BY JOSEPHINE IGBINOVIA

EbonyLife TV has added its voice to the global fight against domestic violence with the launch and premiere of its long-awaited short film, “New Horizons”, while also opening its doors to victims of the scourge for free legal aid and counseling.

A powerfully emotional and pulsating flick that spotlights the plight of women across Africa who have to bear the pains of domestic abuse- a crime far too familiar but rarely spoken about, New Horizons tells the story of triumph over abuse, featuring four of Nollywood’s hottest divas, Funke Akindele, Rita Dominic, Kate Henshaw-Nuttal and Uche Jombo.

Spotlighting how sufferers of domestic abuse could triumph by forming a bloc, the short-film produced by top female producer cum director, Tope Oshin Ogun, gives blow by blow account of these four women’s ordeal and how they eventually helped each other arrive at a new horizon in their individual lives, through a self-help women’s group.

The film was premiered in Lagos alongside a new drama series, Married to the Game, MTTG, a suspense-filled, cutting edge drama thriller and family series now airing on EbonyLife TV, narrating the tale of two newlyweds who turned out to have said ‘I Do’ to total strangers, leading to a messy marriage.

Speaking on the two new feats, Executive Chairman and CEO of EbonyLife TV, Mo Abudu, said it was a season of all new shows and premieres for the first ever global Black TV network.

“I feel a huge sense of accomplishment at the premiere of New Horizons. MTTG was entirely produced by EbonyLife TV and was created/directed by Walter “Waltbanger” Taylaur whose short film “The Wages” is nominated for the Best Short Film at the 2014 Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards.

We dedicate New Horizons to all the women of Nigeria, Africa and the world at large who may be going through the terrible scourge of domestic abuse. We are happy to put this dark subject on the table for discussion so that there can be hope for many. For us, it may be the premiere of the movie; but for all women of Africa, it may just be the beginning of a new era; an era of self-discovery, awareness, belief, hope and confidence”, Mo Abudu said.

Challenging women to repent from the culture of silence which has over the years made justice impossible, Laila Saint Matthew Daniel, Executive Director, ACTS Generation, urged abused women to take advantage of the opportunity flung open to them by EbonyLife to report cases of abuse to the cable network where they can meet with counsellors and get legal aid immediately.