NollywoodWeek Paris Film Festival was created to showcase the very best that Nollywood has to offer, with the aim of finding a larger audience and a more sustainable distribution system for these quality films.
This year’s festival is focused on the importance of telling our own stories, especially from a woman’s perspective. It will run from May 9 to May 12 at the Cinema l’Arlequin (Harlequin Theatre) in Paris, France and feature nine shorts and 10 features — that will be representing the current state of Nollywood.
Here’s a list of nine films that will be screening at the festival:
God Calling
BB
King of Boys
Kemi Adetiba’s King of Boys tells the story of Alhaja Eniola Salami (Sola Sobowale), a businesswoman with a checkered past and a promising political future. As her political ambitions see her outgrowing the underworld connections responsible for her wealth, she’s drawn into a power struggle.
Knock Out Blessing
Dare Olaitan’s Knock Out Blessing follows the story of Blessing (Ade Laoye), a girl on a mission to achieve her dream and escape poverty. She and her friends, however, have to go through the Nigerian political underworld and emerge victorious to come out on the other side.
Lara and the Beat
Tosin Coker’s Lara and the Beat is a coming of age movie about the young and beautiful Giwa sisters caught in the center of a financial scandal with their late parents’ media empire. The sisters are forced out of their privileged bubble and must learn to build their own future.
Light in the Dark
Ekene Som Mekwunye’s Light in the Dark tells the story of an inter-tribal couple who fall in love and get married against the wishes of their families. Surrounded by the darkness of one night’s ordeal, they have to seek the light that only love can bring.
Moms At War
Omoni Oboli’s Moms At War follows two mothers, Ebubechukwu and Olaide (played by Omoni Oboli and Funke Akindele), who are constantly in competition with each other, which almost always put their kids in the middle.
Oga Bolaji
Kayode Kasum’s Oga Bolaji is centered around the simple happy-go-lucky life of a 40-year-old retired musician who still lives with his mother. His life takes a drastic turn when he crosses paths with a young girl. The movie showcases the resilient, ingenuity of the Nigerian spirit.
Up North
Tope Oshin’s Up North follows a young rebellious heir (Banky W) from a wealthy family, who is sent away to National Service in Northern Nigeria. Things don’t quite go according to plan, as the spoiled heir begins to find himself creating memories to last a lifetime.
Nigerian Prince
Faraday Okoro’s Nigerian Prince follows Eze, a stubborn Nigerian-American teenager, and his cousin, Pius, a desperate Nigerian Prince scammer. After Eze’s mother sends him to Nigeria against his will, Eze retaliates by teaming up with Pius to scam unsuspecting foreigners.