Nigerian filmmaker Adé Sultan Sangodoyin‘s We Must Begin Again, Together will make its world premiere at the 23rd edition of Afrika Film Festival Köln, which runs from September 17–27, 2026, in Cologne, Germany. As part of the announcement, What Kept Me Up can exclusively reveal the film’s official poster.
The minimalist book cover-esque poster offers a subdued new look at the drama, featuring Teniola Aladese deep in thought aboard a bus. Rendered in grainy texture, it captures a quiet moment of introspection, with a faint reflection of the character visible in the bus window, hinting at the film’s exploration of identity, and fractured relationships.
Aladese leads the cast of We Must Begin Again, Together, which follows a woman whose world is upended after she discovers that her husband is having an affair with her brother. The film’s official synopsis reads: “When a woman discovers her husband is having an affair with her brother, the double betrayal breaks her world open. But in a small, conservative town where identity is policed and secrets work for survival, she’s pushed toward an unexpected path.”
Joining Aladese in the cast are Patrick Diabuah, Yetunde Oduwole, Rose Odika, Nonso Odogwu, Sunday Joy, Kaptaintony Ofili-Akpom, Gold Ikponmwosa, Alex Ayalogu and Kayode Olaniyan.
Written and directed by Sangodoyin, We Must Begin Again, Together was shot in Ibadan and produced by Melissa O. Adeyemo for Ominira Studios, alongside producers Sangodoyin and Jamiu Shoyode for Emperium Films. The film reunites Sangodoyin and Shoyode following their work on Olive Nwosu’s Sundance award-winning Lady, while also bringing Sangodoyin back together with Adeyemo, who previously led production on Eyimofe, on which he served as co-producer.
Yanis Gaye is attached as co-producer. Executive producers on the project include Enyi Omeruah, Abiodun Sote and Muritala Abdulsalam.
Sangodoyin is a Nigerian filmmaker and fiction writer. He studied English Literature with Journalism at the University of Buckingham before earning a Master’s degree in Screenwriting from the London Film School. His short films include Different Plains (2015) and A Cemetery of Doves (2019), the latter of which screened at the New York African Film Festival. A 2021 Berlinale Talents alumnus, he is currently developing his debut feature, Sisyphus, which was shortlisted for the 2022 Cinéfondation Residency.
Following its world premiere in Cologne in September, the producers are looking to continue the festival journey internationally while also bringing the short film to audiences in Nigeria.
We Must Begin Again, Together joins a growing list of Nigerian films to screen at Afrika Film Festival Köln, including Juju Stories, Egúngún, Mami Wata and The Incredible Sensational Fiancée of Sèyí Àjàyí. Founded in 1992, the Cologne-based festival has become one of Europe’s leading destinations for African and diasporic cinema.
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Editor’s Note (24/06/2026): This story has been updated to clarify the film’s production credits and the previous collaborations among members of the producing team.
