Sierra Leone Showbiz Latest News and Updates

From war-torn Sierra Leone via Springburn to the catwalk, Lili Johnson is the face of many of the High Street's big brands.

The Santa Barbara International Film Festival has announced that the 40th annual festival will take place in Santa Barbara, California, from February 4 through February 15.

Leo Barraclough International Features Editor U.S.-based global distributor PBS Intl. is bringing a squad of sports-themed documentaries to MipTV to tie in with the Olympic Games that’ll run this summer in Paris. “Olympic Dreams” travels to Sierra Leone, one of the world’s poorest nations, as it struggles to recover from its 11-year civil war.

EXCLUSIVE: Luther and Hijack star Idris Elba is set to direct singer Seal, Nollywood stars Nse Ikpe-Etim (Shanty Town), Eku Edewor (Breath Of Life) and Atlanta Bridget Johnson (Man Of God), and former Nigerian Idol contestant Constance Olatunde in short film Dust To Dreams.

Cowbridge Road in west Cardiff plays a significant role in Manchester United's history, although you would hardly know it today.

Christopher Vourlias Viola Davis and Julius Tennon’s JuVee Productions, which recently wrapped the action-thriller “G20” for Amazon Studios and MRC Film in Cape Town, is planning to return to South Africa to film the true story of a young African refugee’s improbable journey to the U.S., the company’s head of film production and development, Melanie Clark, revealed this week at the Joburg Film Festival. Developing the film with a working title of “The Refugee,” Clark said Davis and Tennon’s production banner is “actively working on [it] with some local partners and are in the process of figuring out how to shoot it” in South Africa, adding that “we do plan to shoot that here.” The veteran production executive described the project as “the true story of a young Sierra Leonean boy who lost his mother in [the country’s civil war] and found himself alone, because no family would take him in any refugee camp.

EXCLUSIVE: On the heels of its Audience Award win at the 2024 Slamdance Film Festival, dramedy African Giants, written, directed and produced by Omar Kamara, has been picked up for worldwide distribution by Juno Films. Juno plans an extensive festival release followed by a state-side theatrical release this summer, with a multi-platform digital release to follow in the fall.

The Scottish Government will give another £2 million to address climate change loss and damage, the First Minister has announced.

Brianna Ghey's mother recalled the moment her daughter told her 'I think I'm going to die' weeks before she was allegedly murdered - after jurors were told one of the teenagers on trial messaged the other: "These tablets I gave her might slowly be killing her."

Prince William was left stunned when a young royal fan took a bite of his finger while on a royal visit in Singapore.

Chris Oliver joined the cast of SAS: Who Dares Wins earlier this year as the newest member of the show's directing staff. Chris replaced Navy SEAL Remi Adeleke, who took part in the series last year, but since decided to leave to pursue other projects he was committed to.

Aramide Tinubu Hair is sacred to Black women, as are the institutions that shift and mold our tresses, styling them for seasons and occasions. Beauty salons are staples in the Black community, but the braiding shop is a particular type of pillar that draws in Black women and femmes from across the diaspora to one central location. Sitting for hours or even a whole day getting their hair neatly tucked into box braids or cornrows, the experiences and expectations of customers become interwoven with the lives of the ladies who work there.

Last Friday (August 25), a copyright case against Future was tossed, Billboard reports. A lesser-known rapper from Virginia, DaQuan Robinson, claimed that Future copied him on his 2018 track “When I Think About It”.

He was once the lawyer and trusted confidant to some of Scotland’s most notorious underworld figures.

By Arséma Thomas, the breakout star of , may not have been a household name when she took on the Netflix prequel. But anyone who caught her captivating portrayal of Young Lady Agatha Danbury is certainly paying attention now.Born in Atlanta, Georgia, Arséma Adeoluwayemi Thomas has a multicultural background, with roots in Ethiopia and Nigeria, that has greatly influenced her perspective on race and fueled her passion for African excellence. That also comes through in her acting, which so beautifully reflects her own personal and professional journey of self-discovery and showcases the intricate layers of her multifaceted identity.

When two British-born powerhouses get together — Idris Elba, an actor-director-producer of Sierra Leone, Creole and Ghanaian descent, and Nigerian-rooted Mo Abudu, largely considered the go-between for African content to the rest of the world — they have a powerful chemistry. Remarkably, though, they’ve never made anything together.

In 1953, Major General Sir Charles Dunphie watched over Queen Elizabeth II as she was crowned Great Britain’s monarch at Westminster Abbey.

