top of page

Need context, history, funding, and marketing film resources, or deep dives into iconic works? Our references section has your back with everything you need to understand the culture of Black cinema.
Grants


St. Kitts and Nevis Updates Citizenship Programme: Why It Matters for International Black Film Stakeholders
St. Kitts and Nevis implements mandatory biometric data for Citizenship by Investment Programme. What Black film stakeholders need to know about mobility The Citizenship by Investment Unit of St. Kitts and Nevis has announced the upcoming implementation of mandatory biometric data collection for all new applicants under its Citizenship by Investment Programme (CBI), with the measure expected to take effect before the end of Q1 2026. The initiative aligns the Federation’s secu

Sahndra Fon Dufe
Feb 243 min read


Final Draft Updates Its Terms of Service: Here's What Every Filmmaker Needs to Know Before Your Scripts Are Gone
Final Draft updated its Terms of Service in 2026. Here's what Black filmmakers, screenwriters, and indie film students need to know before your scripts disappear. When a company like Final Draft updates its Terms of Service and End User License Agreement , it's easy to dismiss as legal housekeeping. But that is not the case If you're building IP, pitching streamers, developing festival-bound scripts, or working on anything you intend to own and monetize, those terms directly

Sahndra Fon Dufe
Feb 246 min read


Resources and Opportunities for Black Talent in Film and TV: January 2026
Looking for film funding or festival entries? Explore the January 2026 Black Film Wire guide to resources for filmmakers across the global Black diaspora. 2026 is heating up to be an exciting year for film and TV. For budding and established black talent, this also represents multiple opportunities to upskill, exhibit work on larger stages, and secure funding for passion projects. It is to this end that Black Film Wire has put together an extensive list of available opportun

John Eriomala
Jan 255 min read


AFFC Storytellers Film Lab Cohort III: Empowering Nairobi's Emerging Female Filmmakers
AFFC Storytellers Film Lab Cohort III is now accepting applications from emerging female filmmakers in Nairobi. 6-week program, apply by February 2. The African Female Filmmakers Collective (AFFC) has announced an open call for its highly anticipated Storytellers Film Lab Cohort III , a transformative opportunity designed specifically for emerging women filmmakers based in Nairobi, Kenya. This intensive six-week program offers hands-on training, professional mentorship, and

Sahndra Fon Dufe
Jan 232 min read


Urban Vision Makes Casting Call For Male and Female TV Role
The Nigerian studio behind ‘The Men's Club’ has put out a call for a male and female role in a new TV Series. Apply by 26 January, 2026. Filmmaker and Founder of Urban Vision 360 Tola Odunsi has put out a casting call for two lead roles in an upcoming TV series. The announcement, made via social media yesterday, states that interested actors and actresses should be between 25 and 35 years old, and preferably be relatively new faces. They are to send a profile, social med

John Eriomala
Jan 151 min read


BLUHOUSE Studio Releases Casting Call For Female Role
Leading Nigerian studio Bluhouse has put out a call for an Igbo-speaking female role. Deadline is January 11. BLUHOUSE Studios, the production house behind films like Freedom Way (2024) , A Quiet Monday (2023) , the Zikoko Life Anthology Series (2025), and Indie pictures like Obi is A Boy (2025) and Kachifo (Till the Morning Come) , has put out a casting call for a female role. Applicants, between 25 and 35 years, are required to send in a monologue in Igbo as seen

John Eriomala
Jan 61 min read


Casting Call Opportunities for December 2025 and Early 2026
BlackFilmWire’s List of Casting Call opportunities in the black diaspora for December 2025 and early 2026.

John Eriomala
Dec 19, 20253 min read


Outlast Arts Education Celebrates Black and Native Creatives with New Opportunities
If you’ve been waiting for a sign to put your art out into the world, this might be it. Every month, Outlast Arts Education puts together a love letter to creativity in the form of a curated list of grants, workshops, and contests made especially for Black and Native artists. From screenwriting to poetry, filmmaking to nonfiction, it’s a growing space where BIPOC voices are seen, celebrated, and supported. Think of it as your monthly reminder that your art deserves room to

Siona Sakah
Oct 22, 20252 min read
Film Festivals


Son of the Soil Reaches No. 1 on Netflix Nigeria Top 10 Chart
British-Chinese Director, Chee Keong Cheung ’s action thriller, Son of the Soil , has attained the top spot on the Netflix Nigeria Top 10 Chart less than 24 hours after release. This follows the film’s arrival on the streaming giant, after impressive showings at the 2025 African International Film Festival (AFRIFF) and Black Star International Film Festival (BSIFF) and the 2026 Pan-Afriican Film Festival . The film follows Zion Ladejo ( Razaq Adoti ), an ex Nigerian soldie

