Kunle Afolayan is a Nigerian actor, producer and director. He is widely credited for elevating the quality of Nollywood movies through larger budgets, shooting on 35mm, releasing in cinemas, and improving cliché Nollywood storylines. After starting his film career as an actor in the 1999 political drama Saworoide, Afolayan made his directorial debut in 2006 with Irapada, a Nigerian supernatural thriller, which won the Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Film in an African Language. His follow-on directing credits include The Figurine, Phone Swap, October 1, and Citation. 1 October was the winner of 16 major African movie awards in 2015 and the second highest grossing Nigerian film in Nigerian cinemas at the time of its release, a feat Afolayan was to repeat two years later with The CEO. In 2021, the director signed a three-picture deal with Netflix. Swallow, the screen adaption of Sefi Atta's book of the same name was the first to be released in October 2021, followed by Aníkúlápó, an epic Nigerian fantasy released in September 2022. Afolayan has described the work as a "Game of Thrones recreated in Nigeria but with a better representation of our culture”. Eleven days after its release, it was the #1 most-watched non-English Netflix original film.
Osas Ighodaro ; born October 26 is a Nigerian American actress, producer, host and humanitarian. She won the Miss Black USA Pageant in 2010, and founded the Joyful Joy Foundation, a non-profit organization that raises funds to fight malaria. Osas emerged as the highest-grossing Nollywood actress of 2018, and was awarded Best Actress in a Drama consecutively at the 2022 and 2023 AMVCA for her roles in Rattlesnake: The Ahanna Story and Man of God, respectively.
Ojukokoro: Greed, also known simply as Ojukokoro, is a 2016 Nigerian crime-heist comedy film starring an ensemble cast, which consists of Wale Ojo, Tope Tedela, Charles Etubiebi, Seun Ajayi, Shawn Faqua, Ali Nuhu, Somkele Iyamah, Emmanuel Ikubese and Afeez Oyetoro. It was written and directed by Dare Olaitan and produced by Olufemi D. Ogunsanwo.
The CEO is a 2016 Nigerian film directed by Kunle Afolayan, starring Kemi Lala Akindoju, Hilda Dokubo, Jimmy Jean-Louis, Angélique Kidjo and Wale Ojo. The film premiered at the Eko Hotels and Suites on July 10, 2016. The film was screened at the Toronto International Film Festival. The London premiere was held in October 2016 at Leicester Square Vue Cinema.
Wale Ojo is a British Nigerian actor. He started as a child actor in television. He subsequently continued acting roles in the UK and Nigeria. He came into prominence in 1995 for his role in The Hard Case. He won the award for Best Actor at the 2012 Nigeria Entertainment Awards for this leading role in Phone Swap, and has been featuring in several movies ever since.
Ugwu Lotachukwu Jacinta Obianuju Amelia is a Nigerian actress popularly known as Lota Chukwu. She gained popularity after starring in popular Nigerian TV series, Jenifa's Diary, alongside Funke Akindele, Juliana Olayode, and Falz where she plays the role of "Kiki", a friend of the lead character, Jenifa. She is also a yoga fitness enthusiast.
Bisola Aiyeola is a Nigerian actress, compere, singer, songwriter,TV/Radio presenter, mimic and Founder of Brown Girls Magic. In 2017, Bisola became the first runner up of Big Brother Naija. In 2018, she won the AMVCA Trailblazer Award at the 2018 Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards. In 2021, she was one of the investors of Amaze, an app that makes endorsement deals easier for celebrities.
New Money is a 2018 Nigerian film directed by Tope Oshin with production by Inkblot Productions and FilmOne. It tells the story of a sales girl who dreams of becoming a fashion designer and subsequently receives an unexpected inheritance from her absentee father. Released in March 2018, it stars Jemima Osunde, Kate Henshaw, Blossom Chukwujekwu, Dakore Akande, Wale Ojo Osas Ighodaro and Falz d Bahd Guy.
Picture Perfect is a 2016 Nigerian romantic drama film directed by Tope Alake. It was produced by Biodun Stephen, and had Mary Njoku, Bisola Aiyeola, Bolanle Ninalowo in lead roles.
Sugar Rush is a 2019 Nigerian crime action comedy film written by Jadesola Osiberu and Bunmi Ajakaiye, and directed by Kayode Kasum. The film stars Adesua Etomi, Bisola Aiyeola and Bimbo Ademoye in the lead roles. The film had its theatrical release on 25 December 2019 coinciding Christmas and opened to mixed reviews from critics. Despite the mixed reviews, the film became a box office success and became the fourth highest grossing Nigerian film of all time.
