for DRY at the Los Angeles City Council ahead of Pan African Film & Arts Festival (PAFF) Screening!

    It’s 2019 and DRY is still making great impact around the world. The movie has been selected to screen for the second time at the highly coveted Pan African Film & Arts Festival (PAFF) in Los Angeles, USA this February, and as a prelude to the festival, I was recognized at the first ever Blacks In Cinema presentation. The event took place at the Los Angeles City Council Chambers on February 5th.

    Los Angeles City Council President Herb J. Wesson kicked off the Black History Month by honoring the actors and filmmakers who paved the way for people all walks of life to be represented in film. With the help of some legendary African-American actors and filmmakers, the day was officially proclaimed #BlacksInCinema in Los Angeles.

    In 2016, Dry won Best Narrative Feature at the PAFF. It screens again on Feb 9th, Feb 13th and Feb 18 with an interactive session after the opening night. The movie has made immense positive impact across the world in changing the narrative concerning child marriage and other forms of social injustice. It was recalled to the festival this year due to its world-class production quality and continuous importance in global human rights advocacy.

    Here is a short video clip of my address at the Los Angeles City Council:

    PHOTOS:

  • DRY Screening & Lecture at Ray Charles Week – Dillard University, New Orleans

    African storytellers keep breaking boundaries and I’m very honored to be part of the people driving change in a positive direction.

    With regards to this conversation, I will be a special guest at the Ray Charles Week taking place at Dillard University in New Orleans, Lousiana, USA from October 25-26, 2018. During this visit, I’ll be giving a lecture on “The Emergence of African Content in Media” and will also screen my self-produced and directed movie “Dry”.

    This event organized by the Dillard University Ray Charles Program, Dillard Film and Dillard University African World Student Organization is a yearly one that brings together interested parties to research, document, disseminate, preserve, and celebrate African American culture and foodways in the South. Past speakers have included Denzel Washington, Tunde Wey and many more.

    The lecture will hold on Thursday, October 25, 2018 from 11am-12pm in the Dillard University Chapel while the movie will be screened on Friday, October 26, 2018, in the Dillard University Student Union, 3rd floor movie theater from 6pm-9pm.

    Dry is a 2014 Nigerian drama in response to the child marriage controversy ongoing in Nigeria. The film’s theme focuses on the practice of fistula and under-age marriage among young women.

    Following the screening, I will participate in a Q&A session with the audience. The lone screening is open to the public. The events are sponsored by the Dillard University Ray Charles Program, Dillard University Film and Dillard University African World Student Organization.

  • Stephanie Linus Arrives Italy To Advocate Against Human Trafficking in Partnership with Doctors Without Borders (Medecins Sans Frontières)

    In the wake of the increased rate of human trafficking being experienced by Nigerians trying to migrate to Europe via Libya, Actress and Producer Stephanie Linus has recently arrived in Italy to give support to rescued people and raise her voice against such human rights violations.

    This timely intervention is in partnership with the world-renowned international medical humanitarian organisation “Doctors Without Borders” (MSF). Over the next few days, Mrs Linus will visit the rescue ship “Aquarius” to witness their activities and operations. Later she will have meetings with some of these vulnerable women; participate in rehabilitation exercises for the rescued women, media parleys and stakeholder meetings with the aim of alleviating their sufferings and preventing more girls and women from falling prey.

    Doctors Without Borders is one of the most impactful humanitarian organisation that rescues thousands of people who faced hazardous conditions trying to enter Europe through the sea yearly. In 2017, the Aquarius (a rescue ship) has rescued 15,078 people.

    Mrs Linus has been at the forefront of advocacy over sensitive issues that affect the rights of women and girls. She has done this through several channels such as her advocacy movie – DRY, her role as UNFPA Ambassador; her charity organisation Extended Hands Foundation and many more.

    An increasing number of women, mainly from Nigeria, are being trafficked to Europe for sexual exploitation. According to the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), there has been an almost 600% increase in the number of potential sex trafficking victims arriving in Italy by Sea since 2014. Many of these women were kidnapped against their will or lured with the promise of greener pastures.

    – Stephanie Linus PR

  • Leave No One Behind: End Violence Against Women & Girls

    Campaigning for an end to Violence Against Women is something I’m very passionate about. Today, 25th November is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and is another opportunity for me to raise my voice against one of the most devastating human rights violations.

