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Reviews
Looking for real talk on the latest films? We bring you honest, no-holds-barred reviews that tell you what’s worth your time and what’s not.
Shorts
Love and Wine: (on Netflix) A Delicious Slow Burn That Proves Good Things Take Time
A South African rom-com that's equal parts sexy, sweet, and stunning, featuring Masali Baduza and Ntobeko Sishi in a slow-burn romance you won't forget Masali Baduza as Amahle stares longingly at Ntobeko Sishi's Memo in a moment of raw affection. Rating: ★★★★☆ South African cinema just delivered one of 2025's most charming rom-coms. And I'm not exaggerating when I say Love and Wine is a visual and emotional feast that deserves all your attention. Director Amanda Lane has c
Jan 35 min read
Christmas in Lagos: A Festive Nollywood Tale Worth Revisiting
Though it dropped last December, Jade Osiberu's vibrant holiday romance deserves its flowers in a sea of formulaic festive films.
Dec 25, 20259 min read
The Herd Review: A Maudlin Sojourn Saved By Thematic Excellence
The Herd Review: A Maudlin Sojourn Saved By Thematic Excellence
Daniel Etim Effiong's feature directorial debut falters on a technical level but shines as a reflection of Nigeria’s growing insecurity crisis.
Dec 4, 20255 min read
Inside 'Code Red': Fiyin Gambo's Futuristic Short and the Drama of Apple Vision Pro
By Sahndra Fon Dufe | Black Film Wire | June 2025 I’ve never had to adjust my scarf for a film before — but here we are. On Juneteenth...
Jun 20, 20254 min read
The Cool Black Stars Shining on The Poker Face Show
2024 Projects Poker Face , the hit mystery-of-the-week series created by Rian Johnson and starring Natasha Lyonne , isn’t just known for...
May 29, 20253 min read
Review: Baby Farm on Netflix Is a Haunting Thriller That Mirrors a Terrifying Reality By Sahndra Fon Dufe
There is a thriving market for babies among couples who are struggling to bear their own children. They are willing to pay between 1...
Apr 16, 20256 min read
African Films Featuring Children
Given the rarity of African movies focusing on children, highlighting these films is crucial to showcasing the resilience, creativity,...
Jan 27, 20253 min read
Film Review: Tyler Perry’s Six Triple Eight Honors Unsung Heroes with Unforgettable Impact
Tyler Perry’s Six Triple Eight Movie Review By The Black Film Wire. Tyler Perry’s Six Triple Eight delivers a long-overdue nod to the...
Jan 24, 20255 min read
Features
Aliko Dangote Commits $688 Million to Revolutionise Nigerian Education
One of the biggest headlines this season comes from Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, and his foundation’s bold new move. On December 14, the Aliko Dangote Foundation announced a historic pledge of N1 trillion ($688 million) over the next decade to strengthen Nigeria’s education system. It’s a massive commitment with an equally massive vision: the initiative will start by supporting 45,000 students and scale up to reach 1.33 million beneficiaries. The focus? STEM education
Dec 17, 20252 min read
Netflix, Warner Bros. and The Future of Black Creatives
Netflix's $82.7B acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery reshapes entertainment. What does this mega-merger mean for Black creatives globally?
Dec 9, 20257 min read
Silicon Valley African Film Festival (SVAFF16) in Review: A Festival to Remember - Film Festival Report
92 Films. 32 Countries. 1 Weekend. October 9–12, 2025 | San Jose. Founder(SVAFF) Chike Nwoffiah honors Souleymane Cisse, October 9–12, 2025 | San Jose Asha Weal, Rice Media “Original landlords of the planet.” Chike Nwoffiah doesn’t just say it, he means it. The founder and festival director of the Silicon Valley African Film Festival (SVAFF) has spent the last 16 years pulling off what sounds, on paper, like a fever dream: an African film festival thriving in the tech capi
Oct 22, 202517 min read
10 Things We Learned from Producer Angela White (And You Should Know) – A Black Film Wire Exclusive
Angela White: The Visionary Expanding the Scope of Global Cinema As June 2025 unfolds, powerhouse producer Angela White celebrates major...
