Reviews
‘Alahun: The Weaver’ Review: Dare Olaitan’s Long-Awaited Epic Adventure Return Takes Too Long to Get Going
Dare Olaitan returns to the director’s chair with Alahun: The Weaver, a Yoruba epic adventure filled with spirits, mythical creatures, and an unlikely hero at its centre. The film asks many questions, such as what the measure of a true hero is, and how love can transcend societal limitations.
Locarno Open Doors 2026 Review: ‘Concrete Moves’, ‘Time to Change’, ‘sKINs’, ‘Submergido’ and ‘Goat’
The following five short films screened as part of the 2026 Locarno Open Doors, taking place from August 5-10, 2026. The five directors were also invited to take part in the Open Doors Directors programme. […]
Short Film Review: Adebayo Oduwole’s ‘When Tari Met Voke’ Makes a Familiar Meet-Cute Feel Alive
Few things are better than a romantic comedy that keeps both of its promises. Very few things. (A plate of smoky party jollof, perhaps.) I suspect this, among other reasons, is behind the runaway success […]
‘Remi and Nneoma’ Review: A Nollywood Biblical Retelling Too Devoted to Become Its Own Story
The Bible, like any other text, exists to be adapted and retold. Its stories are constantly updated for language and context. The King James Version for the purists who want little lost, The New International […]
‘On Different Grounds’ Review: Nollywood Veterans Elevate Mildred Okwo’s Uneven Romantic Comedy
A Nigerian wedding party, as much as it is a celebration, is often a power play. A place where influence is tested, alliances are forged and a pecking order is established. There is a clashing […]
‘Blood Sisters’ Season 2 Review: EbonyLife’s Netflix Thriller Expands Its World of Excess, for Better and Worse
In a rare Nigerian series continuation on Netflix, Blood Sisters returns four years after its first season in 2022, picking up directly from the Ademola family shooting. While Uncle B (Ramsey Nouah) dies from the […]
‘MKO’ Review: Ose Oyamendan Revisits the Wound of June 12 and Nigeria’s Greatest Political What-If (Sheffield DocFest 2026)
Hope, they say, is a very, very stubborn thing. It survives military coups. It survives broken promises. It survives politicians campaigning the language of change and turning around to enforce the language of power just […]
‘Call Of My Life’ Review: Uzoamaka Power Dials into the Nigerian Romcom Canon with Heart and Familiarity
The definition of a romcom is a well-documented and defined concept, parameters are often rigid and the story must follow a formula: hot boy plus beautiful girl plus almost fantastical meeting equals forever after. Dammy […]
News
Segilola Ogidan Wraps Psychological Thriller ‘The I.C.U.’, First Film in Planned ‘Hospital Chronicles’ Trilogy (EXCLUSIVE)
Segilola Ogidan has wrapped principal photography on The I.C.U., a high-stakes psychological thriller inspired by a deeply personal near-death experience and marking her third feature as director. The film, shot earlier this year in Lagos, […]
Nollywood Distilled: The Stories That Mattered This Week
EbonyLife Place London prepares to open, Black Market sets a Guinness World Record, The Spectacular Death of Prisca earns a TIFF honourable mention, Lateefah Mayaki joins AuthenticA Series Lab, and more in this week’s Nollywood Distilled.
Josh Olaoluwa and Vincho Nchogu’s Joint Sophomore Project, ‘A Fantastic Tale’ Heads to 2026 Cinekid Junior Co-Production Market
One year after their collaboration on One Woman One Bra earned them a Venice world premiere, Nigerian producer Josh Olaoluwa and Kenyan director Vincho Nchogu are taking their next project, A Fantastic Tale, to the […]
Ifedoyin Igbasan Launches Mystery Film Screening Experience with After Credits Club in Lagos
A new independent film screening programme is adding a new twist to existing alternative screening experiences. After Credits Club will present three mystery short films to audiences in Lagos from October, with the titles kept […]
Nollywood Distilled: The Stories That Mattered This Week
Dear Ajayi returns from Venice with two awards, Apple TV officially arrives in Nigeria, Cinema Day announces its 2026 edition, MultiChoice refreshes DStv and GOtv, Ikenga becomes the highest-grossing Igbo-language film, and more in this week’s edition of Nollywood Distilled.
Nile Entertainment Maps Out Diverse October Slate With Five Nigerian Releases
Faith, history, politics, cross country romance and alternate futures all have one thing in common this October in Nile Entertainment. Led by Moses Babatope, the two-year-old company is preparing for one of its busiest months […]
Damilola Orimogunje’s ‘Dear Ajayi’ Begins Limited Cinema Release in Select Nigerian Theaters
Damilola Orimogunje’s Dear Ajayi begins a limited cinema release in Nigeria today, September 18, following its historic world premiere at the Giornate degli Autori parallel section during the 2026 Venice International Film Festival. The film […]
‘Daddy Bear’, Co-Directed By Korede Azeez and Hajarat Alli and Produced By Fuchi Nwaturuocha Enters Post-Production, Eyes 2026 Release
Following a recent report of the Africa No Filter initiative with Korede Azeez, Fuchi Nwaturuocha, and Hajarat Alli on Daddy Bear, What Kept Me Up can confirm that principal photography has now wrapped on the […]
Essays
The ‘Americanah’ Cast We’d Love to See in Canal’s Adaptation
Few modern African novels have inspired as many dream casts as “Americanah”. The novel has long felt destined for the screen, set to join more Nigerian literary works finding new life in film and television. […]
Key Events and Milestones That Shaped Nollywood in 2025
From record-breaking box office hits to new international recognitions and multiple streaming services launching unique offerings, 2025 in Nollywood was a year of putting some systems in place and a wake-up call to make other […]
‘To Adaego With Love’ Set For Theatrical Release February 2026
AFRIFF 2025 award-winning period romantic drama To Adaego with Love, directed by Nwamaka Chikezie, is scheduled to open in Nigerian cinemas on February 6, 2026. Set in 1975, the film tells the story of a […]
‘Behind the Scenes’ Review: Funke Akindele’s December Blockbuster is Surely Relatable, Likely to Be Profitable, But Creatively Stuck
The Funke Akindele moral lesson cinematic universe has been expanded with the addition of her latest, Behind the Scenes. Co-directed by Tunde Olaoye, it is a film that follows the wealthy, benevolent Ronke Fernandez, who […]
Our Best Nigerian Films of 2025
Every industry conversation this year was dominated by the twin topics of distribution and funding, issues that are, in many ways, inseparable. In Nigeria, where financing largely depends on private investment, the doors to funding […]
Circuits Expands Beyond Streaming, Co-Produces ‘King of Thieves 2’ and ‘Agbara Nla: The Return’
Two anticipated Nollywood projects, King of Thieves 2 and a remake of the classic, Agbara Nla, have recently been announced with the streaming platform, Circuits named as a co-producer on both projects. Being on board […]
