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
AFRIFF 2026 Names ‘Lady’ Opening Film, Adds Paid Ticketing and New Award Category
As selected filmmakers have been sharing announcements on social media since last week, the first details of this year’s AFRIFF have now been officially confirmed. Set to open the 15th edition of the festival is […]
Cheyi Okoaye’s ‘Cause, Effect & Maybe Consequences?’ Among Nigerian Winners at Durban FilmMart 2026
Three Nigerian in-development projects, The Boy Who Spoke Static, Pülö: Bloodstream of the Kirike and Cause, Effect & Maybe Consequences?, received awards as the 17th Durban FilmMart ended in South Africa on Monday, October 12. […]
EyiyemiOlivia Rogbinyin Takes Lead in Don Ekama’s ‘Secondhand’
EyiyemiOlivia Rogbinyin takes centre stage as a woman attempting to walk away from her marriage in Secondhand, a new film from writer-director Don Ekama that has wrapped principal photography in Lagos. Produced by Myde Glover, […]
Korede Azeez and Hajarat Alli’s ‘Daddy Bear’ Unveils First Look, Sets November Community Screenings (EXCLUSIVE)
EXCLUSIVE: Cardinal Productions has released the first-look images from Daddy Bear as the family drama moves through post-production ahead of planned community screenings in Abuja and Lagos beginning across November and December. The update follows […]
Nollywood Distilled: The Stories That Mattered This Week
This week on Nollywood Distilled, the industry moved on several fronts. Nigeria picked its Oscar submission, new film infrastructure opened in Lagos and London, Agbara Nla: The Return delivered a major box-office opening, and new […]
Christian Faith International Film Festival Nigeria Launches, Announces Inaugural Jury
Nigeria’s end-of-year festival calendar is getting another addition, and this one is bringing Christian cinema to the fore. Founded by filmmaker Moses Ipadeola (Ekun Iyawo), who serves as festival director, the Christian Faith International Film […]
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.
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, […]
From Tug of War to Relay Race: How Funke Akindele Announces Her December Blockbusters
For the third year in a row, Funke Akindele has begun the road to December with a competition against herself. In 2024, characters from A Tribe Called Judah and the Jenifa franchise faced off in […]
Nigeria’s ‘I Live in V.I.’ and Ghana’s ‘Too Much Music’ Win at Locarno Open Doors 2026
Nigerian project I Live in V.I. and Ghana’s Too Much Music have picked up prizes at the 2026 Locarno Open Doors, with the latter receiving CHF10,000 in development funding. The awards come in the second […]
What Has Netflix Been Doing in Nigeria in 2026?
Netflix may have slowed down in Nigeria, but it has not disappeared as many still believe due to the late 2024 widespread rumours. Much has already been said about the streamer’s reduced activity in the […]
Nollywood Distilled: The Stories That Mattered This Week
As Nigerian projects continue to expand their international footprint, new films line up for cinemas, established companies enter fresh corners of the business, and filmmakers experiment with emerging technologies, this week’s edition of Nollywood Distilled […]
New in Nigeria: Movies and TV Shows to Watch this August 2026
All confirmed for release or availability in Nigeria in August 2026, this guide brings together Nollywood releases, international titles, new streaming releases and Nigerian cinema releases. The movies and TV shows are grouped into four […]