John Eriomala
6 days ago1 min read


“We wanted to conjure a picture of the Nigeria we know and love” - Akinola Davies Jr., Rachel Dargavel, and Funmbi Ogunbanwo on Making “My Father’s Shadow”
Exclusive interview: Akinola Davies Jr., Rachel Dargavel & Funmbi Ogunbanwo discuss making My Father's Shadow, Nigeria's first Cannes competition film. From L-R: Akinola Davies Jr., Rachel Dargavel, Funmi Ogunbanwo, Wale Davies, and Sope Disiru. Image: Fatherland Productions Some films announce themselves quietly, arriving without fanfare before lodging themselves somewhere deep and permanent. My Father's Shadow , the debut feature from Nigerian-British filmmaker Akinola Dav

Jerry Chiemeke
Feb 2017 min read


Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde’s Directorial Debut Mother’s Love Screens at PAFF, Extending Strategic Festival Rollout Ahead of Nigerian March Premiere
Nile-Distributed Mother’s Love Advances Global Festival Campaign Star of the evening, Omotola Jalade Ekeinde, in Ade Bakare London. Image: Sammy Oguejiofor Los Angeles, California- February 16, 2026 Following a successful international festival trajectory from the Silicon Valley Africa Film Festival (SVAFF) to the 50th Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) Mother's Love , the directorial debut of Nollywood legend, TIME 100 honoree, and global screen force Omotola Jala

Sahndra Fon Dufe
Feb 194 min read


Pamela Adie’s Narrative Debut Feature ìfẹ́: The Sequel Set For 2026 BFI Flare Film Festival World Premiere
Pamela Adie's ìfẹ́: The Sequel premieres at BFI Flare 2026. Nigerian LGBTQ filmmaker's narrative debut explores queer love and identity in Lagos. Nigerian LGBTQIA+ Filmmaker Pamela Adie ’s narrative debut feature ìfẹ́: The Sequel is set to make its its world premiere on March 23, 2026 at the 40th edition of the BFI Flare: London LGBTQIA+ Film Festival . The film, which is the highly anticipated follow-up to the 2020 short ìfẹ́ will be showing at BFI Southbank, London,

John Eriomala
Feb 172 min read


Sundance Film Festival 2026: Praise Odigie's “Birdie” is a Quiet Portrait of Refugee Grief
Birdie at Sundance 2026: Nigerian-American director Praise Paige Odigie crafts a moving portrait of a Biafran refugee family navigating loss and identity Once upon a time, a mother and her two daughters lived in the American countryside. They were from another country, building a new life in the aftermath of a war between their people and those whom they once called compatriots. The older daughter believed her father was dead. Mother and younger teenage daughter believed he w

John Eriomala
Feb 126 min read


Must-See Black Cinema at PAFF 2026: From Groundbreaking Debuts to Milestone Anniversaries
Pan African Film & Arts Festival showcases dynamic range of storytelling from established auteurs and emerging voices (February 16-22) Los Angeles - The 35th Pan African Film & Arts Festival returns to Los Angeles February 16–22, 2026, bringing together a compelling slate of Black cinema that spans continents, and generations. As one of the premier platforms for African diaspora storytelling, PAFF 2026 offers audiences a front-row seat to the evolution of Black filmmaking,

Sahndra Fon Dufe
Feb 103 min read


Sundance Film Festival 2026: Olive Nwosu’s Feature Debut “Lady” Is A Spirited But Uneven Portrait Of Gender And Agency In Contemporary Lagos
Review: Olive Nwosu's Sundance 2026 debut Lady explores sisterhood and sex work in Lagos with spirited ambition but uneven execution. Jerry Chiemeke reports Image Credit: Sundance Nigerian-born filmmaker Olive Nwosu 's feature debut Lady (2026) announces itself with ambition as it wafts on an intriguing backdrop: an inverted view of the Lagos lagoon, two childhood friends perched on a dilapidated shack, and the shadow of trauma that will reverberate through the film's 92-min

Jerry Chiemeke
Jan 295 min read


Christmas Special: 5 Nigerian Film Journos Discuss Their Favourite Coverages of 2025
Top Nigerian film journalists share their favourite 2025 coverage moments, from To Kill A Monkey controversy to indie discoveries and festival highlights.

