Following the streaming breakout of ‘Tokunbo’, which cracked Netflix’s Top 10 in over 50 countries and drew more than 5 million views in its first three days, BRS Studios isn’t slowing down. Instead, the Lagos-based studio has announced a 2025 film slate that signals something bigger: a deepening of its cultural ambition and a sharpened vision for African cinema at scale.
The slate features three new films—’Stitches’, ‘Iwa Akwa’, and ‘Dambe’—each grounded in distinct traditions, regions, and questions of power. From ancient Hausa warriors to Igbo rites of passage to the Lagos fashion elite, the stories span genres but carry a common thread: legacy.
“These films are not just projects,” says producer and BRS co-founder Chris Odeh. “They are a statement to the world that African cinema is limitless in scale, impact, and influence.”
A Triangle of Culture
At the centre of the slate is ‘Stitches’, directed by Ghanaian powerhouse and twenty-time AMVCA nominee Shirley Frimpong-Manso. Set in Lagos, the film follows a gifted fashion designer whose rapid rise from the working class to high society forces her to confront questions of identity, love, and belonging. It’s a drama about style, status, and the price of upward mobility.
Next is ‘Iwa Akwa’, directed by veteran Nollywood actor and filmmaker Ernest Obi. A comedy-drama rooted in Igbo tradition, the film begins with the sudden death of a crown prince and the reluctant ascension of a university professor into royal life. It’s a story about duty, family, and the pull of heritage—with humour as its heart.
Rounding out the lineup is ‘Dambe’, a historical epic set in 11th-century Kano and directed by Ramsey Nouah. Inspired by the traditional Hausa martial art, the film follows a young fighter coming of age in a story about legacy, strength and finding purpose in tradition..
The BRS Studios Power Executives Behind the Pictures
BRS Studios was founded in 2024 by Joy Efe Odiete, head of distribution giant Blue Pictures; Ramsey Nouah, acclaimed actor and director; and Chris Odeh, producer behind projects like ‘Rattlesnake’ and ‘Amina’. The studio operates as a joint venture between Blue Pictures, Ramsey Films, and Sozo Films—each partner bringing their own lane of the industry.
“Storytelling is our legacy,” Nouah says. “With this slate, we are not just making movies; we are capturing the essence of Africa in its truest form—bold, vibrant, and deeply rooted in culture.”
Strategically backed by MBO Capital, the new slate marks a scaling phase for the studio, with deeper resources for development, production, and international distribution. That growth is already visible in the directors tapped—established names with distinctive storytelling identities—and the range of genres explored.
“Through strategic partnerships and innovative filmmaking, BRS Studios is setting a new benchmark for Nollywood,” says Odiete. “We are telling African stories at a global standard, and the world is watching.”
More Than a Slate
BRS is betting on more than just box office or algorithm wins. By anchoring its stories in regional languages, rites, and philosophies, the studio is shaping a slate that’s as much about cultural ownership as it is cinematic appeal. And while ‘Tokunbo’ may have proven the audience exists, these next films seem to be asking, “What kind of stories are we willing to fight for?”
For BRS Studios, the answer is threefold—fashion, kingship, and combat—but the ambition behind it may just signal a bigger shift in who controls the next chapter of African cinema.
