‘The Serpent’s Gift’: Kayode Kasum Follows Up Ajosepo with a Dark Inheritance Drama
Nigerian filmmaker Winifred Nkiru Mena-Ajakpovi teams up with acclaimed director Kayode Kasum to deliver ‘The Serpent’s Gift,’ a mystery-drama that dives deep into themes of love, legacy, betrayal, and the deadly cost of inheritance. Kasum, who made a major splash at the Nigerian box office with ‘Ajosepo,’ brings his signature storytelling style once again to […]
Mary Claudia Nwoga is an Accidental VFX Artist
Unlike many filmmakers, Mary Claudia Nwoga didn’t grow up with a film obsession, a love for Nollywood, Hollywood, or both. She simply sauntered into the path. The award-winning visual effects artist hadn’t planned for a life in film at all. She studied criminology, was applying for a master’s degree in forensic psychology, and seemed poised […]
‘When Nigeria Happens’ Becomes First African Dance Film to Open Locarno Film Festival
The Locarno Film Festival has announced ‘When Nigeria Happens’ as its opening film, an unprecedented selection for a contemporary African dance drama. Directed by Ema Edosio Deelen, the film follows a close-knit group of dancers navigating art, hardship, and identity in the under-represented corners of Lagos. The film follows six misfit dancers—Fagbo, Pokko, Lighter, Movement, […]
After ‘Tokunbo’, Todimu Adegoke Lands New Nigeria–Netherlands Migration Drama ‘Exhale’
After his breakout as the writer of ‘Tokunbo’, which landed an AMVCA Best Actor nomination and topped Netflix charts, screenwriter Todimu Adegoke has landed his next major project: ‘Exhale’, a cross-continental feature film backed by Nigeria’s Sozo Films and Netherlands-based Gomes Multimedia. Set to begin production in early 2026, ‘Exhale’ will be shot in Nigeria, […]
Zikoko Life’s First Anthology Captures the Complexity of Modern Nigerian Relationships
Some stories don’t need to be invented. They’re already out there, in WhatsApp chats, over dinner tables, hidden in drafts of unsent emails. Zikoko Life has spent years collecting these kinds of confessions, turning them into essays that feel familiar to anyone who has ever loved, lost, or wanted more. With its first film anthology, […]
Dika Ofoma is a (Contrarian) Romantic
“You are a romantic,” I tell Dika Ofoma, forty minutes into an hour call. Ofoma is an emerging filmmaker known in the indie space. His short films ‘A Japa Tale,’ ‘A Quiet Monday,’ and the S16 favourite ‘God’s Wife’ have all received duly deserved accolades. “I think I am,” he replies, hesitation clinging to each […]
First Look at ‘The Benefactor’ Poster: Bimbo Ademoye, Kunle Remi Star in Adeoluwa Owu’s Psychological Drama
In ‘The Benefactor’, silence is ritual, complicity is currency, and truth comes at a cost. Directed by Adeoluwa Owu, the psychological drama follows a rising musician whose past resurfaces in the form of a man once seen as her saviour. The film opens in Nigerian cinemas August 8, with Bimbo Ademoye, Kunle Remi, and Akin […]
Zikoko Life Brings Sex Life, Naira Life, and Love Life Stories to the Screen
Zikoko, the social magazine owned by Big Cabal Media, has spent years asking Nigerians deeply personal questions—about money, sex, and love. Now it’s bringing those same questions to the screen with Zikoko Life. Zikoko ‘Life’ is an anthology film series created by Anita Eboigbe that adapts three of its most-read editorial franchises—Naira Life, Sex Life, […]
Niyi Akinmolayan Launches ₦500K Script Challenge to Kick Off His New Nollywood Casting App, OneTake
Niyi Akinmolayan is backing up his vision with cash. Days after unveiling OneTake, a new casting app designed to help actors and filmmakers find each other more efficiently, the ‘Lisabi’ director announced a ₦500,000 short film script challenge to put the app to the test. “Let’s make a movie,” Akinmolayan said in a video posted […]
The 10 Highest-Grossing Nollywood Films of the First Half of 2025
The first half of 2025 has seen Nollywood’s box office blossom with variety and ambition. From raucous comedies to regal epics, Nigerian cinema continues to command large audiences. Whether it’s franchise favourites or bold debuts, these top ten films didn’t just make noise; they also counted naira bills. Here’s a look at the highest-grossing Nollywood […]
Nora Awolowo Becomes Youngest Filmmaker to Cross ₦100 Million at the Nollywood Box Office with ‘Red Circle’
In a year already rich with theatrical surprises, ‘Red Circle’ has claimed a spot in the record books — and so has the woman behind its lens. AMVCA 2023 Best Documentary winner Nora Awolowo, who was just 24 when the film was shot, has become the youngest Nigerian cinematographer and producer to lead a title […]
4 Pan-African Movies That Served Us Delicious Romance
Pan-Africanism isn’t just for political summits and history books; it can also be heart-eyes and stolen glances across Jollof pots and Cape Town skylines. Nelson Mandela and Nnamdi Azikiwe would probably high-five over some of these love stories. We have seen African collaborations give us afrobeats bangers and gripping thrillers, but every now and then, […]
Wingonia Ikpi’s ‘The Lost Days’ Arrives on Prime Video July 11 Under The First Features Project
A woman returns to her family, only to vanish again — that’s the emotional pivot at the heart of ‘The Lost Days’, the latest feature from the First Features Project, arriving July 11 on Prime Video. Directed by Wingonia Ikpi in her debut, ‘The Lost Days’ is a meditative family drama that explores how grief, […]
Niyi Akinmolayan Wants to Fix Casting in One Take
Recently, conversations around casting in Nollywood have circled the same concerns: familiar faces on repeat, a talent pool concentrated in a few cities, and a troubling preference for online popularity over acting skill. Filmmaker Niyi Akinmolayan has heard it all and now has decided to do something about it. “We’re not doing casting right,” he […]