Jun 20, 20257 min read
Wizkid Shuts Down Tribeca Red Carpet with Daughter & Jada Pollock at “Long Live Lagos” World Premiere
New York, NY — June 5, 2025 Global music icon Wizkid made a striking entrance at the world premiere of his new documentary, “Wizkid: Long...
Jun 6, 20251 min read
Taraji P. Henson: Breaking Barriers as a Black Woman in Hollywood and Beyond
Actress | Entrepreneur | Author | Mental Health Advocate Taraji Penda Henson ’s journey from aspiring actress to one of the most...
Jan 13, 20253 min read
Documentary
Black Women Creatives Who Are Changing the Game in 2025
From cinema to visual activism, these six Black women creatives are changing the game in 2025 and shaping the future of culture.
Dec 13, 20252 min read
7 Things We Learnt from Netflix’s Sean Combs: The Reckoning
7 takeaways from Sean Combs: The Reckoning: the 50 Cent-produced Netflix docuseries exploring Diddy's rise, empire, and the cost of ambition.
Dec 12, 20253 min read
Wizkid Shuts Down Tribeca Red Carpet with Daughter & Jada Pollock at “Long Live Lagos” World Premiere
New York, NY — June 5, 2025 Global music icon Wizkid made a striking entrance at the world premiere of his new documentary, “Wizkid: Long...
Jun 6, 20251 min read
EDDIE: The Untold Story – Eddie Murphy’s Landmark Documentary Hits Netflix in 2025
Credit: Eddie Murphy for Netflix Netflix US has announced EDDIE , a new documentary that tells Eddie Murphy’s story in his own words. Set...
Jan 31, 20251 min read
Black Netflix Documentaries You Should Curl Up to This Weekend
Black Netflix Documentaries You Should Curl Up to This Weekend If you're looking for powerful, thought-provoking content that celebrates...
Jan 24, 20255 min read
New Media
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.
Dec 25, 20255 min read
Terri J. Vaughn Makes a Powerful Return in Tyler Perry’s She the People
Terri J. Vaughn , a beloved figure in Black television and film, is returning triumphantly to the screen in Tyler Perry’s new Netflix...
Apr 25, 20252 min read
RMD Productions Unveils 'Radio Voice' – A Powerful Tale of Redemption and Second Chances, Coming to Cinemas April 11
Nollywood legend Richard Mofe-Damijo (RMD) is set to captivate audiences once again with his latest production, Radio Voice , a gripping...
Feb 21, 20252 min read
Shondaland’s New Series ‘The Residence’ Coming to Netflix on March 20th
Shondaland is bringing a fresh twist to the classic whodunit genre with The Residence , a new Netflix series that blends murder, comedy,...
Feb 20, 20252 min read
Cartoon Network’s New Anime Series Iyanu (Child of Wonder) in Cinema
In a world where Black stories in animation are still fighting for mainstream recognition, Iyanu: Child of Wonder is a game-changer....
Feb 20, 20252 min read
Prime Target: A Tech-Thriller Redefining Black Representation on Screen
When you think of a gripping, high-stakes thriller, your mind might not immediately jump to the realm of prime numbers and digital...
Feb 7, 20252 min read
Yvonne Nelson Returns to Our Screens with a Triple Threat Role in Kotoka
The dynamic and multitalented Yvonne Nelson has once again proven why she is one of the most celebrated names in the Ghanaian film...
Jan 28, 20252 min read
Youtube
98th Academy Awards Nominations: Sinners Breaks Oscars Record With 16 Nominations, Voice of Hind Rajab Represents Africa
2026 Oscars: Black talent shines as Sinners and One Battle After Another lead with a record-breaking 16 and 13 nominations, respectively. Tunisia’s Voice of Hind Rajab becomes Africa’s sole representative. Full list below. The nominations for all categories at the 98th Academy Awards have been announced in a ceremony hosted by actors Danielle Brooks and Lewis Pullman. Ryan Coogle r’s Sinners broke the record for the most ever nominations for a single film at the Oscars wit
4 hours ago4 min read
Beyond the 2026 AFCON Final: 5 Cinematic Post-Credit Scenes
As we draw the curtains on AFCON 2026, here are five moments that have made life after the finals feel cinematic. We’re more than halfway to a week since Senegal won the 2026 African Cup of Nations. To say the competition was anything short of a cinematic masterpiece would be distorting the truth. Protagonists, villains, plot twists, colourful costumes, and ensemble performances all combined, culminating in one of the most interesting male football finals in recent history.
