Nigerian Box Office Nears Full Reset as 2026 Gross Hits ₦8.8B
In the first half of 2026 alone, the Nigerian box office has crossed ₦8.83 billion, led by ‘Call of My Life’. As the Uzoamaka Power-led romcom climbs to No. 5 on the all-time chart, the performance outpaces the ₦7.75 billion recorded in the same period in 2025, with a broader shift coming into view: the […]
Linda Osifo Nominated as ‘Idia’ Lands Four TINFF 2026 Nods
Edo-set mythological thriller ‘Idia’ has earned four nominations at the 2026 Toronto International Nollywood Film Festival (TINFF), including Best Thriller/Horror Film, Best African Film, and a Best Actress nomination for Linda Osifo. Produced by Jasper Aziegbemhin and co-directed by Ese Ariremu and Jide ‘J Blaze’ Oyegbile, the film was distributed in cinemas on October 24, […]
Trino Motion Pictures Marks 10 Years as Richard Aseme Joins Advisory Board
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 […]
Ny Nana’s Urhobo-Language Drama ‘Okeoghene’ Earns 21 TINFF Nominations
Filmmaker Ny Nana’s short film ‘Okeoghene’ has received 21 nominations at the 2026 Toronto International Nollywood Film Festival (TINFF). The film is nominated in categories including Best Nollywood Narrative Film, Best African Indigenous Film, Best Short Drama, and Best Film by a Female Filmmaker, with additional mentions across acting and technical fields. Written, directed and […]
Adenike Adebayo-Esho Unveils Ensemble Cast for Campus Drama ‘Tele x Zikora’
Adenike Adebayo-Esho has announced the full cast for ‘Tele x Zikora’, a campus-set drama scheduled for release in cinemas in 2026. Written, produced, and directed by Adebayo-Esho, the film is backed by Imagine Media and May Day Studios, with Cinemax handling nationwide distribution. Production took place across Houston, Texas, and Lagos, situating the story within […]
FilmOne’s Ladun Awobokun Says Nollywood’s Distribution System Isn’t Broken: It’s Commercial.
As debates around Nollywood’s distribution system resurface, FilmOne Entertainment’s Chief Content Officer, Ladun Awobokun, says concerns about a breakdown between producers, distributors, and exhibitors are overstated. Speaking on Arise 360, Awobokun acknowledged that scheduling conflicts and late decisions do occur but insisted they are not systemic. “For the most part, the big films are settled […]
Farooq Oreagba: Ojude Oba Must Continue Despite Insecurity Concerns
Farooq Oreagba has defended the continued celebration of Ojude Oba 2026 amid growing security concerns, describing the festival as a cultural institution that cannot be paused. Speaking to Nollywire at the private screening of ‘Iwe Ala: An Ojude Oba Story’ with former president Olusegun Obasanjo in Abeokuta, Oreagba described the annual gathering as something bigger […]
Film Lab Africa’s TV Focus Is Part of a Bigger Plan, British Council’s Harry Kesiana Says
Film Lab Africa’s focus on television in the second phase of the programme is not a pivot. Head of Arts at the British Council Nigeria tells Nollywire it’s part of a deliberate, long-term strategy to build a more complete film and TV ecosystem. Speaking at Film Lab Africa: Creative Hustle, Kesiana explained that the programme’s […]
“Nigeria Needs Strong Television, Not Just Films”: Drikus Volschenk
At Film Lab Africa: Creative Hustle, EbonyLife Creative Academy’s Head of School, Drikus Volschenk, pointed to a shift in focus at Film Lab Africa that reflects a broader gap in the industry: the need for stronger television production. Following an earlier edition centred on short films, this year’s programme is pivoting toward series development, an […]
Kayode Kasum on Nollywood’s Next Advantage: “The Industry Needs Problem Solvers”
At Film Lab Africa: Creative Hustle, filmmaker Kayode Kasum framed the future of Nollywood around the ability to solve problems. Speaking during a panel with Uche Ikejimba and Victor Sanchez Aghahowa on positioning creatives for 2026, the director and producer pointed to a growing need within the industry for individuals who can adapt quickly and […]
Victor Sanchez Aghahowa on Pitching: “Most Projects Are Overcooked”
At Film Lab Africa: Creative Hustle, filmmaker and production executive Victor Sanchez Aghahowa offered a candid look into how projects are evaluated and why many fail before they even begin. Speaking after a panel conversation with producer Uche Ikejimba and director Kayode Kasum on positioning creatives for the future, Sanchez, who currently serves as Head […]
