Teen Actors Roundtable Takes the Spotlight
At a glance, it looks like a group of regular teenagers trading stories and inside jokes. But at the Teen Actors Roundtable, it quickly becomes clear: these are not regular teens. They are stars: child actors who’ve become producers, influencers, award nominees, and, in some cases, viral sensations before their 16th birthdays. They have played […]
Tolu Ajayi’s ‘Over the Bridge’ Sets May 30 Cinema Release Across Francophone West Africa
Tribe Nation Theatrical Distribution, in partnership with The Garden Theatre Company, is proud to announce the regional theatrical release of ‘Over the Bridge’, a compelling drama from acclaimed director Tolu Ajayi. The film will debut in cinemas across French-speaking West Africa on May 30, 2025, with screenings taking place at Canal Olympia cinemas throughout the […]
Inside BRS Studios’ 2025 Slate: Shirley Frimpong-Manso, Ernest Obi, Ramsey Nouah to Direct
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 […]
Auditions Open for ’Bwari Blue’ Under the NextGen Films Initiative by Blue Pictures Entertainment and FilmTribe Media
Blue Pictures Entertainment and FilmTribe Media have officially kicked off auditions for ‘Bwari Blue’, the flagship feature of their NextGen Films Initiative, and they’re calling on fresh talent from across Lagos to Abuja to step into the spotlight. Launched by Blue Pictures CEO Joy Efe Odiete as part of her biannual CSR conference, the NextGen Films Initiative aims […]
NTA to Air Niyi Akinmolayan’s ‘Temi And The Labalaba Band’ on Saturday Mornings to 80M Viewers
Anthill Studios’ children’s musical drama ‘Temi And The Labalaba Band’, which first debuted on the Anthill Family YouTube channel on April 19, 2025, will now reach an even wider audience through a strategic partnership with the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA). Beginning Saturday, May 24, episodes will air at 9:30 a.m. on NTA’s free‑to‑air network service to […]
Nile Entertainment Picks Up African Rights to ‘Son of the Soil’
Moses Babatope led Nile Entertainment in acquiring the African distribution rights to ‘Son of the Soil’, the upcoming action drama led by British-Nigerian actor and producer Raz Adoti. The film, developed by British genre label Action Xtreme and shot entirely in Nigeria, tells the story of a British-Nigerian orphan and ex-soldier who returns to his […]
Nile Group Hosts Industry Cocktail “Nigeria Goes Global” at Cannes in Collaboration with Screen International & Screen Nigeria
In the heart of Cannes, one of the most prestigious gatherings in global cinema, the Nile Group, in partnership with Screen International and Screen Nigeria, hosted an unforgettable evening titled “Nigeria Goes Global: An Exploration of Global Partnerships for Local Productions”. The exclusive two-part event marked a significant step forward in elevating Nigeria’s film industry […]
Nicole Asinugo’s ‘God Knows Best’ Set for Private Screening at Cannes 2025
Set against the quiet grief of loss and the chaos of Lagos streets, ‘God Knows Best’—a new short film written and directed by Nicole Asinugo—will have its first screening on May 19 during a private session held alongside the 2025 Cannes Film Festival. At its heart is Simi, a young mother who resorts to unconventional […]
Bunmi Ajakaiye Wants Writers in the Spotlight
Bunmi Ajakaiye’s earliest memories are dotted with VHS tapes courtesy of her older sisters. She grew up watching ‘The Sound of Music’, ‘Rocky’, ‘No Retreat, No Surrender’ and the Nollywood classics, including Tunde Kelani’s ‘Oleku’ and Alhaji Ajileye ‘Koto Orun’, amongst others. She describes her sisters’ film palette as “adventurous” because they welcome all genres […]
Funke Akindele and Mo Abudu Named Among The Most Influential Women in International Film by The Hollywood Reporter
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 […]
Chioma Ude makes the 2025 Deadline Class of Disruptors at the Cannes Festival
At the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, where global cinematic powerhouses converge to chart the future of storytelling, Chioma Ude’s name resonates loudly in African cinema. The visionary founder of the Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF) has been officially named to the Deadline Hollywood Class of Disruptors, a prestigious list honouring individuals who are boldly redefining […]
7 Nollyphiles Share Their Hot Takes on Nollywood
If you have been a cinephile or, in this case, a nollyphile for long, chances are you have opinions or hot takes on Nollywood. We have seen people argue online about differing opinions. The truth is everybody has hot takes on certain issues but today we spoke to a few nollyphiles who shared their hot […]
Cannes 2025: NFC Picks ’77: The Festac Conspiracy for AfroCannes Showcase
The historical thriller film ’77: The Festac Conspiracy has been chosen by the Nigerian Film Corporation (NFC) for an exclusive preview at the AfroCannes Diversity & Inclusion Event, happening during the 2025 Cannes Film Festival in France, giving audiences their first look at this vivid recreation of Africa’s landmark Second World Black and African Festival […]
Is the AMVCA Enough?
