The cinema of Nigeria, often referred to informally as Nollywood, consists of films produced in Nigeria; its history dates back to as early as the late 19th century and into the colonial era in the early 20th century. The history and development of the Nigerian motion picture industry is sometimes generally classified in four main eras: the Colonial era, Golden Age era, Video film era and the emerging New Nigerian cinema era.
Richard Evans Mofe-Damijo, popularly known as RMD, is a foremost Nigerian actor, writer, producer, lawyer, and former journalist. He was also a Commissioner for Culture and Tourism in Delta State in 2009. In 2005, he won the Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role. He received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 12th Africa Movie Academy Awards in 2016. In 2024, he was honoured with the Industry Merit Awards, alongside Iya Rainbow at the Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards.
Genevieve Nnaji is a Nigerian actress, producer, and director. She won the Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role in 2005, making her the first actor to win the award. In 2011, she was honoured as a Member of the Order of the Federal Republic by the Nigerian government for her contributions to Nollywood. Her directorial debut movie, Lionheart, is the first Netflix film from Nigeria and the first Nigerian submission for the Oscars. The movie was disqualified for having most of its dialogue in English. After having spent decades in the movie industry, she was profiled alongside some celebrities and business executives in 2020 in two new books by publisher and Editor in Chief of Yes International! magazine, Azuh Arinze.
Stella Damasus is a Nigerian actress and singer. She was nominated for Best Actress in a Leading Role at the Africa Movie Academy Awards in 2009. She won the Award for Best Actress at the Nigeria Entertainment Awards in 2007. In 2012, she won the award for Best Actress for the movie Two Brides and a Baby at the Golden Icons Academy Awards in Houston, Texas.
Rita Uchenna Nkem Dominic Nwaturuocha is a Nigerian actress. In 2012, Dominic won the Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role.
Stephanie Okereke Linus is a Nigerian actress, film director and model. She has received several awards and nominations for her work as an actress, including the 2003 Reel Award for Best Actress, the 2006 Afro Hollywood Award for Best Actress, and three nominations for Best Actress in a Leading Role at the Africa Movie Academy Awards in 2005, 2009 and 2010. She was also the runner up for the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria beauty pageant of 2002. In 2011, she was honoured by the Nigerian government with a national honour of Member of the Order of the Federal Republic, MFR.
The Africa Movie Academy Awards, popularly known as AMAA and The AMA Awards, are presented annually to recognize excellence among professionals working in, or non-African professionals who have contributed to, the African film industry. It was founded by Peace Anyiam-Osigwe and is run through the Africa Film Academy. The awards are aimed at honouring and promoting excellence in the African movie industry as well as uniting the African continent through arts and culture.
The Figurine: Araromire is a 2009 Nigerian supernatural suspense thriller film written by Kemi Adesoye, produced and directed by Kunle Afolayan, who also stars in the film as one of the main protagonists. It also stars Ramsey Nouah and Omoni Oboli.
Joke SilvaMFR is a veteran Nigerian actress, director, and businesswoman.
Susan Peters is a multiple award-winning Nigerian actress with over 50 credits in Nollywood (Nigerian) films. She is a star on Nigerian TV, a successful model, interior designer and beauty salon owner. Recently, she won the 2011 Afro Hollywood Best Actress (English) Award for her role in Bursting Out, NAFCAArchived 2014-06-16 at the Wayback Machine Awards North Carolina Nigerian Oscars: Best Actress in Supporting Role 2011 the BON Best Supporting Actress Award 2011, and the Actress of the Year 2010 and Most Stylish Actress 2012 Awards from City People MagazineArchived 2020-07-29 at the Wayback Machine. In 2011, she made the December cover of the creatively acclaimed, arts and culture magazine, ZenArchived 2012-01-05 at the Wayback Machine.
Michelle Bello is a British Nigerian film director and film producer. She is also CEO of a Nigerian-based entertainment and publishing company, Blu Star Entertainment Limited. Bello was born in London, England.
![<i>Phone Swap</i> Film dir. by Kunle Afolayan ; starring Joke Silva ... [et al.]](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/a/af/Phone_Swap_Theatrical_Poster.jpg)
Phone Swap is a 2012 Nigerian romance comedy-drama film written by Kemi Adesoye, directed and produced by Kunle Afolayan. It stars Nse Ikpe Etim, Wale Ojo, Joke Silva, Chika Okpala, Lydia Forson and Afeez Oyetoro, and focuses on a series of events unfolding when two polar opposites accidentally exchange phones. The film was conceived after a brief from an advertising agency to create a movie that would cut across ages 15 to 45. It received 4 nominations at the 8th Africa Movie Academy Awards which includes the category Best Nigerian Film and won the award Achievement in Production Design.
The Meeting is a 2012 Nigerian romantic comedy drama film produced by Rita Dominic & Mildred Okwo and directed by Mildred Okwo. It stars Femi Jacobs, Rita Dominic, Linda Ejiofor, Kehinde Bankole and Jide Kosoko with special appearances from Nse Ikpe Etim, Kate Henshaw and Chinedu Ikedieze. It received 6 nominations at the 9th Africa Movie Academy Awards and won the award for the category Achievement In Make-Up.
Judith Emike Audu-Foght, professionally known as Judith Audu, is a Nigerian film and television producer, director, casting director, actress, presenter, model and blogger. She is widely known for her movie production credits which include Just Not Married, The Family and The Sessions. In 2019, she was listed among the YNAIJA 100 most Influential Nigerians in Film.
Ivie Okujaye Egboh is a Nigerian actress, film producer, scriptwriter, dancer, singer and activist. In 2009, she participated in and won the Amstel Malta Box Office (AMBO) reality TV show. She is sometimes called little Genevieve because she resembles actress Genevieve Nnaji. She was awarded Best Young Actor at the 8th Africa Movie Academy Awards.
Femi Jacobs is a Nigerian actor, speaker and singer. He came into prominence for playing Makinde Esho in the film The Meeting, which also stars Rita Dominic and Jide Kosoko. For his role in The Meeting, he received a nomination for Best Actor in a Leading Role at the 9th Africa Movie Academy Awards. He also won the award for Best Actor in a Comedy at the 2015 Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards (AMVCA).
Femi Odugbemi is a Nigerian writer, filmmaker, television producer and the founder and executive producer of Zuri24 Media, a content production company in Lagos, Nigeria.
Chineze Anyaene is a Nigerian filmmaker and film producer. She is best known for her 2010 critically acclaimed picture, Ijé: The Journey.
Tope Oshin is a Nigerian television and film director, producer and casting director, listed as one of the most influential Nigerians in film in 2019. In 2015 Pulse magazine named her as one of "9 Nigerian female movie directors you should know" in the Nollywood film industry. and in March 2018, in commemoration of the Women's History Month, Tope was celebrated by OkayAfrica as one of the Okay100 Women. The interactive campaign celebrates extraordinary women from Africa and the diaspora making waves across a wide array of industries, while driving positive impact in their communities and the world at large.
La Femme Anjola is a 2021 film written by Tunde Babalola and directed by Mildred Okwo. It is a film noir psychological thriller which stars Rita Dominic and Nonso Bassey. It was released in cinemas on March 19, 2021.
