Reviews
NollywoodWeek (NOW) Film Festival 2025: ‘Olumotan’ Review (Closing Film)
Olumotan: The Trial of the Storyteller begins with a certain kind of awareness. First, there seems to be a breaking of the fourth wall by the storyteller played by Sola Sobowale, and then a multicultural […]
NollywoodWeek (NOW) Film Festival 2025: ‘Out in The Darkness’ Review
In For Maria: Ebun Pataki (2020), a pediatrician tells new mother Derin, “Babies cry. It’s what they do,” when she questions her infant’s incessant tears. The cries disrupt Derin’s sleep, heighten her panic, and fray […]
NollywoodWeek (NOW Film Festival) 2025: ‘The Fire and The Moth’ Review
In The Fire and The Moth, the western town it is set in is presented with a sweeping calmness. There are gorgeous aerial shots and expert framings that keep the town rested but not docile. […]
NollywoodWeek (NOW) Film Festival 2025: ‘Soft Love’ Review
The South African and Nigerian love story in Soft Love is put into motion once Zandi`’s groom runs away on the morning of their wedding, setting up a tale of romance, friendship and family that […]
NollywoodWeek (NOW) Film Festival 2025: ‘Ekun Iyawo’ Review (Short Film)
In the growing resurgence of Yoruba-language films exploring folklore, mysticism, and societal anxieties, Ẹkùn Iyawo: A Tale of a Runaway Bride, by Moses Ipadeola, arrives as a surreal and bold reinterpretation of a traditional rite. […]
NollywoodWeek 2025: ‘The Night of June 7th’ Review
The Apo Six killings of June 7, 2005, will remain a searing wound in Nigeria’s collective psyche—a brutal reminder of police impunity and judicial rot in the country. I first learned about the incident from […]
Short Film Review: Olawale Adetula’s ‘Overcomer’ is a Quiet Study of Anxiety and Identity in a Post COVID World
At the center of director Adetula’s minimalist short film is Toni (Tinovimbanashe Sibanda), an international student grappling with mounting debts and a needy mother who clearly doesn’t care about her situation. Toni’s world is a […]
‘After 30′ Review: The Plot Gets Messier for The Sisterhood in Puzzling Sequel
In many parts of the world, single women face pressure to marry, often from a young age. Cultural expectations, like a mother critiquing her teenage daughter’s cooking with, “Is this how you’ll make semo in […]
News
Yvonne Orji Joins Venice-Premiered Ghanaian Whimsical Comedy ‘The Fisherman’ as Executive Producer
Nigerian-American actress and comedian Yvonne Orji, known for her role on HBO’s Insecure, is now an executive producer on The Fisherman, a Ghanaian film getting global attention. Orji joined the team through her production company, […]
Full AMVCA 2025 Winners List: Femi Adebayo and Chioma Chukwuka Win Lead Acting Categories for Seven Doors
The 11th edition of the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA) took place at the Eko Hotel and Suites in Lagos, bringing together the brightest talents in African film and television. Held on May 10, […]
Y2K-Inspired Short Film ‘Nollybabes’ Features Female-Led Cast in Official Poster Reveal
Old Nollywood has come and gone, but is it truly gone? One might ask. Old Nollywood is a living, breathing art form rooted deep in the entertainment and fashion industry. Tributes, homages, and creative nods […]
Nigerian Student Short Film ‘Angel in the Stone’ Shortlisted for 2025 Sony Future Filmmaker Awards
Angel in the Stone, a Nigerian student short film, has been officially shortlisted for the 2025 Sony Future Filmmaker Awards in the Student category. Directed by Doyinsola Ajayi, produced by Faith Olaewe, and written by […]
Nollywood Film Club Discusses What Makes a Nollywood Genre
The importance of genres in film operates on multiple levels, from aiding story development to setting audience expectations. But what shapes a genre beyond being a marketing tool? How do these genres influence people within […]
6 Key Takeaways from NollywoodWeek 2025 Festival Lineup
As the NollywoodWeek Festival draws closer and the official selections are confirmed, here are some key facts from this year’s lineup. The 2025 NollywoodWeek Festival, taking place from May 7–11 in Paris, features a lineup […]
Dipo Abdul Osiyemi and Oge Obasi Selected for 2025 Durban FilmMart with ‘Bupya (Renewed)’
Nigerian filmmakers, director Dipo Abdul Osiyemi and producer Oge Obasi, have been selected to participate in the Pitch and Finance Forum of the 2025 Durban FilmMart, taking place from 18 to 21 July in Durban, […]
Orire Nwani and Tomi Folowosele Selected for Red Sea Series Lab with Supernatural Thriller Project
Producer Orire Nwani and writer Tomi Folowosele have been named among the 16 creatives selected for the 2025 edition of the Red Sea Series Lab, an international television development program presented by the Red Sea […]
Essays
Nollywood Comedy Films and All the Ways They Can Be Better
There is a general notion that Nigerians can’t handle anything other than comedy films. Filmmakers often decry exhibitors’ and producers’ penchant for comedy films, which has resulted in a scenario wherein Nollywood films seemingly struggle […]
‘School Run’ Review: Showmax’s First Nigerian Original Feature Stumbles and Falls Flat
After a run of original series like Diiche, Crime and Justice Lagos, and Flawsome, Showmax has finally released its first Nigerian original feature, School Run. The film stars Ifeanyi Kalu and Amanda Iriekpen as its […]
‘No Way Through’ Review: Casualties Pile Up in this Drug-Fuelled Prime Video Crime Thriller
In crime thrillers, an occurrence that consistently intrigues me is when the protagonist, presented with an opportunity for revenge, delays the kill for a triumphant speech. Unfortunately, this often grants the enemy an additional chance […]
The Contradictory Beauty of ‘Breath of Life’, According to Nollywood Film Club
Nollywood Film Club is a diverse haven for criticism, ideas, and global discourse of Nigerian films. Hosted by Iroko Critic on Twitter (now known as X), the weekly Twitter Space conversation unfolds every Sunday at […]
Top 10 Highest-Grossing Nollywood Films Of All Time
What makes a film a box office hit? Nigerian filmmakers have been trying to solve this puzzle since the colonial 1920s, with projects that straddle the line between widespread popularity and critical acclaim. Using the […]
‘Malaika’ Review: Toyin Abraham-Led Infertility and Parenthood Drama Can’t Stand on Baby Steps
Malaika, directed by Steve Sodiya, blends traditional Yoruba theatre and New Nollywood to deliver an average movie with social commentary. The movie revolves around Tutu (Toyin Abraham Ajeyemi), a successful yet hot-headed woman grappling with […]
