This week on Nollywood Distilled, we unpack six key stories, from Nigeria taking centre stage at an international film festival to new developments in local streaming, awards, regulation and industry platforms.
Nigeria Takes Centre Stage at FIC Luanda’s Return
Nigeria has been named the Country of Focus at the 8th edition of the Luanda International Film Festival (FIC Luanda), as the Angolan festival returns after an 11-year hiatus. Taking place from October 28 to November 2, the revived festival will feature a Nigerian Panorama curated by Surreal16 Collective, bringing ten Nigerian films to audiences in Angola. S16 Festival director Abba T. Makama has already teased titles including Mami Wata, Eyimofe, About Sarah and Juju Stories, while Kewa Oni‘s long-awaited The Odds is set to make its world premiere during the festival. While the Nigerian showcase will be a non-competitive section, three of the 10 Nigerian films will be in the official competition, with the full line-up yet to be announced.
‘Dear Ajayi’ Begins Its Journey from Venice to Nigerian Cinemas
As Dear Ajayi prepares to make history as the first Nigerian film selected for Giornate degli Autori (Venice Days), world premiering on September 10, its producers have begun mapping out the next phase of the film’s release. This week, the team unveiled the film’s first official trailer while confirming a November 13 Nigerian theatrical release through FilmOne, giving local audiences a date to anticipate shortly after its world premiere during the Venice International Film Festival. Directed by Damilola Orimogunje (For Maria), Dear Ajayi is a Nigeria–Germany co-production that follows a celebrated writer confronting memory, family and legacy, starring Bimbo Akintola, Tosin Adeyemi, Lanre Hassan, and William Benson.
Kava Turns One as It Prepares Its First Original
One year after its launch, African streaming platform Kava is entering a new phase as it prepares to release its first original production. This week, the FilmOne and Inkblot Studios-backed platform unveiled the trailer for Folagade Banks-produced Mama Deola Wedding Story, directed by Femi Adebayo and set to premiere on September 3 as Kava’s first original title. Alongside the announcement, the streamer shared a snapshot of its first-year performance, reporting more than 102,000 subscribers, 270,000 registered users, 1.8 million hours watched, availability in 185 countries, and a catalogue of 120 films and five series. Since launching in 2025, Kava has established itself as a home for Nigerian post-theatrical releases.
FilmJoint Opens the Road to Its 2027 Editions
FilmJoint has officially opened submissions for both FilmJoint Premieres (a one-night screening event for short films) and the FilmJoint Awards (award body for short films), setting the calendar for its 2027 editions and giving filmmakers an early roadmap for the year ahead. Entries for both programmes opened on August 20 through FilmFreeway, with FilmJoint Premieres introducing a tiered submission schedule that includes early bird, regular, extended and late deadlines running through December 20, when selected filmmakers will also be notified. Meanwhile, submissions for the FilmJoint Awards close on October 30, with nominations scheduled to be announced on November 29.
‘The Night of June 7th’ Release Put on Hold Pending NFVCB Review
The Nigerian theatrical release of The Night of June 7th has been placed on hold following a directive from the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB), announced on the day of its planned August 28 opening. Produced by Linda Ikeji and distributed by Nile, the Toka McBaror-directed drama is based on the 2005 Apo Six killings and had already premiered at NollywoodWeek Paris in 2025. According to a joint statement from the producer and distributor, the NFVCB has referred the film to the Department of State Services (DSS) for further review because of the sensitive nature of the real-life events depicted. A new release date will be announced after the review process is concluded.
The Headies Continue to Expand Recognition for Screen Music
The Headies has continued to strengthen the connection between Nigeria’s music and film industries, unveiling the nominees for Best Original Song for Visual Media ahead of its 18th edition. The non-voting category recognises songs written and composed specifically for use in a film or television series, with this year’s nominees including “All My Love” (EVI), “Behind the Scenes” (Behind the Scenes), “Save Me” (To Kill a Monkey) and “Only in Lagos” (Christmas in Lagos). The award, introduced last year as Soundtrack of the Year, was won by “Tribe Called Judah” from TCJ and Abbey Wonder. The ceremony is set to take place during the weekend of October 23-24.
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