This Week in Nollywood: Mami Wata is Nominated for #SpiritAwards

Mami Wata gets another award nomination, Ndani returns with a bang and ROK Studios go to cinemas!

This Week in Nollywood is a recapitulation of the significant events in the industry this week. While you were busy chasing the bag during the week, Nollywood was cooking! Here are the things you missed.

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Mami Wata is nominated for the Spirit Awards.

CJ Obasi’s folklore feature film has earned another feather on its awards hat. After clinching the World Cinema Dramatic Special Jury Award for cinematography at the Sundance Film Festival, where it made history as the first Nigerian film to world premiere, Mami Wata has been travelling around the world and gaining wider global recognition. 

This week, the Film Independent Spirit Awards announced Mami Wata as a nominée for its Best International Film category. Another first for the dazzling black and white film about the water goddess.

Obasi’s film is currently screening across continents (Africa, North America, Europe) and was recently announced as Nigeria's submission for the International Best Film category for the 2024 Oscar awards. 

Afamefuna Opens with 14.08 million.

After its release on December 1, Kayode Kasum’s Afamefuna tops the charts in its opening weekend, overtaking The Marvels and Hunger Games. The film, which explores the Igbo apprenticeship system, is now projected to gross N25 million over the next few days.

Afamefuna is a compelling story that deftly weaves culture and human complexities within the nwa boi system with a nuanced authenticity unexpected from a non-Igbo filmmaker. You can read our review here.

Daniel Orubo releases his debut Hanky Panky. 

Daniel Orubo, the multi-hyphenate Head of Content at Piggyvest, recently announced his directorial debut, the short animation Hanky Panky. 

The film explores the themes of cultural and family scrutiny, relationships and homophobia through the lens of four friends within three minutes. You can watch Hanky Panky on YouTube.

Ndani TV Announces New Shows!

In what can be termed a solid comeback, NdaniTV has announced three upcoming shows: Banking on Love, Top Five Anything and Style on a Budget. The first is a dating show with a financial curve, hosted by award-winning producer Abimbola Craig and starts airing December 7.

Top Five Anything will see host Jacinta Amune take the audience exploring various topics, from technology to pop culture. The show premieres on December 9.

Style on a Budget is a fashion show that promises to thrill viewers while educating them on the many ways to look good without overstretching financially. The show will be hosted by Influencer and Content Creator Frances Theodore and you can catch the first episode below:

Films Showing this Friday 

Osato

ROK Studios is set to make its cinema debut with the highly anticipated Osato, which stars Big Brother: Level Up winner Josephina ‘Phyna’ Otabor and Shawn Faqua. The film tells the story of the titular character who must navigate the challenges that come with her line of work as she finds herself caught in a deep web of criminal activities.

It would be interesting to see how Phyna, a multitalented lady who showed her many gifts while in the Big Brother house, performs in a titular role. Osato is directed by Charles Uwagbai and distributed by Genesis Cinema.

Drink

Nancy Isime and Alex Ekubo shine in this Victor Okereke film that explores the story of Anuli, who experiences a whirlwind romance that ends in marriage with the man she loves. However, she becomes suspicious of the man she married and encounters unsettling emotions which raise doubts about their future. The film also stars fast-rising star Uche Montana alongside Nosa Rex and Mira Fash.

Blood Vessel 

Chance brings together six friends who have to fight their way through survival in this Netflix original thriller. Starring David Ezekiel, Adaobi Dibor, and Jide Kene Achufusi, Blood Vessel comes on Netflix this Friday.