Last weekend, the African Viewers Choice Awards (AMVCA) returned for its 11th edition. Amongst its many winners are Chioma Akpotha for her role in ‘Seven Doors’ and Femi Adebayo for his performance in the same film. When the nomination list was first released, there were cries among fans, demanding why some movies and personalities were […]
AMVCA 2025 Winners: The Full List
The Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA) made its return for its 11th edition. More than just a glamorous evening of fashion and fanfare, the AMVCAs have grown to become a cultural touchstone, celebrating the artistry, innovation, and diversity of African film and television. This year’s ceremony was a vivid reflection of an industry on […]
Mo Abudu on Why Now is Africa’s Moment in Global Film
In a recent interview with Bloomberg Television, Mo Abudu, founder of EbonyLife Media, shared candid insights into the shifting landscape of the global film industry and how African cinema is uniquely poised to thrive within it. Abudu believes the global creative economy is undergoing a recalibration. No longer is profitability confined to blockbuster films with […]
The Fisherman: Yvonne Orji Backs Ghana’s Project After Historic Venice Premiere and UNESCO Wins
Yvonne Orji, the Emmy-nominated actress and comedian best known for HBO’s Insecure, has joined the Ghanaian fantasy-comedy ‘The Fisherman’ as executive producer, just as the film made a bold international statement at the 81st Venice Film Festival. The whimsical film, directed and written by Ghanaian-American filmmaker Zoey Martinson, became Ghana’s first official selection at Venice […]
‘Sopo’: Nissi Ogulu Blends Afrobeat and Legacy in New 3D Short From Creele Animation Studios
Creele Animation Studios, the Lagos-based outfit founded by multidisciplinary creative Nissi Ogulu, is gearing up to release its first independent 3D animated short film, ‘Sopo’, in 2025. The studio, which is positioning itself at the intersection of African storytelling and global animation excellence, describes ‘Sopo’ as “a visually stunning and historically rich chronicle of the […]
‘Spellbound’: Uyoyou Adia Taps Majid Michel, Zainab Sheriff For a Powerful Story of Children With Cerebral Palsy
On 25 April 2025, ‘Spellbound’ opened at Golden Beach Cinema in Freetown to a full house, kicking off what director Uyoyou Adia hopes will be a broader conversation about representation in West African film. The drama centres on children living with cerebral palsy preparing for a spelling bee competition in celebration of their care home, […]
How Tech Is Transforming Nollywood: 5 Innovations to Know
Tech is becoming a vital part of Nollywood’s next chapter. From digital casting and contract management to crew coordination, new platforms are streamlining the production process and supporting the people who power the industry. These innovations make it easier for filmmakers to work faster, smarter, and more sustainably. Created by those within the system, these […]
9 Announced Nollywood Films that Ghosted Us
Some films make a big splash at announcement — trailers drop, star-studded casts are unveiled, social media buzz takes off — and then… nothing. In Nollywood, where distribution bottlenecks and funding delays can stall even the most promising projects, several highly anticipated titles have been announced in recent years but remain unreleased. Here are nine […]
NollywoodWeek 2025 Unveils Official Selection
