The growing concerns surrounding patient safety, medical accountability and trust in healthcare institutions took centre stage at the Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF) as ‘The Hospital Chronicles: The I.C.U.’ screened as one of the festival’s official selections.

The psychological medical thriller, directed by Segilola Ogidan, was screened on Wednesday at Filmhouse Landmark, where its exploration of medical negligence, high-risk pregnancies and illegal organ harvesting generated conversations among festivalgoers.

Produced by Chiamaka Ezenwa and Big Brother Africa alumnus Boma Akpore, the film uses a suspense-driven narrative to examine the dangers patients may face within institutions expected to provide care and protection.

Its screening was followed by an interactive question-and-answer session, bringing the director, producers and key cast members together with film critics and culture commentators to discuss the issues raised by the story.

Speaking during the session, Ogidan explained that the film was inspired in part by her personal experience with medical negligence, which she said nearly cost her life.

According to the filmmaker, an incident that should have been relatively straightforward became a life-threatening ordeal, leaving her with a strong desire to translate the experience into a cinematic story.

“It was something that could have been avoided, you know, but because of negligence. So I put it all into the film,” she said.

Ogidan described the filmmaking process as challenging but also cathartic and restorative. She further disclosed that the decision to introduce illegal organ harvesting into the storyline came from a creative discussion with her co-writer, who suggested adding a thriller dimension to her usual dramatic storytelling.

The film features an ensemble cast including Abimbola Akintola, Bucci Franklin, Demola Adedoyin, Etta JoMaria, Kadaria Ahmed, Kamo, Michelle Dede, Oyemen Ehikhamhen, Ozzy Agu, Temiloluwa Ami and veteran actress Tina Mba.

Franklin, who portrays the managing director of the hospital at the centre of the story, said he was struck by the intensity of the script and initially wondered how the team would execute such a sensitive production. He credited a Lagos hospital for providing its facility as a filming location.

He also used the opportunity to encourage Nigerians to conduct proper checks before choosing hospitals for themselves and their loved ones, cautioning against judging healthcare facilities solely by their appearance or location.

For the production team, the AFRIFF screening represents an opportunity to extend the conversation beyond the cinema and encourage greater attention to patient rights and healthcare accountability.

‘The Hospital Chronicles: The I.C.U’ is the first instalment in a planned film series that aims to draw attention to issues affecting patients and healthcare delivery. Following its festival debut and red-carpet showcase, the team is continuing promotional activities and stakeholder engagements ahead of its planned theatrical release in 2027.