"Hurricane in the Rose Garden" to Premiere at 15th Annual Pan African Film and Arts Festival in Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) February 9, 2007

Atuma-Scroggins Productions is proud to announce the world premiere of their feature film "Hurricane in the Rose Garden," directed by Ime N. Etuk, at the 15th Annual Pan African Film and Arts Festival in Los Angeles. The film will screen at AMC Magic Johnson Theatres in the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza on Wednesday, February 14th at 5:55 p.m. to a full house of enthusiastic fans and VIP guests. A second screening of the film will take place on Sunday, February 18th at 6:40 p.m. The family comedy stars seasoned actors Tangi Miller ("Madea's Family Reunion"), Pascal Atuma ("Only in America"), Aloma Wright ("Scrubs"), Oris Erhuero ("Sometimes in April"), Tanjareen Martin ("Johnson Family Vacation"), Karri Turner ("Heroes"), Hakeem Kae-Kazim ("Hotel Rwanda"), and Yun Choi ("Barbershop" - Series).

"Hurricane in the Rose Garden" is a family comedy about what happens when a married couple's life is turned upside-down during an unwelcome visit from their in-laws, who decide not to leave until the wife is pregnant, per their Nigerian custom. One marriage…two sets of customs. After five years of marriage, Sade (Tangi Miller) never knew that it was a taboo in African culture to still be without a child. She'll find out when Joseph's mother (Aloma Wright) and younger brother (Oris Erhuero) come from Africa and refuse to leave until Sade is pregnant…or gives Joseph (Pascal Atuma) a divorce so he can marry another woman! The story was inspired by a conversation the writer/producer Pascal Atuma had with his parents about a past relationship. Both Atuma and the director Ime N. Etuk thought that this culture clash over marriage was ripe for a movie.

Says Atuma, "I am very excited that we are able to carry our country name, Nigeria, in a positive way and to show the world that Nigeria is ready to compete and make a strong mark in the world's film industry." He continues, "Our acceptance into the Pan African Film Festival three years in a row is a clear indication and picture of where Nigeria's film industry is heading in the future, and we are very pleased to be a part of this exciting movement."

"Hurricane in the Rose Garden" marks Ime N. Etuk's feature film debut as a director. Regarding his directorial debut he says, "I feel blessed to have worked with first-rate actors, producers, and crew on my first feature film." Etuk adds, "It's exciting to bring pieces of Nigerian culture to an American audience." The film was written by Pascal Atuma and Kamafi Adio Byrd and produced by Atuma, Etuk, and Jeremy Scroggins.

In its fifteenth year, the Pan African Film and Arts Festival is the largest festival of African and African-American films in the United States, featuring over 100 films from all over the world, all showcasing the diversity and complexity of people of African descent. The festival is recognized throughout the world as America's premiere Black film festival.

The Pan African Film and Arts Festival is supported by Hollywood's leading black actors and filmmakers including: Forest Whitaker, Jamie Foxx, Mo'nique, Ja'net Dubois, Danny Glover, Denzel Washington, Laurence Fishburne, Lynn Whitfield, Damon Wayans, Sanaa Lathan, Stan Lathan, Wesley Snipes, Kasi Lemmons, Vondie Curtis-Hall, Blair Underwood, Alfre Woodard, Eriq LaSalle, Angela Bassett, Diahann Carroll, Ernie Hudson, Hill Harper, Michael Beach, CCH Pounder, Neema Barnette, and Debbie Allen.

For more information on the screening and to purchase tickets, please visit http://www.paff.org or email info @ hurricaneintherosegarden.com.

Contact: Ngozi Mba 323.544.1450

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