Headline:Nollywood Shines on Global Stage as Films Hit TIFF, Paris, and TINFF

Nollywood’s global influence is taking centrestage this year, with Nigerian films and filmmakers making waves at top international festivals from Toronto to Paris, while homegrown platforms like AFRIFF prepare to open new markets for African cinema.

At the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) 2025, celebrated Ghanaian filmmaker Shirley Frimpong-Manso debuted her first Nollywood feature, Stitches.

Produced by Chris Odeh under BRS Studios, the film was shot in Lagos over a month and explores themes of love, loss, family, and judgment. Frimpong-Manso described the story as “deeply moving,” marking a major Nollywood presence at one of the world’s most prestigious film festivals.

Meanwhile, Nollywood is also being celebrated at the Toronto International Nollywood Film Festival (TINFF) 2025, which runs from September 6 to 13.

The festival features free screenings, panel sessions, and will close with a gala awards ceremony on September 13th.

Among the major contenders is KAKANDA, written by Khalid Musa, directed by Toka McBaror, and produced by Ahmad Sarari.

The film has earned four nominations, including Best Picture, Best Nollywood Film, Best Film-Africa, and Best Indigenous Language Film.

Earlier this year, Nollywood also took the spotlight in Europe at the Nollywood Week Festival 2025 held in Paris from May 7th–11th.

The lineup featured powerful stories such as The Night of June 7th (Toka McBaror), The Fire and The Moth (Taiwo Egunjobi), After 30 (Momo Spaine), Trade by Bata (Biodun Stephen), Out of the Darkness (Sarah Kwaji), and OLÙMÒTÀN: Stories We Are Not Supposed to Tell (Adekunle “Nodash” Adejuyigbe).

Short films such as Ekun Iyawo by Moses Ipadeola and The Incredible Sensational Fiancée of Seyi Ajayi by Abbesi Akhamie also drew critical attention.

Looking ahead, Nollywood eyes another major platform with the Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF 2025) scheduled for November 2–8 in Lagos.

This year’s edition will introduce the Africa Film & Content Market (AFCM) in partnership with MTN, designed to boost co-production deals, global distribution, and content investment opportunities.

Other recent events, such as the Nollywood in Diaspora Film & Food Festival held in Accra from February 13–15, 2025, and the Nollywood Travel Film Festival (NTFF), which continues to tour global cities including Milan, Amsterdam, and Athens, are also expanding Nollywood’s cultural and commercial footprint across the world.

With increasing festival selections, prestigious awards, and new market opportunities, Nollywood is proving once again that it is not just Africa’s biggest film industry by volume but also one of the most dynamic global storytellers.