Boxing legends and celebs are set to take part in a charity football match as part of the bid to build a statue commemorating a legendary Manchester fighter denied a title due to a 'colour ban.'

The Santa Barbara International Film Festival (SBIFF) announced its winning films at a ceremony this morning in Santa Barbara.

Editors note: Deadline’s Read the Screenplay series debuts and celebrates the scripts of films that will be factors in this year’s movie awards race.

, adding that William, , is aware of the situation and supports the consequence.The day before, on Tuesday, November 29, Buckingham Palace hosted an event led by Queen Consort Camilla Parker Bowles on the issue of violence against women, and Ms. Fulani attended along with high-profile figures including Countess of Wessex, Queen Mathilde of Belgium, Queen Rania of Jordan, Danish Crown Princess Mary, Sierra Leone’s first lady Fatima Maada Bio, and Ukraine’s first lady Olena Zelenska.

The sister of a man who died after being restrained by police officers in Fife will lead a vigil as the second part of the inquiry into his death begins.

Duval Timothy, the pianist and producer who contributed to four tracks on Kendrick Lamar's Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers, has announced details of a new solo album.

Bolton Wanderers boss Ian Evatt has explained individual reasons for why he believes the club's strikers are yet to properly hit the ground in terms of goalscoring this campaign as he backed them all to do so before long.

The plight of pregnant women living on the streets, relying on sex work and eating from bins as asylum seekers in Greece has been highlighted by Manchester-based volunteers, including former Coronation Street star Julie Hesmondhalgh.

Bolton Wanderers are hopeful of having Conor Bradley available before the weekend's clash against Lincoln City owing to sickness picked up while on Northern Ireland duty.

Bolton Wanderers have confirmed there is a ''strong possibility' the club's upcoming away clash against Portsmouth could be called off due to international call-ups.

Brother Sister duo and children of Ron and Natalie Daise, from popular 1990s Nickelodeon TV show Gullah Gullah Island–Simeon Daise (CW All American, FX Snowfall, ‘Cheaper by the Dozen’) and Sara Makeba Daise are teaming up to executive produce Saltwata Vibes.

Roe decision in 1973 guaranteed women federal protections regarding reproductive rights, while the decision in 1992 overturned Roe’s trimester framework to accommodate fetal viability analysis, which authorized states to implement restrictions on abortion during the first trimester. If Roe is overturned, then tighter restrictions on abortion access are likely to be implemented in states that do not already have existing abortion restrictions, like Texas.

Christopher Vourlias Artists and filmmakers Anna Fitch (“Survivors”) and Banker White (“Sierra Leone’s Refugee All-Stars”) are preparing a multidisciplinary documentary project that they’re pitching this week at the Hot Docs Forum, describing it as a testament to the enduring power of friendship and what we learn from each other in life and after death.“Heaven Through the Backdoor” explores the mystery of death through the unconventional friendship of Fitch and Yolanda Shea – affectionately dubbed “Yo” – two kindred spirits born 49 years apart. Directed by Fitch and White, the film is produced by Heidi Fleisher (“Wake Up on Mars”) and Sara Dosa (“Fire of Love”) for Mirabel Pictures.

Amadou Bakayoko brought an energy to Bolton Wanderers as he came off the bench to grab an important goal for his team in the win over Crewe Alexandra, according to Ian Evatt.

Bolton Wanderers forward Amadou Bakayoko has been rewarded with his recent form in front of goal with a call-up for Sierra Leone and has explained why he feels now is the right time to head on to the international stage.

EXCLUSIVE: Films from Kenya, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, South Africa and Uganda have been unveiled in the final selection of North American streamer Topic and Statement Films’ program to support, develop and finance projects from female African filmmakers.

Right Said Fred, who took issue with the TV personality’s upcoming trip to the Ukrainian border.Rinder is heading to the area to help the grandparents of his former Strictly Come Dancing partner Oksana Platero find safety.According to the UN, more than one million civilians have fled Ukraine because of the Russian invasion.Earlier this week Rinder, a criminal barrister, shared his plans to fly to Poland, which borders Ukraine. “Right now (Platero’s) grandparents are a week into their struggle to find sanctuary in a safe country,” said Rinder on Twitter.

Hannibal Mejbri becomes the latest Manchester United representative at the Africa Cup of Nations to bow out as Tunisia were beaten by Burkina Faso.

Algeria coach Djamel Belmadi has reacted to a question suggesting Riyad Mahrez didn't perform at his best during their disappointing African Cup of Nations campaign because he was released late by Manchester City.