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
Josh Olaoluwa and Vincho Nchogu’s Joint Sophomore Project, ‘A Fantastic Tale’ Heads to 2026 Cinekid Junior Co-Production Market
One year after their collaboration on One Woman One Bra earned them a Venice world premiere, Nigerian producer Josh Olaoluwa and Kenyan director Vincho Nchogu are taking their next project, A Fantastic Tale, to the […]
Ifedoyin Igbasan Launches Mystery Film Screening Experience with After Credits Club in Lagos
A new independent film screening programme is adding a new twist to existing alternative screening experiences. After Credits Club will present three mystery short films to audiences in Lagos from October, with the titles kept […]
Nollywood Distilled: The Stories That Mattered This Week
Dear Ajayi returns from Venice with two awards, Apple TV officially arrives in Nigeria, Cinema Day announces its 2026 edition, MultiChoice refreshes DStv and GOtv, Ikenga becomes the highest-grossing Igbo-language film, and more in this week’s edition of Nollywood Distilled.
Nile Entertainment Maps Out Diverse October Slate With Five Nigerian Releases
Faith, history, politics, cross country romance and alternate futures all have one thing in common this October in Nile Entertainment. Led by Moses Babatope, the two-year-old company is preparing for one of its busiest months […]
Damilola Orimogunje’s ‘Dear Ajayi’ Begins Limited Cinema Release in Select Nigerian Theaters
Damilola Orimogunje’s Dear Ajayi begins a limited cinema release in Nigeria today, September 18, following its historic world premiere at the Giornate degli Autori parallel section during the 2026 Venice International Film Festival. The film […]
‘Daddy Bear’, Co-Directed By Korede Azeez and Hajarat Alli and Produced By Fuchi Nwaturuocha Enters Post-Production, Eyes 2026 Release
Following a recent report of the Africa No Filter initiative with Korede Azeez, Fuchi Nwaturuocha, and Hajarat Alli on Daddy Bear, What Kept Me Up can confirm that principal photography has now wrapped on the […]
Kamo State, Mama Deola Bring Their Creator Brands to Film This September
This September, two new films led by figures who made their names in the Nigerian content creator space will make their way from social media skits to producing and starring in their own film projects. […]
‘Boys Like Us’ Wraps Season 2 Shooting, Sets Sights on 2026 Return
Kamisi Adebisi’s Boys Like Us has wrapped principal photography on its second season, with the six-episode series expected to premiere on YouTube later this year. Season 2 will continue the story of the four young […]
Essays
The ‘Americanah’ Cast We’d Love to See in Canal’s Adaptation
Few modern African novels have inspired as many dream casts as “Americanah”. The novel has long felt destined for the screen, set to join more Nigerian literary works finding new life in film and television. […]
What ‘My Father’s Shadow’ Meant to the Anikulapo-Kuti Family at Private Screening
I am plugged in to My Father’s Shadow Soundtrack, 2026 AMVCA Best Score winner, as I scribble down my experience after a private screening of the film with members of the Kuti family ahead of […]
Talents Durban 2026 Announces Nigerian Participants Across Projects and Talent Press
Nigeria will be represented across multiple strands of Talents Durban 2026, with two projects selected for development, a critic participating in the Talent Press programme, and two industry figures returning as part of the initiative’s […]
‘Call of My Life’ Debuts at Number Ten on Top Ten Highest Grossing Nollywood Films Of All Time
Dammy Twitch’s feature directorial debut, Call of My Life, has now boldly made its way to the top ten highest-grossing Nollywood films of all time at number ten, as well as becoming the highest-grossing Nollywood […]
New in Nigeria: Movies and TV Shows to Watch this June 2026
All confirmed to be available in Nigeria in June 2026, you will find the titles in four categories, further listed in order of their release dates: – Nollywood Movies (and select African countries) – Nollywood […]
Five Years After ‘La Femme Anjola’, Mildred Okwo Returns With ‘On Different Grounds’ (Watch Trailer)
Mildred Okwo (La Femme Anjola) returns to cinemas after five years with On Different Grounds, a romantic dramedy produced by Nicole Ndigwe (Before Valentine’s) under her HB&Q Impressions banner. The film’s official trailer arrives ahead […]
