Trino Motion Pictures, the Lagos-based studio behind films like ‘The Weekend’ and ‘Sylvia’, is celebrating its 10th anniversary with an ambitious international push.
On June 25, 2026, the company announced that Richard Aseme – a veteran film executive and investor – has joined its advisory board. The timing aligns with recent successes, such as securing a streaming deal with HBO Max for its thriller ‘The Weekend’.
Managing Director Uche Okocha said Trino is preparing “a broader slate of projects” to expand internationally and is even experimenting with new storytelling formats, including mobile-friendly “vertical” series, to reach global audiences.
A Decade of Growth and Global Reach
Founded in 2016 by Babatunwa Aderinokun and Uche Okocha, Trino Motion Pictures has grown from a small production outfit into one of Nigeria’s leading studios. Over the past ten years it has built a catalogue of 16 productions, including eight feature films and several acclaimed shorts.
Notable titles include ‘The Razz Guy’, ‘The One for Sarah’ and the recent family dramedy ‘Grandpa Must Obey’. Its breakout hit was ‘The Weekend’ (2024), which became the first independently produced Nigerian film to screen at New York’s Tribeca Festival and went on to win multiple awards (including Best Film at the Africa Movie Academy Awards).
Today Trino’s films play in more than 75 territories worldwide, with English- and French-language distribution on major platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Canal+, and DStv.
Strengthening Nollywood’s Business Ecosystem
Beyond production, Trino is investing in Nollywood’s business infrastructure. Last year the studio co-launched the industry’s first International Sales & Distribution Executives Programme with the Nigerian International Film Summit (NIFS). This three-month training residency was designed to train a new generation of film sales professionals.
At its 10-year mark, Trino is “shifting from telling stories to building the systems that sell them”. In Okocha’s words, Trino’s next decade will be about “building the partnerships, distribution networks, and industry infrastructure” that allow African films to travel globally.
Trino Motion Pictures Brings Global Expertise With Advisory Board Appointment
Supporting this growth strategy is the appointment of Richard Aseme to Trino’s advisory board. Aseme has over two decades of experience in international film distribution (he was co-head of Europe, Middle East, and Africa for Paramount Pictures) and now leads global fintech venture investments at Digital Currency Group. His background bridges content and finance, reflecting Trino’s interest in both creative and capital partnerships.
Okocha said Aseme’s addition comes at “a pivotal moment” for Trino, bringing “a rare combination of studio experience and investment insight” as the company scales to new markets.
Aseme himself echoed this global vision: “What’s compelling about Trino is not just the slate but the ambition behind it,” he said, noting that African studios are becoming part of the worldwide film ecosystem. “Trino is already moving in that direction, and I’m excited to support that next phase,” he added.
In the coming years Trino plans to deepen its presence in European markets and forge partnerships to finance and distribute its projects. For now, the Lagos studio is celebrating its first decade of filmmaking while setting the stage for the next one.
As Uche Okocha continues his bullish drive since becoming the company’s managing director in November 2024, he emphasises that Trino’s ambition remains to export authentic African stories, now backed by stronger networks and global collaborations to carry them around the world.