Oga Bolaji is a 2018 Nigerian drama film written and directed by Kayode Kasum. The film stars Ikponmwosa Gold, Omowumi Dada and Idowu Philips in the lead roles. The film was released on 7 August 2018 and received positive reviews from critics and was critically acclaimed for its screenplay and story. The film was also screened at several film festivals such as New York African Film Festival, Nollywood week Paris, Zimbabwe International Film Festival, RTF Film Festival, Cardiff Film Festival and Zanzibar International Festival. The film was premiered for free by the director himself via YouTube in April 2020 for the people who were staying at home during lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic in the country.
Gold Statue is a 2019 Nigerian comedy adventure drama film produced, written and directed by veteran filmmaker Tade Ogidan. The film stars Gabriel Afolayan and Kunle Remi in the main lead roles. The film was released on 17 May 2019 and received extremely positive reviews from critics. It was also nominated for the Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Nigerian Film for the year 2019. The film also received few awards at film festivals.
Payday is a 2018 Nigerian comedy drama film directed by Cheta Chukwu and produced by Orwi Manny Ameh with Kingsley Chukwu and Orwi Manny Ameh as its executive producers. The film stars Baaj Adebule, Bisola Aiyeola, Zack Orji, Victor Ebiye, Segilola Ogidan and Meg Otanwa. It was released on 13 July 2018 and premiered on Netflix on November 29, 2019.
Quam's Money is a 2020 Nigerian action comedy film written by Chinaza Onuzo, and directed by Kayode Kasum. The film stars Falz, Toni Tones, Jemima Osunde, Blossom Chukwujekwu and Nse Ikpe-Etim in the lead roles. It is a sequel to the 2018 film New Money. The film had its premiere in four different locations in Nigeria including the FilmHouse Cinemas in Lagos on 6 December 2020 ahead of the theatrical release. It had its theatrical release on 11 December 2020 and opened to mixed reviews from critics while also emerged as a box office success. Prior to its release, it was considered one of the most anticipated Nigerian films of 2020.
Breaded Life is a 2021 Nigerian dramedy film written and directed by Biodun Stephen. It was co-produced by Biodun Stephen, Tara Ajibulu and Kayode Sowade. It stars MC Lively, Bisola Aiyeola, Timini Egbuson, Bimbo Ademoye, Bolanle Ninalowo and Adedimeji Lateef. It was premiered on April 10, 2021 at iMax cinema Lagos and then released nationwide on 16 April 2021. It is a spin off of the 2016 romantic comedy, Picture perfect and contains some of the original cast members from Picture Perfect.
Kayode Kasum is a Nigerian movie and music video director and producer.
Dwindle is 2021 Nigerian comedy film based on the story of Sogo and Buta, two friends who hijack a car and venture into cabbing and how their lives take a drastic turn when their path runs into assassins who have just kidnapped the state governor. It was produced by Mimi Bartels for FilmOne Productions and directed by Kayode Kasum and Dare Olaitan. It stars Funke Akindele, Bisola Aiyeola, Jidekene Achufusi, Gregory Ojefua, Broda Shaggi, Adedimeji Lateef, Timini Egbuson, Efa Iwara and Uzor Arukwe. It was released theatrically on 16 July 2021.
Disguise, is a 2018 Nigerian comedy film directed by Desmond Elliot and coproduced by Agatha Amata and Victor Okpala. The film stars IK Ogbonna and Nancy Isime in the lead roles whereas Wale Ojo, Toyin Abraham, Daniel K Daniel and Desmond Elliot made supportive roles. The film revolves around Lambo and Nengi, a couple of friends who decide to disguise themselves as different genders to find the truth worth N10 million.
The Set Up 2 is a 2022 Nigerian crime thriller film, a sequel to The Set Up released in 2019. The Nollywood sequel was jointly produced by Inkblot Productions, Film One Entertainment and Anakle Studios. The film was directed by Naz Onuzo instead of Niyi Akinmolayan, who directed the first part. The film stars Adesua Etomi, Kehinde Bankole, Nancy Isime, Jim Iyke, Tina Mba, Uzor Arukwe, Kate Henshaw, Blossom Chukwujekwu, Stan Nze, Lota Chukwu and a host of others. The film was released in Nigeria on 12 August 2022.
Palava is a 2022 Nigerian family comedy film produced by Inkblot Productions in conjunction with FilmOne Entertainment, released to Cinemas on 9 December 2022, the film stars Richard Mofe-Damijo, Bisola Aiyeola, Iyabo Ojo, Mercy Aigbe, Beverly Naya, Beverly Osu, Neo Akpofure, Chinedu Ikedieze, Segun Arinze, Eniola Badmus. InkBlot Productions has described the film as 'a family comedy that perfectly fits into the Christmas festive season'.