John Eriomala
Dec 25, 20255 min read
Apps
Giveaways


Son of the Soil Reaches No. 1 on Netflix Nigeria Top 10 Chart
British-Chinese Director, Chee Keong Cheung ’s action thriller, Son of the Soil , has attained the top spot on the Netflix Nigeria Top 10 Chart less than 24 hours after release. This follows the film’s arrival on the streaming giant, after impressive showings at the 2025 African International Film Festival (AFRIFF) and Black Star International Film Festival (BSIFF) and the 2026 Pan-Afriican Film Festival . The film follows Zion Ladejo ( Razaq Adoti ), an ex Nigerian soldie

John Eriomala
6 days ago1 min read


Sinners’ Awards Season Momentum Surges With Actor Awards Haul
A shocked Michael B. Jordan receives his Actor Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Lead Role. Source: Actor Awards The 32nd annual Actors Awards (fka The Screen Actors Guild Awards/SAG-AFTRA Awards) held on Sunday March 1, 2027. It proved to be a mix of upsets, expected wins, and exciting moments, with Sinners setting the tone for the night with two wins. In a shocking yet deserving twist, Michael B. Jordan took home the statuette for Outstanding Perform

John Eriomala
Mar 14 min read


The Democratization Paradox: AI Is Rewriting Hollywood's Rules, and Black Creatives Cannot Afford to Watch From the Sidelines
From Seedance 2.0's cease-and-desist battle with Disney to the first AI-directed features reaching theatrical release, the creative industry faces a structural transformation. For Black filmmakers, the moment carries both historic opportunity and familiar risk. The letter arrived on a Tuesday. Disney's legal team sent ByteDance a cease-and-desist demanding the immediate removal of Seedance 2.0's training data, alleging the AI video platform had ingested a library of copyrigh

Sahndra Fon Dufe
Feb 2810 min read


Interview: Nigerian Box Office Talks Origins, Filling the Info Gap, and Lessons for Nollywood Fans and Filmmakers
In the last decade, across film, TV, music and other media, there has been a notable shift in how consumers engage with tart. Access to previously distant data and unmasking of the celebrity mythos a la social media, among other factors, have made it such that fans are more invested in the product, producers, and the business. A random Hollywood enthusiast living on the other side of the planet can easily tell you what actors and directors make the most money. Disagreements a

John Eriomala
Feb 269 min read


St. Kitts and Nevis Updates Citizenship Programme: Why It Matters for International Black Film Stakeholders
St. Kitts and Nevis implements mandatory biometric data for Citizenship by Investment Programme. What Black film stakeholders need to know about mobility The Citizenship by Investment Unit of St. Kitts and Nevis has announced the upcoming implementation of mandatory biometric data collection for all new applicants under its Citizenship by Investment Programme (CBI), with the measure expected to take effect before the end of Q1 2026. The initiative aligns the Federation’s secu

Sahndra Fon Dufe
Feb 243 min read


Final Draft Updates Its Terms of Service: Here's What Every Filmmaker Needs to Know Before Your Scripts Are Gone
Final Draft updated its Terms of Service in 2026. Here's what Black filmmakers, screenwriters, and indie film students need to know before your scripts disappear. When a company like Final Draft updates its Terms of Service and End User License Agreement , it's easy to dismiss as legal housekeeping. But that is not the case If you're building IP, pitching streamers, developing festival-bound scripts, or working on anything you intend to own and monetize, those terms directly

Sahndra Fon Dufe
Feb 246 min read


From My Father’s Shadow Statement Victory to Wumi Mosaku's Oscars Race Upset: 3 Significant Black Moments From the 2026 BAFTAs
Our breakdown of 3 significant Black moments from the 2026 BAFTAs: Wumi Mosaku's upset win, Ryan Coogler's historic Sinners victories, and My Father's Shadow impact . From L-R: Wumi Mosaku, Ryan Coogler, and Akinola Davie Jr. The 2026 British Academy of Film and Television Arts Awards took place yesterday, 22nd February 2026, at the Royal Festival Hall, London. The Awards, which serve as one of the major stops in the 2026 Awards season, leading up to the Oscars in March, pr

John Eriomala
Feb 235 min read


Editi Effiong’s “Black Book” Sequel in Production, “Severance” Producer Nicholas Weinstock’s Invention Films Involved
First look at The Black Book 2 - Old Scores Source: What Kept Me Up Nigerian Director Editi Effiong ’s 2023 action thriller The Black Book , is set for a sequel, The Black Book 2 - Old Scores , produced by his company, Anakle Films, in collaboration with Emmy-nominated producer Nicky Weinstock ’s ( Severance , Escape at Dannemora , Bridesmaids , Queenpins , Thelma ) Invention Studios, as seen in an exclusive report by The Hollywood Reporter and announcements made via soci

