As the NollywoodWeek Festival draws closer and the official selections are confirmed, here are some key facts from this year’s lineup. The 2025 NollywoodWeek Festival, taking place from May 7–11 in Paris, features a lineup that highlights notable premieres, films on the festival circuit, and award-winning projects.
World Premieres to Watch Out For
At least six world premieres have been confirmed for NollywoodWeek 2025. They include:
- The Night of June 7th by Toka McBaror
- The Fire and The Moth by Taiwo Egunjobi
- After 30 by Momo Spaine
- Trade By Bata by Biodun Stephen
- Out of the Darkness by Sarah Kwaji
- OLÙMÒTÀN: Stories We Are Not Supposed to Tell by Adekunle “Nodash” Adejuyigbe
African Representation at NOW 2025
Apart from Nigeria, the country with the biggest presence at this year’s edition, films from the following countries will also be screened at the festival: South Africa (Sierra’s Gold), Kenya (1992, The Dog, ) Cameroon (Ayo, The Mystery of Waza, and Enjoy), Benin (Noces D’eau), as well as the diaspora (United States, most notably).
Nemsia Studios Brings Three Films to the Festival
Nemsia Studios, the Nigerian production company known for Breath of Life, is set to make a strong showing at the festival. They’ll be presenting After 30, a sequel to the fan-favourite series Before 30. They’re also behind The Fire and The Moth (co-produced with Sable Media), Taiwo Egunjobi’s return to the festival after All Na Vibes, and , the directorial debut of Holmes Awa, which already premiered last year on Prime Video in select countries.
Nigerian Cinema Films You Can Catch in Paris
As has been the tradition, NollywoodWeek will also screen some Nigerian films that completed their theatrical runs back home but might have been missed by the diaspora. This year, that includes Daniel Oriahi’s The Weekend (which played in cinemas in 2024) and Okechukwu Oku’s Blackout (released earlier this year).
Award-Winning and Buzzy Short Film Selections
Two standout short films to watch out for in Paris are Ekun Iyawo, directed by Moses Ipadeola and backed by the British Council and Film Lab Africa, and The Incredible Sensational Fiancée of Seyi Ajayi by Abbesi Akhamie. Both shorts have already generated buzz on the festival circuit and are set in unique time periods and worlds, making them even more exciting to keep an eye on.
AFRIFF Best Actor Winner Stars in The Dog
Baker Karim’s Kenya-set The Dog follows MZ, a small-time drug dealer played by Alexander Karim, who is hired to drive a young escort — with strict instructions not to get involved. But when he falls in love with her, his attempt to rescue her spirals into deeper trouble. For this role, Alexander Karim won the Best Actor award at AFRIFF 2024, making The Dog one to watch closely at the festival.
Festival Circuit Films Now at NollywoodWeek
Several films that have made their rounds on the international festival circuit are also part of the NOW lineup. These include The Weekend (which kicked off at a 2024 Tribeca world premiere), Legend of the Vagabond Queen of Lagos (world premiered at TIFF 2024), and Damilola Solesi’s animated film Hadu (screened at AFRIFF, Rotterdam, and more). These titles have picked up several accolades along the way.
See the full festival selections and their details here.
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