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 past the ₦100 million mark at the local box office.
Released on June 6, the crime thriller directed by Akay Mason and co-produced by Abdul Tijani-Ahmed surged past ₦88 million within three weeks and hit ₦100 million shortly after — a rare feat for an original, non-franchise film. Awolowo, now 26, stands at the centre of it all: a young, technically precise filmmaker who quietly made history while refusing to follow the traditional path.
“We didn’t just want to tell a story — we wanted to tell it well,” Awolowo said in a statement shared with Nollywire. “No handouts, just clarity, heart, and a crew that believed. I didn’t set out to break a record. I just wanted to make something honest. But I hope this shows that young people can lead. Not later. Now.”
Her collaborators — director Mason and writer Tijani-Ahmed — aren’t new to theatrical releases, but ‘Red Circle’ felt like something else: leaner, hungrier, and creatively unfiltered. The project, produced under Rixel Studios, is ‘The House of Secrets’ cinematographer Barnabas Emordi’s first time as an executive producer and was scored by Tolu Obanro, with Ayomikun Oteju on the cut. Its cast blended established stars with comic disruptors and legacy names, including Folu Storms, Tobi Bakre, Omowunmi Dada, Lateef Adedimeji, Mike Afolarin, Timini Egbuson, Ibrahim Suleiman, Ruggedman, Lizzy Jay, Detola Jones, Debo “Mr Macaroni” Adedayo, William Benson, Femi Branch, and Bukky Wright in her onscreen return.
If there was a formula, it wasn’t obvious — but the marketing was. From early teaser drops to cast-led skits, the campaign was one of the most sharply executed this year. It culminated in the AMD Emerging Talent Award, where ‘Red Circle’ was spotlighted alongside global titles like Squid Game and Star Wars, confirming its crossover potential and creative edge.
“This wasn’t about making something perfect. It was about making something real,” said Nowe Isibor Segun-Ojo, General Manager at Nile Entertainment, which distributed the film. “This film had a pulse from day one. And that’s why people connected.”
For Nile, the film’s success isn’t an outlier — it’s the outcome of a deliberate pivot. Group CEO Moses Babatope told Nollywire in an interview that the company’s strategy is to bet early and often on new voices. ‘Red Circle’, he said, is evidence that the system is ready to reward them.
Now in its fourth week of release, the film has launched at select Odeon cinemas across the UK, including Birmingham, Streatham, Greenwich, and Manchester. A North American release is currently in development.
In the film, Awolowo’s cinematography helps stitch together a story that’s as kinetic as it is intimate. But it’s what happened offscreen that may matter more. With a crew made up of friends, collaborators, and under-30 creatives, ‘Red Circle’ is proof that there’s a new kind of Nollywood quietly being built — not by permission, but by precision.
And Nora Awolowo, record in hand, is leading from behind the camera.
