Homi TV has licensed the Nigerian short film Ekún Ìyàwó: A Tale of a Runaway Bride for global streaming, adding another Nigerian production to its growing catalogue of African films.
The 12-minute romance drama, written, directed and produced by Moses Ipadeola through Meta4 Films, is now available to rent on the platform for $2.99. The dollar pricing also applies to viewers in Nigeria, who can pay the equivalent amount using MTN recharge cards.
Ekún Ìyàwó previously aired on MultiChoice channels and WAP TV in 2025 as part of a television run featuring all 10 short films produced through the British Council Film Lab cohort.
Set against a historical backdrop, Ekún Ìyàwó follows Omolewa, a young woman forced to participate in a “Bridal Tears” ceremony under threat. Faced with an arranged marriage surrounded by dark rumours, she must decide whether to fulfil her family’s expectations or escape with her secret lover, David.
Ugoh Amanda leads the film as Omolewa, with Soledayo Adegbite playing David.
The licensing deal follows an extensive festival run across Africa, Europe and North America. The film won Best Short Film at Quramo Fest in 2024, the Audience Choice Award at The Annual Film Mischief in 2024 and Best Production Design at the Accra Indie Film Festival in 2025.
It was also the biggest winner at the 2025 FilmJoint Awards, receiving four prizes: Best African Film, Best Indigenous Film (Nigeria), Best Production Design and Best Picture.
Its other selections and showcases include Film Africa in London, the African International Film Festival, the Nigerian International Film and TV Summit, Afropolis, the Eastern Nigeria International Film Festival, NollywoodWeek Film Festival in Paris, the Barbados Indie Film Festival and RTF Realtime International Film Festival in London.
The film has also screened at the Black Art & Film Festival, the 6 Resilient Women Showcase in Los Angeles, Noir Fest at Harvard and Yale, and the 7 Resilient Women Showcase in Nairobi.
“Ekún Ìyàwó was born from a desire to tell a unique story that honours our culture while asking timeless questions about duty, courage and self-determination,” Ipadeola said. “I’m excited that it is now streaming on Homi TV, where audiences everywhere can discover this Trado-Fiction and connect with its message.”
In our NollywoodWeek review, we referred to it as an ambitious short film that speaks to Ipadeola’s growing promise as a storyteller unafraid to reinterpret tradition.
For Ipadeola, the deal also points to a potential distribution route for short films, which often struggle to secure commercial releases even after extensive festival runs.
“I am hopeful that, with Homi TV’s entrance into the streaming space, various indie filmmakers can keep making great and niche films without the fear of distribution or profit-making,” he added.
Founded in Delaware in 2021 and launched in Africa in September 2022, Homi TV is a subscription streaming service with over 100,000 registered users and over 80,000 paid subscriptions dedicated exclusively to African film and lifestyle content, with operations in Ghana, Nigeria, Sierra Leone and Kenya. Its catalogue includes films, documentaries, lifestyle programmes and original productions from more than 40 African countries.
The platform is globally accessible through web, mobile and smart TV applications. Alongside its subscription offering, Homi TV provides rentals for selected titles. Its catalogue also includes Imoh Umoren’s sports drama Field of Play, starring Nse Ikpe-Etim.
According to Homi TV Inc. CEO Enock Mensah, the Ekún Ìyàwó deal reflects the company’s wider ambitions for African cinema.
“As we build Homi TV into the premier destination for bold, authentic African cinema, Ekún Ìyàwó represents the calibre of storytelling we are committed to championing, narratives rooted in culture, yet universally resonant,” Mensah said.
He added that the platform aims to connect African filmmakers with audiences beyond their domestic markets.
Ipadeola’s Meta4 Films was founded by Ipadeola in 2024. The independent production company develops films centred on African identity, tradition and contemporary experiences.
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