John Eriomala
Feb 212 min read


Son of the Soil Reaches No. 1 on Netflix Nigeria Top 10 Chart
British-Chinese Director, Chee Keong Cheung ’s action thriller, Son of the Soil , has attained the top spot on the Netflix Nigeria Top 10 Chart less than 24 hours after release. This follows the film’s arrival on the streaming giant, after impressive showings at the 2025 African International Film Festival (AFRIFF) and Black Star International Film Festival (BSIFF) and the 2026 Pan-Afriican Film Festival . The film follows Zion Ladejo ( Razaq Adoti ), an ex Nigerian soldie

John Eriomala
6 days ago1 min read


Sinners’ Awards Season Momentum Surges With Actor Awards Haul
A shocked Michael B. Jordan receives his Actor Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Lead Role. Source: Actor Awards The 32nd annual Actors Awards (fka The Screen Actors Guild Awards/SAG-AFTRA Awards) held on Sunday March 1, 2027. It proved to be a mix of upsets, expected wins, and exciting moments, with Sinners setting the tone for the night with two wins. In a shocking yet deserving twist, Michael B. Jordan took home the statuette for Outstanding Perform

John Eriomala
Mar 14 min read


The Democratization Paradox: AI Is Rewriting Hollywood's Rules, and Black Creatives Cannot Afford to Watch From the Sidelines
From Seedance 2.0's cease-and-desist battle with Disney to the first AI-directed features reaching theatrical release, the creative industry faces a structural transformation. For Black filmmakers, the moment carries both historic opportunity and familiar risk. The letter arrived on a Tuesday. Disney's legal team sent ByteDance a cease-and-desist demanding the immediate removal of Seedance 2.0's training data, alleging the AI video platform had ingested a library of copyrigh

Sahndra Fon Dufe
Feb 2810 min read


Interview: Nigerian Box Office Talks Origins, Filling the Info Gap, and Lessons for Nollywood Fans and Filmmakers
In the last decade, across film, TV, music and other media, there has been a notable shift in how consumers engage with tart. Access to previously distant data and unmasking of the celebrity mythos a la social media, among other factors, have made it such that fans are more invested in the product, producers, and the business. A random Hollywood enthusiast living on the other side of the planet can easily tell you what actors and directors make the most money. Disagreements a

John Eriomala
Feb 269 min read


St. Kitts and Nevis Updates Citizenship Programme: Why It Matters for International Black Film Stakeholders
St. Kitts and Nevis implements mandatory biometric data for Citizenship by Investment Programme. What Black film stakeholders need to know about mobility The Citizenship by Investment Unit of St. Kitts and Nevis has announced the upcoming implementation of mandatory biometric data collection for all new applicants under its Citizenship by Investment Programme (CBI), with the measure expected to take effect before the end of Q1 2026. The initiative aligns the Federation’s secu

Sahndra Fon Dufe
Feb 243 min read


Final Draft Updates Its Terms of Service: Here's What Every Filmmaker Needs to Know Before Your Scripts Are Gone
Final Draft updated its Terms of Service in 2026. Here's what Black filmmakers, screenwriters, and indie film students need to know before your scripts disappear. When a company like Final Draft updates its Terms of Service and End User License Agreement , it's easy to dismiss as legal housekeeping. But that is not the case If you're building IP, pitching streamers, developing festival-bound scripts, or working on anything you intend to own and monetize, those terms directly

Sahndra Fon Dufe
Feb 246 min read


From My Father’s Shadow Statement Victory to Wumi Mosaku's Oscars Race Upset: 3 Significant Black Moments From the 2026 BAFTAs
Our breakdown of 3 significant Black moments from the 2026 BAFTAs: Wumi Mosaku's upset win, Ryan Coogler's historic Sinners victories, and My Father's Shadow impact . From L-R: Wumi Mosaku, Ryan Coogler, and Akinola Davie Jr. The 2026 British Academy of Film and Television Arts Awards took place yesterday, 22nd February 2026, at the Royal Festival Hall, London. The Awards, which serve as one of the major stops in the 2026 Awards season, leading up to the Oscars in March, pr

John Eriomala
Feb 235 min read


Editi Effiong’s “Black Book” Sequel in Production, “Severance” Producer Nicholas Weinstock’s Invention Films Involved
First look at The Black Book 2 - Old Scores Source: What Kept Me Up Nigerian Director Editi Effiong ’s 2023 action thriller The Black Book , is set for a sequel, The Black Book 2 - Old Scores , produced by his company, Anakle Films, in collaboration with Emmy-nominated producer Nicky Weinstock ’s ( Severance , Escape at Dannemora , Bridesmaids , Queenpins , Thelma ) Invention Studios, as seen in an exclusive report by The Hollywood Reporter and announcements made via soci

John Eriomala
Feb 212 min read
bottom of page
