Reviews
‘99% Virgin’ Stage Review: Bunmi Awolowo’s Pregnancy-Scare Comedy of Faith and Panic That Doesn’t Quite Commit
Onto virgins, babies are delivered. Debby Whyte who plays the lead, Olamide, anchors this straight-forward comedy about a young woman kicking up a storm over a pregnancy scare. Wary of a shameful loss of face […]
‘Aba Blues’ Review: Jack’enneth Opukeme’s Style Meets a New City and Another Interesting Female Lead in a Faltering Story
The women of Jack’enneth Opukeme’s films are attempts at complexities to varying levels of success. In Adire (which he wrote), the titular character is bringing emancipation to the women of the town through the power […]
‘Headless’ Review: A Meta-Thriller About Nollywood’s Inner Workings
Michael Ndiomu alludes to the concept of “cinema faces”—peculiar figures whose presence alone can summon footfall to the cinema—through the character Erastus Okpanachi in his feature directorial debut, Headless. As I sat in my empty […]
‘Love and New Notes’ Review: Kayode Kasum’s Part Horror, Part Romance, Part Drama, Part Heist, Part Comedy Film
Religions and cultures agree: desperation has a way of becoming spiritual. The woman who cannot bear a child, the man whose mind is poisoned by money; these are not just personal tragedies in Nigerian storytelling, […]
Berlinale 2026: Jeremy Comte’s ‘Paradise’ Review
Berlinale: It is in the final moments of Jeremy Comte’s first feature that he renders the moments giving the film its title, in lyrical realism. “…it burns,” our one-hand protagonist — far from his Quebec […]
Berlinale 2026: The Critics’ and Pietra Brettkelly’s ‘Crocodile’ Review (Documentary)
Berlinale: There was a time The Critics, more known as The Critics Company, wanted to make comedy skits but with a twist of VFX. They were hoping to create an alternative to the common slapstick […]
Berlinale 2026: Alain Gomis’ ‘Dao’ Review
Berlinale: Not to get too personal, I have family members across four continents. Over the past five years, we have had at least two weddings and a funeral to attend. Those are the only times […]
Berlinale 2026: Sandulela Asanda’s ‘Black Burns Fast’ Review
Berlinale: African films that are filled with joy at international film festivals are rare. That is why Kenyan filmmaker Wanuri Kahiu’s Afrobubblegum movement is important as more attention turns towards African films. We need to […]
News
Nigeria in Tribeca Festival 2026 Lineup with ‘One Woman, One Bra’ and ‘Crocodile’
Nigeria records another modest presence in the 2026 Tribeca Festival lineup, with two projects set to make their North American premiere, One Woman, One Bra and Crocodile, a pan-African collaboration and a Kaduna-set documentary already […]
Esiri Brothers’ ‘Clarissa’ Selected for Directors’ Fortnight at Cannes 2026
Arie and Chuko Esiri’s sophomore, Clarissa, has been selected as one of 19 feature films to screen at the 58th edition of the Cannes’ Directors’ Fortnight, taking place from May 13-23 alongside the main festival, […]
How Two Filmmakers Are Trying to Save Cinema From Lagos
“One thing I appreciate about Nigeria the most now is how backwards it is,” Adebayo Oduwole says with a laugh. On the virtual call in mid March with his collaborative partner Praise Okeoghene Vandeh, the […]
NollywoodWeek 2026 Unveils First Nigerian Titles and Expands Programme with New Industry Partnerships
The NollywoodWeek Film Festival will return to Paris from May 6 to 10, 2026, with Nigerian films forming the core of its programming. Over the years, the festival has grown into a key international stop […]
Nigeria–Kenya Film Collaborations Continue with Cheta Chukwu’s ‘The Child Will Carry You’, Ella Chikezie’s ‘Nwanne’
A growing number of film projects linking Nigeria and Kenya are beginning to hint at a deeper creative exchange between both industries, with Cheta Chukwu’s The Child Will Carry You and Ella Chikezie’s Nwanne emerging […]
Full AMVCA 2026 Nominations List: Theatrically Released Titles Dominate Best Movie Category
The nominations for the 12th edition of the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA) have now been unveiled, setting the stage for the awards ceremony scheduled for May 9. This year’s list arrives with a […]
Showmax Originals Find a New Home on DStv Stream From April
The countdown to the end of Showmax as a standalone platform is now firmly underway. The bigger question is no longer whether it will shut down, but what becomes of its content. MultiChoice has now […]
FilmOne Teases Some New Filmmaking Voices to Expect in 2026
One of our key observations at the recent FilmOne Showcase is the range of new voices on the slate of films. They include five movies from filmmakers making either their directorial debut or theatrical debut […]
Essays
The Current State of Film Distribution in Nollywood
Before we discuss the state of distribution in 2026 in Nollywood, it’s essential to take a brief trip down memory lane to gain a clear understanding of where Nollywood is coming from. In the famous […]
‘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 […]
‘Breath of Life’ Claims Top Prime Video Spot in 11 Countries, Number 1 in Nigeria and Ghana
In a remarkable achievement, the inspirational film Breath of Life has captured the hearts of audiences worldwide, claiming the top spot on Prime Video’s charts across 11 countries since its historic release on December 15 […]
