Chinazaekpere Chukwu makes her feature debut with Her Daughters’ Mother, selected to screen at Film Africa 2026 on October 28 at the newly launched EbonyLife Place London.
Directed and written by Chukwu, Her Daughters’ Mother follows Ejiro, who is married off at 16 and returns home in her 30s as a widow with two daughters. She enters another marriage with Osato, who promises to secure a better future for the family. However, when Ejiro fails to provide him with a male heir, the marriage becomes unbearable, leaving her longing for the freedom she remembers from childhood.
Starring Ejovwoke Obas Olikuntuyi, Osas Okonyon, Philip Asaya, Najite Dede and Adeoluwa Akintoba, the creative team behind the feature includes Yinka Adegoke as cinematographer, executive producer and co-producer Efosa Ogbomo, and story consultant, creative producer and editor Joshua Tsotso.
Co-written by Sunday Melvin Iwinosa from a story by Efosa Ogbomo, the 110-minute drama was shot early 2026 in Benin and features performances in English, Pidgin, Urhobo and Bini languages. Her Daughters’ Mother is produced by One Child Grace Studio in association with C.A.N.O Productions, Uncut Gem Productions and Nka Pictures.
Chukwu’s move into feature filmmaking follows her work on short films, including Ti e Nbo, which screened in the Shorts category at the 2023 AFRIFF.
During her time at EbonyLife Creative Academy, she directed A Psalm for Abigail, where she graduated with the Best Director award. Away from directing, Chukwu has worked as a screenwriter and story editor for TV shows, feature and short-film projects. Her writing credits include Logline, an Africa Magic original production.
Other Nigerian feature films on the Film Africa 2026 lineup include Damilola Orimogunje’s Dear Ajayi, Arie and Chuko Esiri’s Clarissa, Daniel Oriahi’s The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives, Shimataver Igbawua’s Language of the Wind and Olive Nwosu’s Lady. In the documentary section, The Critics’ documentary Crocodile features in the lineup.
The Nigerian short-film selection includes Praise Odigie Paige’s Birdie, and Dika Ofoma’s Obi is a Boy.
Film Africa 2026 will run from October 23 to November 1 in London.
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