Nigerian film earns international recognition, highlighting the growing global reach of Nollywood and the creative strength of Nigerian filmmakers.
Enugu Media Village (EMV), the Most Updated Online News Platform | September 23, 2026.
Nigeria’s creative industry has recorded another major international achievement as Dear Ajayi, a Nigerian film directed by Damilola Orimogunje, received two honours at the 83rd Venice International Film Festival.
The film made history as the first Nigerian production selected for the Venice Days competition, one of the prominent sections of the Venice Film Festival dedicated to independent and innovative filmmaking. Its selection placed a Nigerian story on an important international platform alongside productions from different parts of the world.
At the festival, Dear Ajayi received the Prix CICT-UNESCO Enrico Fulchignoni Prize (Fellini Medal), while its ensemble cast and performances were recognised with the Bisato d’Oro Award for Best Cast and Performances. The official Venice Days awards record confirms the Enrico Fulchignoni Prize, while festival reporting records the cast recognition.
Set in southwestern Nigeria in the 1990s, the film centres on two estranged sisters, Ade and Titi Ajayi, who are brought together by the responsibility of caring for their paralysed mother. Their reunion exposes different perspectives on family, responsibility, faith, personal ambition and the changing social environment around them.
The film features a notable Nigerian cast, including Bimbo Akintola, Tosin Adeyemi, Lanre Hassan, William Benson, Antar Laniyan, Uzoamaka Power, Michelle Dede, Chioma Omeruah, Tope Tedela and Baaj Adebule, among others.
Beyond its festival success, Dear Ajayi has attracted attention for its exploration of themes that are deeply connected to Nigerian society. The story examines family relationships and personal choices while presenting aspects of Nigerian life and culture to an international audience.
The recognition at Venice also adds to the growing visibility of Nigerian filmmakers on the global festival circuit. In recent years, Nigerian productions and filmmakers have increasingly appeared at major international film festivals, creating opportunities for Nigerian stories, actors, directors, cinematographers and other creative professionals to reach wider audiences.
For Nigeria’s creative economy, such international exposure can also contribute to discussions around film financing, distribution, talent development and intellectual-property protection. While international festival recognition does not by itself resolve the structural challenges facing the industry, it provides a platform for Nigerian productions to attract greater attention from audiences, distributors and industry stakeholders.
Dear Ajayi is also expected to have a wider Nigerian theatrical presence, giving local audiences an opportunity to see the film after its international festival appearance.
The achievement further demonstrates the diversity of Nigeria’s creative sector, where filmmakers are increasingly combining local stories and cultural experiences with filmmaking approaches capable of engaging audiences beyond the country.
As Nollywood continues to evolve, international recognition such as that received by Dear Ajayi contributes to the broader conversation about the place of Nigerian cinema within the global film industry.
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