Genesis Cinemas is Changing How You Watch Nollywood—Here’s How
Genesis Cinemas is reaffirming its position as a champion of Nigerian storytelling through a strategic new partnership with Nollywire, the digital media platform behind Nollyphiles, the Nigerian cinephile community. This collaboration isn’t just about boosting visibility for Nollywood films; it’s about building a deeper connection between audiences and the stories they love. By rolling out […]
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 […]
Burna Boy Screens Asurf Oluseyi’s ‘3 Cold Dishes’ Teaser at Stade De France Concert
In a career-defining moment, Burna Boy delivered a landmark performance to a sold-out crowd of 80,698 at the iconic Stade De France in Paris—making him the first African artist to headline the 100,000-capacity venue. But it wasn’t just the music that left fans stunned. At the closing of the show, the superstar turned the spotlight […]
Mo Abudu Named Among TIME100 Most Influential People of 2025
TIME Magazine has named Mo Abudu one of the 100 Most Influential People in the World for 2025 — a recognition that feels more like a confirmation than a surprise. In Nollywood and across Africa’s creative industries, Abudu’s name is already synonymous with trailblazing. Whether behind the scenes or on the global stage, she’s been […]
Bohang Moeko: How Film Can Heal Nigeria–South Africa Tensions
In a time when tensions between Nigeria and South Africa have too often made headlines—from xenophobic attacks to retaliatory actions—actor and producer Bohang Moeko believes African cinema can offer a path to healing. His call for cross-continental collaboration comes against the backdrop of years of friction. In 2019, waves of xenophobic violence erupted in South […]
MBO Capital Commits ₦4.6 Billion to Accelerate Nollywood’s Development
When Folajimi Alli-Balogun, a representative of financial advisory firm MBO Capital, mentioned that the company had invested ₦2.3 billion in Nigerian film last year, the figure alone was notable. But the real headline came next: they intend to double that this year. That’s ₦4.6 billion in committed financing—a scale of investment that would be historic […]
‘My Mother is a Witch’ Reunites Efe Irele and Niyi Akinmolayan
Director Niyi Akinmolayan and actor Efe Irele are teaming up once again for ‘My Mother is a Witch’, a new drama set to debut in cinemas on May 23, 2025. The upcoming feature marks the latest chapter in their growing body of work together, following titles such as ‘The House of Secrets’, ‘Casa De Novia’, […]
Niyi Akinmolayan’s ‘Nollywood Filmmaker’ Website to Tackle Crew and Funding Gaps
Niyi Akinmolayan, filmmaker and Anthill Studios founder, is asking a deeper question in an industry where everyone has a story and even more have the urge to shoot one. The question is simple: can you make a successful film? That is the ethos behind the new Nollywood Filmmaker, a groundbreaking platform designed to connect investors, […]