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Osamede, a Nigerian historical fantasy film set in the 1897 Benin Kingdom, is set to premiere at the 2025 Cannes Film Market on May 17 at Pavillon Afriques. Shot in Benin City, it features a cast that includes Ivie Okujaye Egboh (who can be seen in our first look image), Lexan Aisosa Peters, William Benson, Lancelot Oduwa Imasuen, and Alexander Bud.
Directed by AMVCA-winning epic serial TV producer James Omokwe, whose credits include Ajoche, Riona, and Cheta’M, Osamede follows an orphaned girl who discovers superhuman powers in 1897 colonial Benin Kingdom. Her mission: to harness the power of the ancient Aruosa stone and liberate her people from British colonial control.
The film is executive produced by Lilian Olubi, a finance veteran and founder of Gold Lilies Productions. The company previously staged Osamede as a theatrical production, performed to live audiences on multiple occasions. The film adaptation builds on the foundation of this stage version, with a story that draws from Benin mythology and cultural traditions.
Speaking ahead of the Cannes screening, Olubi, who is also scheduled to be on the Cannes Pavillon Afriques panel Beyond Budgets: Innovative Funding for Filmmakers, emphasised the importance of representing African history through genre storytelling, noting her intention to reach wider audiences through a blend of cultural authenticity and accessible narrative formats. “With Osamede, we’re revolutionising how African historical narratives are presented by bringing the legendary Benin Empire’s mythology to life with production values and storytelling that mirror Hollywood fantasy epics.”
Director James Omokwe adds, “Osamede goes beyond a fantasy film set in Africa. With this film, we’re reclaiming our historical narrative through the fantasy genre. What Black Panther did for Afrofuturism, we’re doing for African historical fantasy rooted in actual Benin Kingdom mythology. Our approach combines authentic cultural elements with cinematic spectacle in ways audiences haven’t seen before.”
In recent years, Nollywood has seen a rise in epic period dramas, particularly those rooted in Yoruba history and mythology, such as King of Thieves and Anikulapo. Osamede stands out as one of the few large-scale screen epics that draw from non-Yoruba historical contexts, focusing on the Benin Kingdom’s cultural heritage instead. This development expands the lens on the broad Nigerian history that can be made for the screen.
The Cannes Market screening for Osamede comes at a moment of increasing international visibility for Nigerian films, on the back of the historical milestone for My Father’s Shadow as the first Nigerian title to screen in the Cannes Official Selection.
While no public release date has been announced, Osamede is positioned for international distribution following its Cannes debut.
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