Nigeria and Brazil Deepen Cultural Ties in Landmark Creative Industry Exchange
In a display of cultural diplomacy, the Office of the Vice President of Nigeria, in partnership with Filmhouse Group, welcomed a high-powered Brazilian delegation to Lagos this week. Hosted at Filmhouse Cinemas – IMAX, Lekki, the visit marked a strategic push to deepen bilateral ties through the creative economy. The delegation, composed of senior government […]
5 Nollyphiles List Their Favourite Films of 2025 So Far
We are slowly closing out the first half of 2025 and a glance at Nollywood’s slate so far is a wide mix of films, from crowd-pleasers to quieter titles that found their audience over time. To get a sense of what’s resonating with viewers, we asked five nollyphiles to share their favourite film of the […]
FilmHub Launches First Community Cinema in Lagos With Bold Plan for 1,000 Locations Across Nigeria
In a country where most people live far from a cinema, FilmHub’s low-budget pilot in Navy Town, Ojo, Lagos State, is testing whether community screenings can unlock a new future for Nigerian films. According to the 2024 Nigerian Box Office Yearbook compiled by FilmOne Entertainment, the ratio of people to cinema in West Africa is […]
Victor Boniface, Wilfred Ndidi, and Frank Onyeka Launch ‘The Culture League’ Talk Show
When Victor Boniface isn’t lighting up Bundesliga defences, he wants to talk music and memes with Frank Onyeka and Wilfred Ndidi in the group chat. That chemistry — the banter, the behind-the-scenes gist — is now going public through a new talk show: The Culture League. Launching on July 11, 2025, the new weekly talk […]
Bolatito Kolawole on Breaking into Black Boy Writes/Black Girl Writes and Telling Diaspora Stories
When Bolatito Kolawole got the email that she had been accepted into the Black Boy Writes/Black Girl Writes mentorship programme, it felt surreal and yet preordained. For the lawyer recently turned screenwriter, this was an affirmation. She grew up writing stories she was unable to finish and then essays for school but the writer path […]
Inside Judith Audu’s Producer Handbook
There’s a certain clarity that comes with experience—and with Judith Audu, it shows. She speaks about producing with the precision of someone who has mastered the craft and the warmth of someone still in love with it. Her approach is both technical and intuitive, grounded in logistics but led by heart. For her, producing is […]
‘Baptism’: Toni Tones, Ozzy Agwu and Bimbo Manuel Lead New Mystery Thriller
A church baptism in the outskirts of town. A community gathered in faith. And then, a sudden drowning that changes everything. This is the premise of ‘Baptism’, a new mystery thriller from Orire Nwani that recently completed principal photography. Produced by Conceptified Media and One Child Grace Studios, the film centres on members of St […]
Folu Storms on Becoming Fikayo Holloway and Living Outside the Box
In the sizzling new drama ‘Red Circle’, Folu Storms brings Fikayo Holloway to life with a fire that leaps off the screen. Fikayo is bold, impulsive, and unafraid to chase what she wants, sometimes to her own detriment. But for Storms, stepping into Fikayo’s stilettos was more than just another role; it was a journey […]
NTA Partners With Nollywood to Tackle Distribution Crisis
At the headquarters of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), a conversation that could shape the future of Nollywood occurred. The national broadcaster—once the beating heart of televised storytelling in Nigeria—opened its doors to a host of Nollywood’s top producers and directors in a gathering that was less about ceremony and more about forging a future. […]
Netflix Inflates Subscription Fees Again
Netflix subscribers will now pay more to stream their favourite films and series on the platform, as the platform has increased its subscription fees once again. This marks Netflix’s first price hike in 2025 and the third since 2024 in the country. The new pricing, now reflected on the company’s official website, shows a notable […]
Moses Babatope’s Recipe For Nollywood’s Next Chapter is Nile Entertainment
Moses Babatope and his team at Nile Entertainment are carving out a dauntless path. Their mission is simple but significant: to be a conduit for creative Nigerian storytelling and to expand the scope of what Nollywood can be. “I just want Nile to be that conduit, if you like, or medium or vessel for us […]
Akay Mason Jumped Hurdles to Make ‘Red Circle’
It’s 4 a.m. on the set of ‘Red Circle’. The camera is rolling. The actors are exhausted. The crew is silent. Akay Mason, the film’s director, is asking for yet another take. What began as a day shoot has turned into a night scramble after a truck breakdown upended the schedule. Everyone’s drained. But Mason […]
How Abdul Tijani-Ahmed’s Friendships and Dark Google Searches Powered ‘Red Circle’
When Abdul Tijani-Ahmed began researching for ‘Red Circle’, where he served as both screenwriter and producer, his search history got suspicious. “I had to research journalism,” he says with a smirk. “And, obviously, how to dispose of one or two bodies.” It is this sort of unnerving curiosity one might expect from a thriller writer. […]
Naz Onuzo on Cannes and Creative Investments in Nollywood
Naz Onuzo, co-founder of Inkblot Productions, recently returned from the Cannes Film Festival with a renewed sense of purpose and a clear message: Nigerian stories belong on the global stage. “Cannes was fine,” he says with a characteristic understatement. But beneath that simplicity is something deeper, a pride in what Nigerian filmmakers are achieving and […]
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 […]