1 day ago4 min read
The Women Who Held Up the Dream
An MLK Day tribute, through a cinematic lens Left: David Oyelowo as Martin Luther King, Jr. in Selma. Right: MLK delivers a speech on October 16, 1965, in New York City, New York. Photo illustration by Slate. Photo by Atsushi Nishijima/Paramount Pictures; Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images Every January, we recite the words of Martin Luther King Jr., his thunderous sermons, his moral clarity, his unwavering belief that justice could be bent toward love. We replay th
3 days ago4 min read
EbonyLife Partners With Silverbird, Genesis, and Nile for December Release of The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives Adaptation
BEbonyLife Films partners with Genesis, Nile, and Silverbird for the 2026 release of "The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives." See the star-studded cast here. EbonyLife Films has partnered with Genesis Group, Nile Group , and Silverbird Group , for the December 2026 release of the big-screen adaptation of Lola Shoneyin ’s critically acclaimed novel, The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives . According to Deadline , the film will be directed by Daniel Orahi with screenplay by
6 days ago2 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
Jan 151 min read
Submit Your Essays and Pitches to Black Film Wire
Black Film Wire is now accepting essays and pitches on Black film and TV. Join our team of contributors and help shape the narrative of African and Diaspora cinema. We are pleased to announce that the Black Film Wire has begun accepting essays and pitch submissions on Black Film and TV in a variety of categories. We’re seeking passionate, sharp writers with a love for storytelling and a deep interest in the African, diasporan, and Black film industries. Per our Founder and
Jan 141 min read
83rd Annual Golden Globes Winners: Teyana Taylor, Sinners Win Big
2026 Golden Globes: Teyana Taylor's Best Supporting Female Actor win and Sinners’ Best Original Score and Cinematic and Box Office Achievement were the night's only Black wins. In a surprising turn of events, the 83rd Annual Golden Globes Award Ceremony, which held on Sunday, January 11, 2026, ended with only three wins for nominated Black talent: Teyana Taylor who won Best Supporting Female Actor for her role in One Battle After Another and Ryan Coogler’s Sinners whi
Jan 126 min read
The Voice of Hind Rajab, 2 Other African Films Make Oscars’ Best Picture 201 Film-Long Eligibility List
Three African films have made the Oscars 2026 Best Picture eligibility list: The Voice of Hind Rajab (Tunisia), On Becoming a Guinea Fowl (Zambia) and Don't Let's Go To the Dogs Tonight (South Africa). Three African films: The Voice of Hind Rajab (Tunisia), On Becoming a Guinea Fowl (Zambia), and Don’t Let’s Go to the Dogs Tonight (South Africa); have made the Oscars ’ 201-film eligibility list for the Best Picture category, as seen in a January 8 Press statement. These 3
Jan 92 min read
Streaming
What To Watch this Christmas: 7 Classic Films Streaming in the US this Holiday
Tis the season to be jolly and probably stock up on more than enough bottles of eggnog, wine, and warm milk with some cheer-favoured cookies. Merry Christmas, everyone! We hope you’re having a fantastic time wherever you are in the US this holiday.
Dec 25, 20253 min read
The Oscars Are Headed to YouTube: What Hollywood's Biggest Pivot Means for the Future of Live Events
In a seismic shift for entertainment's most prestigious night, the Academy Awards will abandon traditional broadcast television for streaming, a move that signals a new era for live cultural events starting 2029. THE ACADEMY PARTNERS WITH YOUTUBE FOR EXCLUSIVE GLOBAL RIGHTS TO THE OSCARS® AND OTHER ACADEMY CONTENT STARTING IN 2029 - Image: The Academy The End of an Era For more than half a century, the Oscars were synonymous with broadcast television in the United States. Be
Dec 23, 20256 min read
African Netflix Pick of the Week: Tokunbo
Credit: IMDB In the heart of bustling Lagos, a man races against more than just time—he’s running for his family. Tòkunbọ̀, directed by...
Aug 4, 20251 min read
Yikes—It’s Friday the 13th: 8 Netflix Shows to Watch This Weekend (If You Can Handle the Stress)
Ginny & Georgia on Netflix Yikes—it’s Friday the 13th. Weekend is coming. What a week, yeah? What are you watching to cope/scream/exist...
