This week on Nollywood Distilled, AFRIFF wrapped up its 15th edition with several Nigerian winners, while Loving Itohan ended Agbara Nla: The Return’s five-weekend reign at the box office. Elsewhere, Dika Ofoma’s Tooth won in Switzerland, new Nigerian short films were unveiled, Lady secured a 2027 theatrical release through FilmOne, and EbonyLife announced a $50 million film fund.
AFRIFF 2026 Concludes With Wins for ‘Lady’, ‘Adanne’ and ‘The Spectacular Death of Prisca’
The 15th AFRIFF concluded in Lagos on November 7, with Ugandan filmmaker Maureen Jolly Nankya’s Slum Bomber winning Best Feature Film at the Globe Awards. Olive Nwosu received Best Director for Lady, Orobosa Ikponmwen’s Adanne won the Audience Choice Award, and Kaelo Iyizoba’s The Spectacular Death of Prisca took Best Short Film and the inaugural Pulse Award for Emerging Filmmaker. Other winners included Kenyan-Nigerian co-production One Woman, One Bra, whose lead Sarah Karei received Best Female Actor, and South Africa’s Variations on a Theme, which received the Special Jury Prize. The awards concluded a week of screenings and industry activities, including the second AFRIFF Film & Content Market.
EbonyLife and Logical African Partners Announce $50 Million Film Fund, With Financing Details Yet to Emerge
Mo Abudu’s EbonyLife and Logical African Partners, the African investment arm of French financier Logical Pictures, have announced the $50 million Afro Film Fund, intended to finance approximately 35 African feature films over eight years. The partnership aims to support productions for African and international audiences, with the first investments expected in late Q1 or early Q2 2027. However, further details on the fund’s capital commitments, fundraising status and investment terms have yet to be made public.
Dika Ofoma’s ‘Tooth’ Wins Winterthur Prize, Secures Cannes 2027 Industry Invitation
Dika Ofoma’s Tooth has won the inaugural Final Cut: New African Shorts award at Switzerland’s Internationale Kurzfilmtage Winterthur, securing an invitation to the Short Film Corner Rendez-vous Industry at Cannes in 2027. Produced by Nkali Films and Idunoba Entertainment, the short was one of four African projects selected for the programme, jointly organised by Locarno’s Open Doors and Winterthur to support films in post-production through industry mentorship and international connections.
Olive Nwosu’s ‘Lady’ Sets March 2027 Nigerian Cinema Release Through FilmOne
Olive Nwosu’s feature debut Lady is expected to arrive in Nigerian cinemas in March 2027, with FilmOne handling theatrical distribution. Nwosu confirmed the arrangement to What Kept Me Up during AFRIFF, where the film opened the festival’s 15th edition and earned her the Best Director award. Starring Jessica Gabriel’s Ujah and Amanda Oruh, Lady follows a Lagos taxi driver whose encounters with women navigating the city’s nightlife change her understanding of friendship and survival. The film premiered at Sundance earlier this year, winning the Special Jury Award for Acting Ensemble, before screening at the Berlinale.
New Shorts From Tomi Folowosele, Mannie Oiseomaye and Chukwu Martin Unveiled
Three Nigerian short films have received new production updates. Tomi Folowosele has unveiled first-look images from STAY, a supernatural drama exploring Yoruba Abiku mythology, following the completion of post-production. The film was developed at Talents Durban in 2024 before shooting in Lagos this October. Meanwhile, Introducing the Kujus co-writer Mannie Oiseomaye has announced Home and Away, a sibling drama starring Steve Chuks and Onyinye Odokoro. TWF Productions has also unveiled In the Space of Desire, directed by Chukwu Martin and starring Wumi Tuase-Fosudo, Mike Afolarin and Temilolu Fosudo.
‘Loving Itohan’ Ends Agbara Nla’s Five-Weekend Box Office Reign
Orobosa Ikponmwen’s Loving Itohan opened atop the Nigerian box office with 24.2 million naira, narrowly ending Agbara Nla: The Return’s five-weekend run at No. 1. The Mount Zion sequel earned 24 million naira in its sixth weekend, declining just 13%, and has now grossed 486.4 million naira from 81,261 admissions. Despite finishing second in revenue, Agbara Nla sold more tickets over the weekend, recording 3,798 admissions against Loving Itohan’s 3,622, reflecting differences in average ticket prices. Meanwhile, Ramayana opened third with 21.9 million naira from 2,517 admissions, bringing its total to 22.3 million naira including previews.
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