    Violence against women and girls is one of the most widespread, persistent and devastating human rights violations in our world today. It is the most extreme form of discrimination. According to the United Nations, 19 per cent of women between 15 and 49 years of age said they had experienced physical and/or sexual violence by an intimate partner in the 12 months prior to the survey (2005 – 2016). In the most extreme cases, such violence can lead to death. In 2012, almost half of all women who were victims of intentional homicide worldwide were killed by an intimate partner or family member, compared to 6 per cent of male victims.

    Research also shows that achieving gender equality helps in preventing conflict, and high rates of violence against women correlates with outbreaks of conflict.

    Through my award winning movie, DRY, and other platforms, I have spoken up against all forms of violence against women and girls and this is another day to remind ourselves of that. I hope we all continue to do our part to protect the women and girls around us. Violence is NEVER the answer.

  • STEPHANIE LINUS TAKES ‘DRY’ TO THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY

    It’s been a busy week for actor, filmmaker and UNFPA Ambassador Stephanie Linus as she has joined other world leaders, policymakers and key stakeholders for strategic meetings at the 72nd United Nations General Assembly currently taking place in New York, USA.
     
    This high- profile event which has been graced by world leaders such as United States of America President Donald Trump, and Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari is the main deliberative, policymaking and representative organ of the United Nations comprising of 193 Member States. In her capacity as the UNFPA Ambassador for Maternal Health in West and Central Africa, Mrs Linus has reaffirmed her commitment to ending Fistula by mobilizing the support and commitment needed to rid the world of Fistula once and for all.
     
    The actress also recorded another milestone as her advocacy movie on fistula awareness, DRY, was screened at one of the events in an audience comprising of several African leaders, first ladies, health experts and policymakers.
     
    Here are some photos and details of her participation so far:
     
    Day 1
    High profile meeting on Rebuilding Shattered Lives and Communities for Girls and Women together with the Government of Denmark. In attendance was the Crown Princess of Denmark, Mary Elizabeth; the President of Senegal, Macky Sall; the UNFPA Representative of Nigeria country office, Ms Diene Keita; healthcare philanthropist and Founder-President of Wellbeing Foundation Africa, Toyin Saraki among other dignitaries.
     
    Day 2
    Screening of DRY followed by a panel discussion with the theme: Securing Health, Hope & Dignity for all to achieve the SDGs: Ending Obstetric Fistula within a Generation. In attendance was the Managing Director of Miniso Nigeria Mr Chris Lee amongst others.
     
     
    Day 3
    A high-level dialogue on how to use Africa’s youthful population as the engine of socio-economic transformation organized together with the Nigerian Permanent mission to the UN with the theme: Harnessing Africa’s Demographic Dividend for Economic Growth. This meeting was a Global Partnership towards harnessing Demographic Dividend in Africa together with First Ladies of African Countries. In attendance was the First Lady of Ghana, Rebecca Akufo-Addo; the Acting Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Dr. Natalia Kanem among other dignitaries.
     
    Day 4
    Supporting high-level advocacy on Lake Chad Basin Humanitarian Initiative organized together with First Ladies of Nigeria and Niger. The event was attended by some African First Ladies and their representatives.
     

  • “We need to do more.” Punch Journalist says after watching DRY

    Peter Okeugo, a young emerging leader, and journalist with PUNCH Newspapers shares how the movie DRY has served as a wake-up call for us to tell more stories that would lead a positive change in our society. Here is an excerpt from his post on Instagram.

    “Today, I saw DRY. I was moved to tears. The reason it won the Overall Best Movie Award at the AMVCA isn’t far-fetched. It is not just enough to make movies that will entertain people and make them fall off their seats. Don’t get me wrong! Entertainment is good. But we must also consider the informative, educative and advocacy roles movies can play, for societal change and positive impact.
    Watching DRY was a wake-up call for me. I asked myself, “Have I done much impact with my platform as a journalist?” I may have tried, but from one of the lines in the movie, “I need to do more; we need to do more!”

    Thank you Peter, for sharing your experience watching DRY. Indeed, there is still a lot of work to be done in making sure that more positively impacting stories are told.

    Have you watched DRY? What did you learn from it? Please email info@stephaniedaily.com and share your story on DRY to join the Movie Club.