Jun 13, 20252 min read
New Nollywood Movies You Should See in June 2025
June is sizzling with a lineup of red-hot Nollywood releases featuring gripping stories, cultural flair, fierce female leads and...
Jun 5, 20252 min read
Two Powerful Spaces Black Men in LA Should Show Up For This Men’s Mental Health Month
By Sahndra Fon Dufe | Black Film Wire June is Men’s Mental Health Month—and for Black men especially, this moment carries layered...
Jun 4, 20252 min read
Black Talent In Hollywood: What To Watch In June
June 2025 is shaping up to be a great month for Black-led stories on screen—whether you're into gripping thrillers, heartfelt animations,...
Jun 2, 20253 min read
Michelle Buteau's Survival of the Thickest Renewed for Season 3 at Netflix
Image: Netflix In some fabulous news for fans of fierce fits, big laughs, and even bigger heart— Survival of the Thickest is officially...
May 15, 20252 min read
Cinemas
Tunisia’s The Voice of Hind Rajab Becomes the Only African Film Advancing in the 2026 Oscar Race
One African nation makes the cut. As the Oscars narrow their International Feature Film race, Tunisia stands alone on the global shortlist. Here’s why The Voice of Hind Rajab matters, and what this moment signals for African cinema on the world’s biggest awards stage. The Voice of Hind Rajab (Tunisia), Tunisia’s Official Entry for the 98th Academy Awards® for Best International Feature Film, T he only African film in the running for the Oscar Nominations - January 2026 The A
Jan 62 min read
The New Year of Return: How the Asantehene's Barbados Visit Rewrites 400 Years of History
Bridgetown, Barbados – The Diaspora is mostly familiar with Hollywood’s blockbusters kings presented by Marvel and other American studios. We've watched The King's Speech , where a stammering monarch finds his voice to lead a nation through war. We've felt the weight of T'Challa returning to Wakanda to claim his throne in Black Panther . We've laughed as Prince Akeem crossed an ocean to find love in Coming to America I & II. But on November 11, 2025, something far more prof
Nov 19, 20259 min read
Halloween 2025: Old Nollywood Classic Films that Haunted Our Childhood Dreams We’ll Never Forget - What a Scare!
Film List Curated By Editor in Chief, Sahndra Fon Dufe This year’s Halloween, we are remembering those Nollywood films that scared and stole our Sleep, I know Halloween is not an African holiday, but if there’s one thing we’ve always known how to do on this continent, it's to tell a good scary story. Long before the pumpkins and costumes era, our nights were already filled with tales of spirits, witches and ancestral vengeance whispered around kerosene lamps. And for those w
Oct 31, 20254 min read
Nollywood Icons Sola Sobowale, Tola Odunsi & Stan Nze Set to Grace Historic GUBA Awards in Barbados.
First-Ever Caribbean Edition Brings Africa-Caribbean Collaboration to New Heights with Exclusive World Premiere For the first time in its 16-year history, the prestigious GUBA Awards is expanding into the Caribbean, bringing three of Nollywood's most dynamic talents to Barbados for an exclusive world premiere screening of their highly anticipated feature film, 19 . Sola Sobowale ( King of Boys, Netflix ), Stan Nze ( Rattlesnake, Netflix ) and Tola Odunsi (Director, The M
Oct 25, 20253 min read
Toyin Abraham Sets June Release for Yoruba Epic Iyalode, Distributed by FilmoneToyin Abraham Headlines Iyalode as FilmOne Expands Local-Language Slate
Lagos, Nigeria – May 26, 2025 — Following the successful release of Alakada: Bad and Boujee in December 2024, Nollywood star Toyin...
May 28, 20251 min read
FilmOne Exhibitors Showcase 2025: A Star-Studded Celebration of Cinema
The FilmOne Exhibitors Showcase 2025 was nothing short of spectacular! Held in Lagos, Nigeria , the annual event brought together...
Jan 30, 20252 min read
Premiering Tonight: Dr. Henry Louis Gates Jr.'s Great Migrations Explores Black America's Epic Journey.
Emmy-nominated producer, host, and historian Dr. Henry Louis Gates Jr . is set to debut his latest docuseries, Great Migrations: A People...
