Tribe Nation Theatrical Distribution and The Garden Theatre Company recently announced the screening of Tolu Ajayi’s ‘Over The Bridge’, at the Pan-African Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou (FESPACO) this Friday, February 28, 2025, as part of the festival’s Nigeria Day. This screening sets the stage for the film’s upcoming theatrical release across French-speaking West Africa in the second quarter of 2025.
Following a successful festival run that led to twelve nominations at the AMVCA, ‘Over The Bridge’ makes its FESPACO debut. Its selection for Nigeria Day underscores the film’s universal themes and cross-cultural reasonance.
‘Over The Bridge’ tells the story of a man whose life is upended when a government project under his supervision collapses. Struggling with the consequences, he vanishes from his old world and embarks on a deeply personal journey of redemption and self-discovery.
The film boasts an ensemble that includes Ozzy Agu, Segilola Ogidan, Chimezie Imo, Deyemi Okanlawon, Akin Lewis, Toyin Oshinaike, Ropo Ewenla, and Joke Silva.
Garnering widespread media coverage, the film has been featured in Deadline, BBC: Focus on Africa, Voice of America, Mundo Negro, Pan African Film Podcast, Africa Now, and The Nollywood Reporter, among others. Notable reviews have also appeared in The Guardian UK, Okay Africa, Africa Is A Country, and The Africa Report.
The FESPACO screening emphasises the need for cross-border interactions within Africa “At a time when intra-African trade is in focus, this universal film serves to further these conversations, reinforcing the importance of extending African stories beyond linguistic and geographical borders,” Tosin Otudeko, writer and producer of the drama, commended. She also serves as the founder of The Garden Theatre Company.
He also spoke on the importance of the themes explored in the film and the collaboration by Kunle Afolayan Productions: “‘Over The Bridge’ explores the intersection between a man’s mental health and his moral conflict. We are eager for audiences to engage with its themes and excited to be part of this continental expansion with Tribe Nation Theatrical Distribution, and we hope they continue to provide more opportunities to filmmakers on a larger scale. We welcome this invitation by Kunle Afolayan Productions (KAP) to screen ‘Over The Bridge’ at FESPACO and look forward to engaging with new audiences.”
The film will be presented at FESPACO ahead of its theatrical release in French West Africa. The upcoming release was first announced at Tribe Nation Theatrical Distribution’s Q1 Exhibitors Showcase and Press Conference, held in Lagos, Nigeria, on Tuesday, February 4, 2025. Highlighting Tribe Nation Theatrical Distribution’s dedication to expanding the reach of African films.
Anita Edwards, CEO of Tribe Nation, stated: “At Tribe Nation, we are committed to ensuring that powerful stories reach the widest possible audience. ‘Over The Bridge’ is a deeply moving film that speaks to universal human experiences, and its release in French West Africa is a significant milestone for the film and the industry. We are proud to partner with The Garden Theatre Company to take this exceptional film beyond English-speaking territories, reinforcing our mission to bridge the gap between filmmakers and their audiences across the continent.”
‘Over The Bridge’ is scheduled for a theatrical release across French West Africa in Q2 2025.
