This week on Nollywood Distilled, year-end release plans came into sharper focus across streaming and cinemas, while AFRIFF unveiled more of its 2026 programme, Nigerian projects picked up five awards at Durban FilmMart, and Agbara Nla: The Return added another box-office milestone.
Netflix Sets November Return for The Covenant and December Premiere for Jagun Jagun 2
Netflix’s Nigerian end-of-year slate is beginning to take shape, with The Covenant Season 2 set for November 6 and Femi Adebayo’s Jagun Jagun 2: War of Warriors for December 4. The new season of The Covenant, created by Vincent Okonkwo for VSL Media, expands its world with a South African storyline, new South African cast members and director King Shaft. Meanwhile, Adebayo has begun the Jagun Jagun sequel campaign with a cast teaser featuring names including Funke Akindele, Ibrahim Chatta, Gabriel Afolayan, Bimbo Ademoye, Pasuma, Kiekie, Muyiwa Ademola, Adebayo Salami, Dele Odule and Odunlade Adekola. The sequel follows the 2023 Netflix original and extends an especially active year for Femi Adebayo on the streamer, which has also added King of Thieves 1 and 2 in 2026.
AFRIFF Unveils 2026 Programme Ahead of 15th Edition
AFRIFF has unveiled the programme for its 15th edition, running November 1–7 in Lagos, with Olive Nwosu’s Lady set to open the festival and Hakeem Kae-Kazim’s directorial debut It’s the Blackness closing it. The festival is expected to screen about 130 films, alongside masterclasses, industry sessions and the second AFRIFF Film & Content Market (AFCM), which runs November 2–5 and is expecting delegations from more than ten countries. AFRIFF has also begun unveiling its masterclass facilitators, with registration opening October 14, while AFRIFF Goes to Cannes returns and a new award category joins this year’s programme.
One Woman, One Bra, To Adaego With Love and The Herd Lead Nigerian Titles at AMAA 2026
Nigerian-Kenyan co-production One Woman, One Bra leads the 2026 Africa Movie Academy Awards field with 14 nominations, the highest total of any film this year, including Best Film, Best Director and recognition across several craft categories. AMAA lists the film under Kenya in the Best Film category, while its Nigerian connection gives the country another major presence in the overall race.
Among films competing as Nigerian titles, Nwamaka Chikezie’s To Adaego With Love leads with 11 nominations, followed by Daniel Etim-Effiong’s The Herd with 10 and Colours of Fire with nine. All three also compete for the NFVCB Award for Best Nigerian Film, alongside Iwe Ala, Suky, Efunroye (The Unicorn), Cordelia, The Creek and Oversabi Aunty. Nigerian titles additionally feature across documentary, animation, short film and African-language categories.
Nigerian Projects Take Five Awards at Durban FilmMart
Three Nigerian projects picked up a combined five awards at the Durban FilmMart, led by The Agbajowo Collective’s The Boy Who Spoke Static, which received three prizes. Cheyi Okoaye’s Cause, Effect & Maybe Consequences? and PÜLÖ: Bloodstream of the Kirike each collected one award. The results capped a strong showing for Nigerian projects across the market and its talent-development programmes, with Cause, Effect & Maybe Consequences? participating in Talents Durban, which runs alongside Durban FilmMart.
Agbara Nla: The Return Becomes Nollywood’s Biggest October Release
Agbara Nla: The Return has climbed to 307.2 million naira at the box office, entering the Top 50 highest-grossing releases of all time and becoming the highest-grossing Nollywood film ever released in October. The Mount Zion Film Productions title has now overtaken King of Boys, which grossed 245.1 million, and ranks as the second-biggest October release overall, behind only Venom: The Last Dance at 317.8 million. The milestone extends the film’s strong run after its record-breaking opening weekend and leaves it within reach of becoming the highest-grossing October release of any title at the Nigerian box office.
FilmOne’s December Releases Enter Presale Phase With The Four and Avengers: Doomsday
The December release race is already moving into advance-sales mode, with tickets now on sale for Funke Akindele’s The Four ahead of its December 11 theatrical release. Presale tickets for Avengers: Doomsday have also gone live ahead of the holiday corridor, while Toyin Abraham’s Bestie continues its campaign with additional cast announcements, including Zubby Michael, Bolaji Ogunmola, Winnie and Foluke Daramola. With several major titles still weeks from release, FilmOne is ramping up its campaign for its cherished December slate.
November Nollywood Slate Adds Loving Itohan, Daddy Bear and Ray of Hope
Nigeria’s November release calendar added three more titles this week. Orobosa Ikponmwen’s theatrical debut Loving Itohan, produced by Jade Osiberu’s Greoh Studios and Nancy Isime Productions, is set for November 6 via FilmOne, with Nancy Isime, Uzor Arukwe and Obehi Aburime leading the cast.
Akorede Azeez and Hajarat Alli’s Daddy Bear also unveiled a first look ahead of a November–December community-cinema run, continuing the Africa No Filter-supported project’s audience-first rollout. Meanwhile, Kayode Kasum’s Ray of Hope has been dated for November 20 through Cinemax, with a cast including Bucci Franklin, Uzor Arukwe, Sunshine Rosman, Stan Nze, Jidekene Achufusi, Zack Orji and Ngozi Ezeonu. Together, the announcements further add to an already active year-end big screen window.
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