Jan 28, 20252 min read
Paddington’s Enduring Charm: From London to Peru, the Evolution of a Beloved Bear- watch in FilmOne Cinemas Nigeria this January!
Paddington Bear, a character introduced to the world by Michael Bond in 1958, Paddington Bear has become an enduring icon in children's...
Jan 24, 20253 min read
Silent films
98th Academy Awards Nominations: Sinners Breaks Oscars Record With 16 Nominations, Voice of Hind Rajab Represents Africa
2026 Oscars: Black talent shines as Sinners and One Battle After Another lead with a record-breaking 16 and 13 nominations, respectively. Tunisia’s Voice of Hind Rajab becomes Africa’s sole representative. Full list below. The nominations for all categories at the 98th Academy Awards have been announced in a ceremony hosted by actors Danielle Brooks and Lewis Pullman. Ryan Coogle r’s Sinners broke the record for the most ever nominations for a single film at the Oscars wit
4 hours ago4 min read
Beyond the 2026 AFCON Final: 5 Cinematic Post-Credit Scenes
As we draw the curtains on AFCON 2026, here are five moments that have made life after the finals feel cinematic. We’re more than halfway to a week since Senegal won the 2026 African Cup of Nations. To say the competition was anything short of a cinematic masterpiece would be distorting the truth. Protagonists, villains, plot twists, colourful costumes, and ensemble performances all combined, culminating in one of the most interesting male football finals in recent history.
1 day ago4 min read
The Women Who Held Up the Dream
An MLK Day tribute, through a cinematic lens Left: David Oyelowo as Martin Luther King, Jr. in Selma. Right: MLK delivers a speech on October 16, 1965, in New York City, New York. Photo illustration by Slate. Photo by Atsushi Nishijima/Paramount Pictures; Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images Every January, we recite the words of Martin Luther King Jr., his thunderous sermons, his moral clarity, his unwavering belief that justice could be bent toward love. We replay th
3 days ago4 min read
EbonyLife Partners With Silverbird, Genesis, and Nile for December Release of The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives Adaptation
BEbonyLife Films partners with Genesis, Nile, and Silverbird for the 2026 release of "The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives." See the star-studded cast here. EbonyLife Films has partnered with Genesis Group, Nile Group , and Silverbird Group , for the December 2026 release of the big-screen adaptation of Lola Shoneyin ’s critically acclaimed novel, The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives . According to Deadline , the film will be directed by Daniel Orahi with screenplay by
6 days ago2 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
Jan 151 min read
Submit Your Essays and Pitches to Black Film Wire
Black Film Wire is now accepting essays and pitches on Black film and TV. Join our team of contributors and help shape the narrative of African and Diaspora cinema. We are pleased to announce that the Black Film Wire has begun accepting essays and pitch submissions on Black Film and TV in a variety of categories. We’re seeking passionate, sharp writers with a love for storytelling and a deep interest in the African, diasporan, and Black film industries. Per our Founder and
Jan 141 min read
83rd Annual Golden Globes Winners: Teyana Taylor, Sinners Win Big
2026 Golden Globes: Teyana Taylor's Best Supporting Female Actor win and Sinners’ Best Original Score and Cinematic and Box Office Achievement were the night's only Black wins. In a surprising turn of events, the 83rd Annual Golden Globes Award Ceremony, which held on Sunday, January 11, 2026, ended with only three wins for nominated Black talent: Teyana Taylor who won Best Supporting Female Actor for her role in One Battle After Another and Ryan Coogler’s Sinners whi
Jan 126 min read
The Voice of Hind Rajab, 2 Other African Films Make Oscars’ Best Picture 201 Film-Long Eligibility List
Three African films have made the Oscars 2026 Best Picture eligibility list: The Voice of Hind Rajab (Tunisia), On Becoming a Guinea Fowl (Zambia) and Don't Let's Go To the Dogs Tonight (South Africa). Three African films: The Voice of Hind Rajab (Tunisia), On Becoming a Guinea Fowl (Zambia), and Don’t Let’s Go to the Dogs Tonight (South Africa); have made the Oscars ’ 201-film eligibility list for the Best Picture category, as seen in a January 8 Press statement. These 3
Jan 92 min read
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