Rogers Ofime is a Nigerian-born, Canada-based filmmaker, television producer, entrepreneur, and an Associate Fellow in Media Production at Bournemouth University, UK. He is renowned for producing several notable Nigerian television soap operas, including “Tinsel,” and the critically acclaimed award-winning telenovela “WURA.” Ofime is a multiple award-winning filmmaker who has produced over 180 telefilms, about 8,000 episodes of TV series, 8 short films, 10 documentaries, and about 30 TV commercials.
Rogers Ofime is famous for being the first Nigerian producer and filmmaker to produce a multi-camera studio-based television daily soap opera. This laudable feat was the first in East, West, and North Africa. He is the man behind the scenes of most of the award-winning blockbuster movies from Nigeria’s Nollywood including but not limited to “VOICELESS,” “OLOIBIRI,” “Hijack 93,” and the first Nigerian film to be shot on a train, “CONVERSATIONS IN TRANSIT.”
Ofime is the Chief Executive Officer at Theatron Media Inc., an international filmmaking company based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Rogers Ofime has won the highly coveted Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards multiple times for different projects including the 2022 Best Indigenous Film “VOICELESS,” Best Africa Magic Original Comedy Series “THE JOHNSONS,” Best TV Series Drama “The MYSTIC RIVER,” Best Picture Edit “OLOIBIRI,” Best Comedy Series National Daily awards 2022 “THE JOHNSONS,” and several nominations including the AMVCA 2023 nomination for Best Movie West Africa “KANAANI,” Best Actress in a movie or TV series (Drama) “WURA,” Best Comedy Series “THE JOHNSONS.”
He has also received international recognition, as a testament to his doggedness and consistency in producing quality original content, including the Hollywood International Documentary Award 2017 for his work on migration titled “Restoration: A Refugee Story,” Best Foreign Film at the San Diego Black Film Festival 2015 for “OLOIBIRI,” Best Screenplay NAFCA Los Angeles 2015 “OLOIBIRI,” Best Film Award NAFCA Los Angeles 2015 “OLOIBIRI,” Best Film in Water Category at the Green Me Global Festival for Sustainability 2016 “OLOIBIRI,” to mention a few among several awards and nominations under his belt.
Rogers Ofime’s filmmaking journey over the past 25 years is more than a list of achievements; it is a narrative of transformation, innovation, and the power of authentic storytelling. Through his lens, African stories are finding their place on the world stage, challenging stereotypes, and celebrating the rich tapestry of human experience.
Patrick Cairns is a husband, father, grandfather, entrepreneur and a Believer.
He grew up in the shadow of Table Mountain in Cape Town, South Africa, spending the first 14 years of his life restricted as a “Coloured” citizen under the laws of Apartheid. His parents found ‘a way’ for his family — including older sisters, to emigrate and settle in Winnipeg, Canada. After attending a prominent design school, Patrick quickly blended his two loves, athletics and design, and carved out a career path in marketing, highlighted by designing for multiple sports attire manufacturers in Winnipeg (Mondetta, MWG, Bonwit, Gemini Fashion, Pacesetter, Modern Headwear, Woody Sports Apparel, and Sun Ice). His collaborations were highlighted during the Pan-Am Games (1999), Western Canada Games (1987), and he has developed the branding, marketing and merchandise campaigns for many professional teams in the NHL, NBA, NFL, MLB, as well as and provincial and national sporting bodies and organizations.
He has over 35 years of experience in creative design, marketing, corporate branding, communications and sales, developing and revitalizing corporate images, and the design and implementation of marketing and promotional campaigns, both in an entrepreneurial capacity, and through contracted marketing executive positions.
Cairns Studio Incorporated (CSI) was founded in 1989 to enhance the profile, position and profitability of the companies and organizations that he has had the opportunity to work with. As an experienced owner operator, internal executive within clients’ companies, consultant, and other entrepreneurial endeavors, Patrick has been afforded the privilege of multiple successes and experiences in business.
Some of the CSI clients include Applewood Auto Group, Audible, ATTN, Arctic Cat, Beaver Truck Centre, Black Film & Music Manitoba, Camp Arnes, Canada Beef, Connexion Industries, FWS, GFL Environmental, Government of Manitoba, JBS Canada, Justin Timberlake Enterprises, Manitoba Blue Cross, Manitoba Moose Hockey Club, Mazer Implements, Meat Business Pro, Mondetta Sportswear, MWG Sportswear, Niska Group ltd, Oasis Originals, Polaris, SEC Worldwide LLC, Tribal Fuels,Ltd., WeCommunications , Winnipeg Blue Bombers, Winnipeg Goldeyes, and Yamaha.
Partnering with Ray Blumenfeld, the founder of Sports Masters, developed the vision of a digital magazine with a mission to create a community of peace, cooperation, camaraderie, inspiration and sport for mature individuals (Master Athletes aged 35+) across the globe.
In 2009, Patrick formed 1310 Productions with partner Matt Fabbri to develop a feature-film screenplay called Coloured: A Tale of Apartheid, telling the story of his sister Lesley’s life as a swimmer longing to compete at the Olympics, and his family’s history in Apartheid South Africa. In 2016, Cairns and Fabbri formally partnered with Jessica Biel and Michelle Purple at Iron Ocean to produce the project. With the realization that Apartheid South Africa destroyed all records of Coloured or African citizens’ successes and no proof of the story, at Biel and Purple’s encouragement Cairns and Fabbri created The Lost Olympians, an audio documentary utilizing interviews and primary source recreations to chronicle stories of athletes around the world who would never see the Olympic Games, including his sister Lesley’s own story. In 2023 the audio documentary was nominated for a Webby (winning third place), a Shorty (winning the Audience Award), and the Anthem Awards (Silver medal).
Continuing in the storytelling vain, he is passionate about Black Film and Music Festival (Manitoba), and believes that this is the start of a movement to not only highlight the incredible talent in the region, but tell stories through a variety of media that will educate, document and celebrate the vast landscape of culture.
Chris is a seasoned marketing professional with over 23 years of experience in organizing high-profile events, including concerts like Shaggy Live and festivals such as the Sunrise Festival. He has also delivered exceptional branding and production services for music artists and DJs. In the past eight years, Chris has held prominent leadership roles, serving as the Cultural/Event Director for the City of Thompson and the Marketing and Communication Coordinator for the Town of Inuvik.
A true entrepreneur and innovator, Chris has spearheaded numerous creative ventures. He conceptualized, produced, branded, and marketed Urban Star, which aired on Shaw Media’s cable TV and direct satellite networks. His recent achievements include producing, branding, and marketing the documentary Relationship Remix, slated to premiere on CBC Gem in 2025, and developing the feature film Kung Fu & Basketball, which is currently in production.
Chris’s contributions extend to gaming and publishing, having developed the Cell Phone Girls video game demo, authored two published books, and created a pilot for a cartoon series. He also runs Motto Workspace, a production studio, and is the visionary founder of Black Film Space Manitoba Inc., Manitoba’s first Black-owned production house, dedicated to empowering and showcasing diverse voices in the film and music industries.