What Kept Me Up, a leading Nigerian film media company, has unveiled the results of its third annual critics’ poll, showcasing the best in Nollywood for 2024.

This initiative invites film critics from around the globe to vote on their top films, performances, and directors, with the goal of shining a light on Nollywood’s achievements and emphasising the critical role of film criticism in the arts.

The founder and Editor-in-Chief of What Kept Me Up, Ikeade Oriade, has also been recognised on YNaija’s “Nollywood 100 List” of the brightest talents in Nigeria’s film industry this year. As a dedicated film critic and journalist, Oriade continually assesses the intersection of film, society, and culture.

In this year’s Critics Poll, 14 Nigerian critics selected their top five films from a curated list of 79 films released between December 1, 2023, and November 30, 2024, across cinemas and popular streaming platforms such as Prime Video, Showmax, and Netflix. Points were awarded based on critics’ rankings: 10 points for first place, 5 for second, 3 for third, 2 for fourth, and 1 for fifth.

The results, which also include the best performances and directors, differ from What Kept Me Up’s annual list published in early December. This year’s panel comprised mainly freelance critics affiliated with various publications, including AfroCritik and In Nollywood, as well as influential social media accounts like Marapolsa Reviews and Nigerian Movie Reviews.

In the directors and performances categories, each critic nominated up to three names, with those receiving at least two votes making it onto the final list.

For Films of the Year, the list includes: With Difficulty Comes Ease, Breath of Life, A Tribe Called Judah, Funmilayo Ransome Kuti, Wives on Strike 3, Kill Boro, A Green Fever and Afamefuna.

In the Directors of the Year, those who made it are Korede Azeez (With Difficulty Comes Ease), B.B. Sasore (Breath of Life), Bolanle Austen Peters (Funmilayo Ransome Kuti), Taiwo Egunjobi (A Green Fever) and Courage Obayuwana (Kill Boro).

In Performances of the Year, on the list are Uzoamaka Aniunoh (With Difficulty Comes Ease), Kehinde Bankole (Funmilayo Ransome Kuti), Hilda Dokubo (Wives on Strike 3), Philip Asaya (Kill Boro), Uche Chika Elumelu (Suspicion), Femi Branch (House of Ga’a) and Chimezie Imo (Breath of Life)

This poll not only celebrates the achievements of Nollywood but also reinforces the importance of film criticism as a vital component of the arts community.