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
NOSC Selects Damilola Orimogunje’s ‘Dear Ajayi’ as Nigeria’s Entry for the 99th Oscars
Following Nigeria’s last official submission to the Academy in 2024 and an absence in 2025, Damilola Orimogunje’s Dear Ajayi has been selected as the country’s official pick for the International Feature Film category at the […]
Nollywood Distilled: The Stories That Mattered This Week
Agbara Nla: The Return rewrites the West African box office record books, Dear Ajayi expands its international festival journey, Nigeria strengthens its Film Africa presence, and new campaigns begin for The ICU, and Issakaba: The Return in this week’s Nollywood Distilled.
‘Dear Dearest Michelle’ Sets Sharon Rotimi, Chabod Oyejide and Nosakhare Ijebor as Leads Ahead of Film-Theatre Recording
Sharon Rotimi (R), Chabod Oyejide (M) and Nosakhare Ijebor (L) will lead the cast of Dear Dearest Michelle, the third instalment of Tarahh’s A Play by Tarahh series, which will be recorded live for a […]
Chinazaekpere Chukwu’s Feature Debut ‘Her Daughters’ Mother’ Among Nigeria’s Strong Presence at Film Africa 2026
Chinazaekpere Chukwu makes her feature debut with Her Daughters’ Mother, selected to screen at Film Africa 2026 on October 28 at the newly launched EbonyLife Place London. Directed and written by Chukwu, Her Daughters’ Mother […]
Seven Years Later, Lights Camera Africa! Film Festival Returns to Give Independent Filmmakers Another Home
A festival built around gathering people in one room had to pause when gathering itself became impossible. Lights, Camera, Africa! last held in 2019. The COVID-19 pandemic came soon after, making the in-person experience at […]
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 […]
Essays
BBNaija, MasterChef and Nigeria’s Long Relationship with Foreign Unscripted Television
For the better part of two decades, Nigerian television has been significantly shaped by unscripted formats that originated abroad. Some became institutions. Others disappeared quietly. Most recently, MasterChef Nigeria concluded its debut season in mid-July, […]
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 […]
How West African Filmmakers Are Approaching Street-Set Films
“Street ti take over.” A Nigerian slang that has become one of the infamous expressions of contemporary Nigerian pop culture. It suggests that the street is no longer a place at the edges of society. […]
Kamo State, Mama Deola Bring Their Creator Brands to Film This September
This September, two new films led by figures who made their names in the Nigerian content creator space will make their way from social media skits to producing and starring in their own film projects. […]
