Spotlight on moviedom men, women of 2023

2023 was a good one for the Nigerian motion picture industry. In this edition we spotlight practitioners that have been instrumental in shaping Nollywood’s narrative and raising its profile globally. From a short list that is not exhaustive, moviedom throws spotlight on Mo Abudu, Funke Akindele, Mykel Parish, C.J Obasi, Chioma Ude, and Editi Effiong, whose exceptional contributions in the year under review have not only further internationalised the Nigerian motion picture industry, but cemented Nollywood’s place on the global stage.

CJ. ‘Fiery’ Obasi
IF there is one filmmaker that placed Nollywood on the international map in 2023, that filmmaker is C.J Obasi with his internationally acclaimed feature length film, Mami Wata. The film turned out a global hit, screening in at least 15 festivals globally.

It was also Nigeria’s entry for the Best International Film Category for the Academy Awards otherwise called the Oscars. Although, the film did not make the Academy shortlist released in December 2023, Mami Wata, has since its release in 2023 set and broken new records. It was the first feature film by a Nigerian filmmaker to premiere at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2023, where it received the Special Jury Award for Cinematography. The film also premiered at FESPACO and won a special jury prize for cinematography. It also received three awards- Cinematography, best Nigerian film and Best Make Up at the 2023 edition of the Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA). Indeed, C.J Obasi’s Mami Wata is easily the first Nigerian film to open in several cinemas across the world, with expected premieres in Germany and Austria in January 2024.

Mo Abudu
Ranked on the Forbes World’s 100 Most Powerful women list and listed as one of the 20 most powerful women in global entertainment in a report by The Hollywood Reporter, Mosunmola Abudu or Mo Abudu for short, arguably an advocate for Africa’s creative economy has led her EbonyLife Group to put Nigeria on the world entertainment map and to shape what the continent of Africa and the world watches. From local impact to global stages, Abudu has with her EbonyLife Group (EbonyLife Production, EbonyLife Creative Academy, EbonyLife Place, EbonyLife Cinema, Mo Abudu Films) led a journey that has continued to inspire and grow Nigeria’s and Africa’s creative economy. In 2023, the respected media mogul led her production arm to offer two remarkable and critically acclaimed releases – A Sunday Affair and War: Wrath and Revenge. Abudu’s foray into filmmaking in 2023 with Mo Abudu Films marked a personal milestone for the Creatives Champion for the UK-African Investment Summit. Her directorial debut, two short films that addresses mental health issues— Her Perfect Life and Iyawo Mi — premiered at the 21st edition of the Martha Vineyard African American Film Festival. The festival is reputed as one of the most respected Black film festivals in the U.S. and also an Oscar qualifying festival. Abudu hinted of a loaded 2024 for her production arm as they set for the release of Oloture, The Journey and the ground breaking Black, Brilliant and Bold, a docu-series celebrating global achievement of black women.

Funke Akindele
Actress and filmmaker, Funke Akindele, gets a medal for producing and helming a movie, A Tribe Called Judah that has become the first Nollywood film, to hit one billion naira in the cinema. Distributors of the star studded movie — Film One Studios confirmed that the movie is officially the highest-grossing film in a statement released on Thursday. A Tribe Called Judah hit the cinemas on December 15, after its premiere at the Imax Cinemas on December 10. The film has also beaten Funke’s previous movies Omo Ghetto: The Saga and Battle on Buka Street to become the actress’ biggest opening film and also the number one overall film in Nigeria and West Africa. Battle on Buka Street (2022), a comedy-drama earned N655 million ($524,000), while Omo Ghetto: The Saga (2020) earned N636 million ($508,800)

Chioma Ude
Founder of one of Africa’s biggest film festivals, Chioma Ude, gets a listing as one of the Women of moviedom for 2023. Ude, hailed as the ‘The First Lady of African Media’, has, with her Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF), put Nigeria and the continent of Africa on the international movie map. AFRIFF has provided the platform for international film showcase and it has offered an immersion into the world of filmmaking, with participation from all over Africa and the diaspora. The 2023 edition held in November under the theme ‘Indigenous To Global 2.0’ and it climaxed as a deliberate intervention to foster valuable exchanges of ideas, production connections and business relationships that deliver value, build capacity and create wealth.

Mykel Parish Ajaere
Filmmaker, administrator and founder of African Film Consortium (AFC), Mykel Parish Ajaere, gets a medal for his effort in internationalising Nollywood. Ajaere, has with his annual and foremost travel film festival—Nollywood Travel Film Festival, continued to share the Nollywood journey with the world whilst also providing the platform to change the African narrative through film and to foster relationships with developed countries. In 2023, the travel festival held in Greece and in Amsterdam. Founded in 2016, the NTFF is reputed as Nigeria’s biggest and foremost travel film festival. It hosts screenings of Nollywood films in cities around the world and it has so far been held in cities including, Berlin, New York, Glasgow, Helsinki, Oslo, Dublin, , Toronto and Amsterdam. Atlanta will host the 2024 edition.

Editi Effiong
Founder of Digital Marketing Company, Anakle, Editi Effiong gets a medal for helming a movie, The Black Book, that emerged a global hit on Netflix in 2023. Known also for writing and producing Up North and for writing and directing Fishbone, a short film, The Black Book, which Effiong co-produced and directed, is now regarded as the biggest ever African film on Netflix and the first Nollywood movie to break into the top global views on the streaming platform. The movie, which stars Richard Mofe Damijo and Sam Dede in lead roles, garnered 17 million views and made the top 10 list in 69 countries since its release in September 2023. In fact, a check revealed that the movie, which boasts a list of executive producers including Paystack co-founder, Ezra Olubi, and Flutterwave CEO, Gbenga Agboola, featured consistently on the global top 10 movie list on Netflix for three months and it is still one of the most viewed movie of 2023.