Uche Ikejimba Wants Creatives to Rethink Consistency and Collaboration at Film Lab Africa Panel
At the Film Lab Africa: Creative Hustle event, media executive and producer Uche Ikejimba made a compelling case for why consistency, more than talent, will define creative success in 2026 and beyond. Speaking on the panel “Positioning Yourself in 2026: Beyond Talent — What Actually Matters,” alongside filmmaker Kayode Kasum and producer Victor Sanchez Aghahowa, […]
Obasanjo Hosts Private Screening of ‘Iwe Àlá: An Ojude Oba Story’ Ahead of June 12 Release
ABEOKUTA. ‘Iwe Àlá: An Ojude Oba Story’ received an early spotlight on June 1, 2026, with a private screening hosted by former president Olusegun Obasanjo at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) Cinemas in Abeokuta. The event, organised by Come On Naija, brought together the film’s cast and crew for a rare pre-release showing that […]
Inside Don Julio’s AMVCA 2026 Takeover With This Year’s Big Winners
The Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards has grown far beyond an awards ceremony. It now stands as one of the continent’s most visible cultural stages where film, fashion, and storytelling intersect in a shared moment of recognition. At the 12th edition, Don Julio stepped in as headline sponsor with a clear intention: not just to […]
‘Ray of Hope’ Cast Revealed: Jide Kene Achufusi and Sunshine Rosman Lead Porshe Studios Debut
Porshe Studios Africa has unveiled the ensemble cast for its debut feature film ‘Ray of Hope’, a drama set in Port Harcourt, Aba, and Lagos. The film stars Jide Kene Achufusi, Sunshine Rosman, Stan Nze, Bucci Franklin, Ayoola Akinyoola (popularly known as Kamo State), Beverly Osu, Uzor Arukwe, Chuks Joseph, Ngozi Ezeonu, and Zack Orji. […]
MultiChoice Talent Factory Graduates 20 Filmmakers from 2026 West Africa Cohort
MultiChoice has graduated its 2026 cohort of filmmakers from its MultiChoice Talent Factory (MTF) West Africa Academy, marking another step in its ongoing investment in film and television talent across the region. The programme, delivered in partnership with Pan-Atlantic University, saw 20 students from across West Africa complete a nine-month training cycle focused on directing, […]
What Creators and Stars Wore to CerAwards 2026 in Lagos
Days after CeraVe closed its CeramoVE campaign with the CerAwards 2026 Gala in Lagos, the conversation is extending beyond winners and into what creators and guests wore on the night. The event, which brought together digital creators, Nollywood figures, and industry stakeholders, opened with a blue carpet that quickly became a showcase of personal style, […]
CeraVe Closes CeramoVE Campaign with CerAwards 2026 Gala in Lagos
CeraVe Nigeria has concluded its CeramoVE campaign with the CerAwards 2026 Gala, a Lagos event that spotlighted digital creators reinterpreting classic Nollywood scenes and capped weeks of nationwide participation. Held on April 23, the gala brought together finalists, creators, media, and industry figures for an evening dedicated to storytelling and online creativity. The campaign, described […]
After a Decade on Screen, Omowunmi Dada Steps Further Into Producing With ‘Evi’
Omowunmi Dada’s run in Nigerian entertainment has seen her move from standout performances to a more global platform, like her selection as a Global Artist in Residence at the University of Michigan, where she engaged students on African storytelling and filmmaking. This time, she is stepping further into producing as one of the executive producers […]
Action Xtreme Launches Actor-Led Masterclass Series With Support From British Council and Nile Entertainment
Action Xtreme, a UK-based studio focused on action film and series production and the producer of the movie ‘Son of the Soil’, has launched a new masterclass series focused on Nigerian screen actors, developed in collaboration with Nile Entertainment and supported by the British Council. The series will be hosted by Trevor Hakim of the […]
Dressing Baba Segi’s Wives: How Yolanda Okereke is Interpreting a Familiar World