    Want to watch DRY? Visit www.nextpagetv.com or CLICK HERE

  • The UN’s Publication ‘Africa Renewal’ Featured My Work On Fistula Awareness In This Interesting Article

    The Africa Renewal, a publication by the United Nations in a Special Edition on Youth 2017 wrote this interesting article about me and my work on raising awareness on Fistula through DRY. I am so honoured by this piece and would like to share with you:

    While still in her teens, Stephanie Okereke Linus was not just talented but also a rising star in Nigeria’s film industry, commonly known as Nollywood. What propelled her into stardom, however, was a socially and culturally complex movie on sexuality, Emotional Crack, directed by the prolific filmmaker Lancelot Oduwa Imasuen.

    By 17, Ms. Linus, an ambitious student studying English and Literary Studies at the University of Calabar (UNICAL), already had two Nollywood films under her belt—Compromise 2 and Waterloo, after which she tried her hand as director in Teco Benson’s blockbuster film Terror.

    When the opportunity came her way, Ms. Linus stepped forward without hesitation. Her outstanding performance in Emotional Crack earned eight awards and opened the door to new vistas and roles, including directing a film on another challenging subject —Fistula.

    The movie Dry, released in 2014, burnished her reputation as a major director and humanitarian. The film’s theme focuses on fistula—a devastating condition afflicting women, mostly in war zones and where child marriage and teenage pregnancy are common. It is caused by prolonged obstructed labour or sexual violence and leaves the victim incontinent of urine or feces or both. Unable to control these discharges, the girl or woman is often rejected by her community.

    Dry tells the story of a 13-year-old girl, Halima, whose poor uneducated parents marry her off to a 60-year-old man, who constantly rapes her. Halima gets pregnant and suffers obstetric fistula during child delivery. She’s abandoned by her husband and discriminated against in the society.

    Zara (Ms. Linus), a medical doctor who also suffered a horrific childhood meets Halima; she tries to help her get through her situation and also save other young women in similar circumstances.

    “I wanted to raise awareness about the condition and to help prevent more women and girls from becoming victims. I also wanted to inform women that repair surgeries are available and can correct fistula. Poor women can get free surgeries financed by donors,” she told Africa Renewal.

    The movie has received several awards, including the prestigious 12th Africa Movie Academy Awards and the 2016 Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards, for best overall movie.

    Dry’s powerful message caught the attention of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the lead UN agency responsible for promoting reproductive health issues, including safe pregnancy and childbirth.

    “I recently screened the movie in Gambia in partnership with UNFPA. A month after the screening, to our delight, [former] President Yahya Jammeh banned child marriage in the country. We hope to screen the movie in many more places,” she adds.

    So far, Ms. Linus, now a mother of one, has starred in more than 90 movies since 1997 when she began her acting career and has become widely popular on the continent and beyond, where Nollywood films are staples for movie consumers.

    She has won numerous awards including eight nominations at the 2003 Reel Awards, receiving awards for Best Actress in English and Actress of the Year 2003. She also won the 2006 Afro Hollywood Award for Best Actress, and received nominations for various acting roles at the Africa Movie Academy Awards in 2005, 2009 and 2010.

    A highpoint of her career was in 2011 when Nigeria’s former president Goodluck Jonathan conferred on her one of the country’s highest honours, Member of the Order of the Federal Republic.

    Nollywood contributes some $7.2 billion (about 1.4%) to Nigeria’s GDP, according to the country’s National Bureau of Statistics. The industry employs up to a million people, the largest employer after agriculture. It churns out approximately 50 movies per week, second only to India’s Bollywood in terms of production quantity.

    Like everyone else, Ms. Linus has also had her share of falls and setbacks. In April 2005, while traveling for an awards ceremony, she was involved in a serious car accident. She broke her leg and had burns all over her body. But she bounced back to resume her acting career.

    “No one plans to have such an experience, but the accident was a life-changing one,” she reflected. “It made me appreciate life even more. The kindness that was shown me by many people during that period is also something I really appreciate.”

    She adds: “Being in hospital for several months made me aware of the shortcomings of our health care system. Since then, I have resolved to speak out for policies that protect the poor in our society.”

    Despite current challenges of funding and piracy facing the industry, analysts anticipate that innovation in digital technology can spur Nollywood’s growth in the years ahead. And Ms. Linus hopes to remain an active player in the industry—as an actress, director and producer.

    “I will continue to improve my craft in every way possible. As a filmmaker, I will do more films that inspire and entertain,” she says. “As an advocate, I will continue to raise my voice against injustices and policies that do not protect girls and women.”