The NollywoodWeek Film Festival was established in 2013 in Paris, France, by curators Nadira Shakur and Serge Noukoue, who noticed a glaring gap: despite Paris being a global hub for cinema, there was no festival that celebrated Nollywood, the world’s second-largest film industry. Recognising the need to spotlight stories that resonated with the diverse Black […]
Ini Dima-Okojie, Mike Afolarin, Elozonam on ‘Lights, Camera, It’s My Turn’: AMVCA Tears, Skeleton Coast Shoot & DIY VFX
AMVCA 2025 nominees Ini Dima-Okojie, Mike Afolarin and Elozonam Ogbolu sat down with host Tope Olowoniyan for the premiere of Lights, Camera, It’s My Turn. What emerged was less a glossy awards preview than an honest portrait of three rising talents navigating personal milestones, professional trials and the very mechanics of their craft. When Validation […]
Mayowa Bakare Dissects the Role of an Assistant Director
Filmmaking is one of the most collaborative art forms, and while directors are majorly praised, their right hands rarely share in the praise. An Assistant Director (AD) is the director’s liaison. They take up the managerial role, which includes the logistics and running of the set during production so the director can focus on the […]
Benin Fantasy Epic ‘Osamede’ to Premiere at Cannes Film Market
‘Osamede’, a cinematic retelling of the 1897 Benin invasion through the lens of fantasy and mythology, will premiere at the 2025 Cannes Film Market on May 17. The screening at Pavillon Afriques spotlights Nollywood’s growing international push of genre filmmaking and embrace of epic storytelling grounded in African heritage Directed by AMVCA winner James Omokwe […]
Adeniyi Omobulejo is Capturing Dynamic Stories With ‘Aja’ and ‘Landline’
Adeniyi Omobulejo, commonly referred to as TAJ, recently closed the chapter on a psychological thriller set in Badagry and already has a time-loop thriller under his belt. His choice of stories makes one wonder what pulls him into these cerebral worlds. For the cinematographer and storyteller behind ‘Aja’ and ‘Landline’, the draw seems to be […]
Adeoluwa Owu on ‘Omo Boy’ and a Bukky Wright Film in 2025 Plans
In a conversation with director Adeoluwa Owu, it quickly became clear that his focus in 2025 goes beyond just his upcoming projects. He is building a legacy in Nollywood, one defined by collaboration and uncompromising quality. After making a cultural splash with hits like The Griot, Adire, A Tribe Called Judah, Queen Lateefah, and the […]
Adeoluwa Owu to Direct as ‘The Griot 2’ Goes Into Development at Degzy Films
Director Adeoluwa Owu has confirmed that a sequel to ‘The Griot’, one of Netflix’s breakout Nigerian titles, is officially in development — and this time, he says the story will lean even deeper into its Nigerian roots. “We’re not even worried about which platform will take it,” Owu told Nollywire in an interview. “I know […]
Nollywood Stars Give Tope Olowoniyan a Raw Look at the Emotional Cost of Their Success
Nollywood has never lacked interviews. Actors and filmmakers have long made the rounds on TV, radio, and digital platforms, opening up about their lives and careers. But what’s emerging now is something more intentional: a new wave of shows designed specifically around Nollywood—its stars, its seasons, and its need to tell its own stories on […]
4 Nollywood Stereotypes We Are Tired Of
Most movie industries are familiar with stereotypes – those cartoonish characters that skelter around in movies. Nollywood cinephiles know a mother-in-law means double trouble, Hollywood fans are acquainted with the hot but dumb jock, as Bollywood is used to seeing the traditional obedient Sanskari girl on screen. While it is true that these characters walk […]