When a story already lives in people’s heads, adaptation becomes something else entirely and that weight is unavoidable for Lola Shoneyin’s ‘The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives’. Before audiences experience the upcoming screen version helmed by Daniel Oriahi, the story has moved across pages and stages, been performed in different cities, studied, debated, and […]
Chude Jideonwo on Why He Joined Laju Iren’s ‘Onobiren’ and the Power of Storytelling
At the premiere of ‘Onobiren’, media entrepreneur Chude Jideonwo reflected on the power of storytelling both on screen and through the personal narratives he platforms on his interview show. The film, written by Laju Iren and directed by Famous Odion Iraoya, features Jideonwo appearing as himself, the host of the interview platform #WithChude. Speaking with […]
Uche Okocha Eyes New Formats at Trino Motion Pictures After ‘The Weekend’ HBO Max Deal
After securing a streaming deal with HBO Max for its thriller ‘The Weekend’, managing director Uche Okocha says Trino Motion Pictures is preparing a broader slate of projects as it looks to expand its presence across global platforms. Speaking with Nollywire following the announcement, Okocha described the acquisition as an important step in the film’s […]
Cinema Executives React to Nile Entertainment’s UIP Distribution Partnership
Nile Entertainment’s new partnership with United International Pictures (UIP) is drawing support from cinema executives, who say the deal could expand the range of films available to audiences across the theatrical market. The distributor was recently appointed UIP’s theatrical partner across Nigeria and Ghana, handling releases from Paramount Pictures and Universal Pictures in both territories. […]
Trino Motion Pictures’ ‘The Weekend’ Lands on HBO Max in Central and Eastern Europe
‘The Weekend’, the psychological thriller from Trino Motion Pictures, is now streaming on HBO Max across several Central and Eastern European territories, marking another international milestone for the film following its extensive festival run. Directed by Daniel Oriahi and produced by Uche Okocha, the film follows Nikiya, played by Uzoamaka Power, an orphan who visits […]
Chude Jideonwo Makes Cinema Debut in ‘Onobiren’
Media entrepreneur and talk show host Chude Jideonwo appears in the new drama ‘Onobiren’, marking his first role in a film released in cinemas. Written by Laju Iren and directed by Famous Odion Iraoya, the film opens in theatres tomorrow, March 6, through FilmOne Entertainment. In the film, Jideonwo makes a cameo as himself, the […]
Mo Abudu Reacts to Showmax Shutdown: “No One Is Coming to Save Us.”
As the industry reacts to news that Showmax will be phased out as part of a restructuring by Canal+ following its takeover of MultiChoice, Mo Abudu is urging filmmakers and media companies to focus on building sustainable local streaming platforms. In a statement shared on Instagram on March 5, the EbonyLife Group founder described the […]
Canal+ Shuts Down Showmax Amid Multichoice Restructuring
MultiChoice Group is set to phase out Showmax as part of a broader distribution strategy following its acquisition by French media giant Canal+. The move signals a shift toward a more premium digital platform as the company reassesses its streaming strategy across African markets. Launched in 2015, Showmax quickly established itself as one of Africa’s […]
Editi Effiong Wraps ‘The Black Book 2: Old Scores’ at Anakle Films With Backing From ‘Severance’ Producer Nicky Weinstock
‘The Black Book 2: Old Scores’ has completed principal photography at Anakle Films, with Editi Effiong returning to the director’s chair. The follow-up will continue the story world of the 2023 Netflix action thriller, which became one of the platform’s most-watched African titles following its release. The development was first reported by The Hollywood Reporter, […]
Kunle Afolayan’s KAP Group, the Republic of Benin Partner on Film Co-Productions and Proposed Film City
Kunle Afolayan-led KAP Group has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Republic of Benin to collaborate on film co-productions, youth training, and the proposed development of a Film City in Ouidah, signalling a cross-border creative partnership involving high-level government engagement in the audio-visual sector. The MoU was formalised in Lagos at the KAP […]