Golden Mhinutes Pictures’ supernatural thriller Idia has secured four nominations ahead of the 2026 Toronto International Nollywood Film Festival (TINFF), which will take place from September 4–12, 2026.
The film earned 4 nominations including Best African Drama, Best Thriller/Horror Film, Best African Film, while lead actress Linda Osifo received an acting nomination for her performance. The recognition begins the festival journey for the Edo mythological horror film, which explores the Ehimwin phenomenon through a contemporary supernatural narrative rooted in local folklore.
For producer and co-writer Dr. Jasper Aziegbemhin, the nominations arrive after a multi-year journey that began while he was completing his doctorate at the University of Benin. Aziegbemhin co-wrote the screenplay with co-director Ese Ariremu (who worked with Jide ‘JBlaze’ Oyegbile) before assembling a team of collaborators who backed an unconventional horror project in a market where the genre often faces financing challenges.
Released in cinemas during the 2025 Halloween season through Silverbird Film Distribution, Idia grossed more than 25 million naira in its first three weeks and emerged as the highest-grossing Nollywood horror release of the year, according to the producer. The film starred Gbubemi Ejeye, Linda Osifo, and Tope Tedela, earning praise for its performances, production design, cinematography and world-building. Its success also reflected a broader trend in Nigeria’s theatrical market, where horror found some of its strongest audiences in 2025. According to the 2025 FilmOne Yearbook, the genre performed particularly well in Abuja, Oyo, Edo, Rivers and Ondo, with Edo State standing out as one of the country’s most reliable markets for horror releases, suggesting that the genre’s growth is being driven by regional audiences beyond Lagos.
Reflecting on the nominations, Aziegbemhin described the recognition as a tribute to the cast, crew, investors and collaborators who backed the project from its earliest stages. He also dedicated the achievement to a new generation of Nigerian filmmakers embracing culturally rooted genre storytelling, expressing hope that films like Idia will continue to expand the possibilities for horror cinema within Nollywood and beyond.
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