Reviews
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 […]
‘Alive Till Dawn’ Review: Nigeria’s Claimed First Zombie Apocalypse is Derivative, Politically Oblivious, and an Illusion of Innovation
The Nollywood horror genre has declined over the years. This can be attributed to a combination of moral and religious panic, alongside the industry’s formulaic mode of operation. Over time, Nollywood has found other formulas […]
Sundance 2026: Praise Odigie’s ‘Birdie’ Review (Short Film)
Sundance: In Birdie, Praise Odigie Paige evokes an ideal countryside with scenic shots of a home nestled in fields of green and a stream cutting through. There are no neighbours and it is isolated from […]
Sundance 2026: Olive Nwosu’s ‘Lady’ Review
Sundance: Some film endings comfort. Others provoke and leave us uneasy. Some quietly ask us to act. In these moments, the final frame becomes the film’s last word, the image that follows us out of […]
Short Film Review: Uchenna Ugwu’s ‘I Too, Crave Death’ Carries Heart and Soul, But Burdened By Visual Impatience
The almost absent representation of mental health in our films reflects our collective social and cultural ideologies concerning the topic. People struggling with psychological challenges are often labelled as confused, mad, or even possessed. At […]
Short Film Review: Jeremiah John’s ‘Market People’ is a Tale of Bodies Seeking Warmth in a Cold World
“Aiyé l’òjà, ọ̀run n’ilé” is a lifelong Yorùbá adage that translates to ‘life is a marketplace, home lies beyond (heaven). It reflects on the transient nature of existence; life is full of trade-offs, people come […]
News
Pamela Adie’s ‘Ìfé the Sequel’ Lands World Premiere at BFI Flare: London LGBTQIA+ Film Festival
Ìfé the Sequel has been chosen to have its world premiere at the 40th-anniversary BFI Flare: London LGBTQIA+ Film Festival in March, with first screening scheduled for March 23 at BFI Southbank and a second […]
CJ Obasi’s New Psychological Thriller ‘A Blue Butterfly’ to Star Steve Toussaint and Sanaa Lathan
Auteur filmmaker CJ Obasi (Mami Wata) takes another step on the international scene with his upcoming feature, a psychological thriller titled A Blue Butterfly. Produced by Stella Nwimo, who recently produced Olive Nwosu’s Sundance title […]
Trailer: Dammy Twitch Makes His Feature Debut With Bluhouse Studios’ Romantic Comedy ‘Call of My Life’
Bluhouse Studios has released the official trailer for Call of My Life, the directorial feature debut from Dammy Twitch. The romantic comedy follows Soluchi, a call‑centre agent still reeling from heartbreak after being left by […]
The Filmjoint Awards 2026: Full List of Award Winners
The third edition of The Filmjoint Awards 2026 took place on February 7 at Alliance Française in Lagos, celebrating short films, filmmakers, actors, and creative teams who bring these short stories to life. This year’s […]
Kava Releases First Set of Short Films With Fatimah Binta Gimsay’s ‘#Messy’ Collection
Kava, the streaming platform founded by Inkblot Studios and FilmOne Studios, is staying true to its promise of providing a space for short films, with the release of #Messy, a new collection featuring three short […]
Arie and Chuko Esiri Secure NEON Distribution Deal for ‘Clarissa’
Filmmaking brothers Arie and Chuko Esiri have secured a distribution deal with acclaimed American independent film production and distribution company NEON for their upcoming title, Clarissa. An adaptation of “Mrs. Dalloway” by Virginia Woolf, the […]
‘Lady’ Wins at Sundance, But Nigeria’s Actors Had to Watch From Home
Award ceremonies are always regarded as an actor’s biggest night. For the cast of Lady, that moment unfolded from a distance. Despite winning the Special Jury Award for Acting Ensemble at the just-concluded Sundance, and […]
‘Mothers of Chibok’ and The Return of Nigerian Documentaries to Cinemas
Between the peak streaming years and today, Nigerian documentaries skipped cinemas entirely. Streamers like Netflix were testing out ideas. Festivals provided prestige. And urgency-driven independent docs could be found on YouTube. That context makes Joel […]
Essays
Is Nollywood’s Future on the Big Screen or Online?
There was a time when going to the movies in Nigeria meant calling friends, buying tickets, and heading to the cinema for a big release. During the week, students and NYSC members could walk into […]
‘Rising: City Of Dreams’ Review: Confused Plot Underwhelms Promising Topical Gangsterism Story
Street gangs are a familiar phenomenon to almost all Nigerians, with their presence in every part of the country, especially in places like markets, car parks, etc. Their several activities can’t go unnoticed: supremacy battles, […]
‘Palava’ Review: RMD Stars in Familiar But Interesting Family Drama
Niyi Akinmolayan directs Palava, a lighthearted flick that explores the chaotic life of a randy musician and his daughters from several mothers. Osagie ‘Osa-Wonder’ (Richard Mofe Damijo), a once-forgotten highlife musician, has his career suddenly […]
‘Mr Gbenga’s Hard Drive’, Improvisational EndSARS Protest Rough Play, is Now Streaming on YouTube
Mr Gbenga’s Hard Drive, ‘Chukwu Martin’s improvisational rough play set against the EndSARS protest, is now streaming on YouTube after a first lap festival run. Movie Review: ‘Mr Gbenga’s Hard Drive’ and the Camusian Hero […]
‘The Stand Up’ Review: Exasperatingly Long, Occasionally Funny
The Stand Up, directed by Jide Oyegbile, is a story about a young man’s journey from Warri to becoming a top standup comedian in Lagos against the backdrop of the wild crime scene of both […]
‘Awaiting Trial’ Review: Nigeria is Tiring in Poignant Documentary, a Chude Jideonwo Presents Debut
“I regret being a Nigerian,” says Chidiebere Nnanna. Who can blame him; he is one of the 50,000 people who have been remanded in prison unjustly without any charge. Chidiebere in particular was kept in […]
