Reviews
‘Suky’ Review: The Loud Silence of Ola Cardoso’s Debut
Suky opens in a boxing ring, where Adigun (Tobi Bakre) is instructing a group of young fighters with the assured discipline of a man who has survived too much and seen too little change. Among […]
‘Ori Rebirth’ Review: Uneasy Lies the Head With a Stronger Inner Head
Ori Rebirth, a reboot of the beloved Ori (2004), brings back Muyiwa Ademola as Bisade in an ambitious outing that painfully untethers itself from the Yoruba classic in crucial spots. With its reflective meditation on […]
NYAFF 2025: ‘The Fisherman’ Review
There is a tug of war, a push and pull like the tide of an ocean, that exists at the centre of The Fisherman, the feature debut by Zoey Martinson. It swings between youth and […]
NYAFF 2025: ‘God’s Wife’ Review (Short Film)
God’s Wife opens with the first of many impactful moments. A forlorn woman dressed in white while her hair is aggressively cut with a pair of scissors as two women sit on her sides casting […]
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 […]
News
Everyone Has Their Guesses About the Netflix Geo-Blocking, on Nollywood Film Club in May
Since Netflix slowed its operations in Nigeria, there has still been no official word on their long-term strategy or future plans. So far, all we’ve gotten is a single statement last December to quell the […]
The Annual Film Mischief 2025 Themed ‘Reclaiming Self’ to Embrace Wellness and Identity for Festival Edition
After two years of Shooting the Culture, The Annual Film Mischief (TAFM), set to return for its 4th edition, will be Reclaiming Self with a format that extends beyond film screenings. This year’s edition, scheduled […]
Akinola Davies Jr’s ‘My Father’s Shadow’ Receives Caméra d’Or Special Mention at Cannes
While it did not win an award in the Un Certain Regard section, Akinola Davies Jr’s My Father’s Shadow has received a Caméra d’Or Special Mention at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival—an honour awarded to […]
National Film Institute Set for Major Upgrade in Partnership Between Chocolate City and FG
Chocolate City Group, a media and entertainment company long established in Nigeria’s music scene, set to play a key role in reshaping film education in Nigeria. In a partnership with the Federal Government, the music […]
A New Chapter for Nollywood: BRS Studios Unveils 2025 Film Slate
Following the global success of Tokunbo on Netflix, which landed in the Top 10 across more than 50 countries and amassed over 5 million views within its first three days, BRS Studios continues its mission […]
Daniel Etim Effiong’s Directorial Debut ‘The Herd’ to Screen at Cannes Marché du Film Panel
Nigerian actor and filmmaker Daniel Etim Effiong will present his directorial debut, The Herd, at the prestigious Marché du Film in Cannes during the panel, “The Nollywood Conversations: A Deep Dive into Opportunities to Present […]
Toyosi Etim-Effiong Joins Global Voices at NIFS Cannes 2025 to Spotlight Nollywood’s Future
On May 19, 2025, Nigeria’s media powerhouse, Toyosi Etim-Effiong, will take the stage in Cannes, France, as a panelist at the Nigerian International Film and TV Summit (NIFS). Founded by Ijeoma Onah, one of Nigeria’s […]
‘The Legend of The Vagabond Queen of Lagos’ Wins Jury Prize at NollywoodWeek 2025
Since its founding in 2013 by Serge Noukoué and Nadia Shakur, NollywoodWeek (NOW) Film Festival has championed itself as a professional yet accessible venue for Nigerian filmmakers to connect with audiences in Paris. The 2025 […]
Essays
From ‘Araromire’ to ‘My Father’s Shadow’: A 21st Century Retrospective Peeling The Layers of Nigerian Cinema at Int’l Festivals
This retrospective traces three defining phases in that evolution, from Araromire to My Father’s Shadow. While this piece focuses on the 21st-century trajectory, it’s important to acknowledge that today’s international recognition is rooted in the groundwork laid long before.
‘Country Hard’ Review: Paul Utomi’s Long Dive in a Sea of Sadness
Chima (Timini Egbuson) in a conversation with Jubril (Paul Utomi), out of desperation, describes Nigeria as a sea of sadness, and that is what director Utomi set out to do with Country Hard. This film […]
‘The Griot’ Review: An Enjoyable Storyteller’s Woes Boosted By the Acting Performances
The Griot joins the list of culturally themed Nollywood film releases in 2022, as the year seems to be a year of introspection for Nollywood, with many filmmakers deciding to tell original traditional stories. Adedimeji […]
‘Otiti’ Review: Ema Edosio’s Family Drama Struggles to Find its Footing
There’s a moment in Ema Edosio Deelen’s Otiti, where the titular protagonist is passing through a market, and as is the unfortunate practice in a lot of Nigerian markets, she is being touched and pulled […]
‘Wakanda Forever’ Review: The Black Panther Lives On in Exciting Sequel
In 2018 Marvel’s theatrical release of Black Panther created a buzz in the film community—a spectacle never before seen, a black superhero in a fictional African nation getting their own movie. As a cultural statement, […]
‘Elesin Oba’ Review: Netflix’s Adaptation of Wole Soyinka’s Play Dithers on the Bridge of Transition
Let us begin with this: You don’t need to have read Aristotle’s “Poetics”, have a thorough knowledge of Soyinka’s Fourth Stage theorem, or be an expert at Dramatic Theory and Criticism to understand and enjoy […]
