Nollywood powerhouses Funke Akindele and Mo Abudu have earned spots on The Hollywood Reporter’s 2024 list of The Most Influential Women in International Film, a prestigious global roundup celebrating visionary women shaping cinema beyond Hollywood.
Mo Abudu, the powerhouse behind EbonyLife Media, has long been a fixture on The Hollywood Reporter’s international power lists, and for good reason. The British-Nigerian producer, entrepreneur, and cultural visionary has created a media empire known for genre-defining films like The Wedding Party and Òlòtūré, alongside high-profile partnerships with Netflix, Sony, and AMC Networks. In 2024, she launched the groundbreaking $50 million Afro Film Fund to support African storytelling and announced EbonyLife Place London, a cultural hub poised to open by year’s end.
“Stay focused, be authentic and find your own voice,” Abudu told The Hollywood Reporter, offering advice to emerging creatives. “The world doesn’t need more copies; it needs what only you can bring.” For many, that quote isn’t just advice — it’s a mission statement.
Joining her on the list is Funke Akindele, whose blockbuster film ‘Everybody Loves Jenifa’, the third installment in her beloved comedy franchise, dominated the Nigerian box office in 2024. As an actor, writer, director, and producer, Akindele exemplifies full-spectrum storytelling. Through her company, Funke Akindele Network (FAAN), she champions homegrown narratives while asserting control over how Nigerian stories are told.
“It’s about owning and empowering our narrative,” Akindele told The Hollywood Reporter. And if her string of hits is anything to go by, audiences trust her vision — and love how she tells it.
Together, Abudu and Akindele’s inclusion on this international list is more than individual recognition; it’s a resounding endorsement of Nigeria’s growing influence in the global film industry. As Nollywood expands its reach, these two women are showing the world what’s possible.
The global stage is watching. And thanks to women like Mo Abudu and Funke Akindele, Nigeria is ready for its close-up.
