Nollywood Week, a showcase for Nigerian and African filmmakers in Paris
Since 2013, NollywoodWeek is a professional springboard for Nigerian and African filmmakers. In 2023 the festival expands its scope by presenting the future of the film industry of the African continent and the African diasporas. The 10th edition takes place from May 11 to 14 in Paris.
It was in 2013 that Serge Noukoué, a Franco-Beninese with a passion for culture, created Nollywood Week. The objective is to present to the public the novelties of Nigerian and African cinema without forgetting the African diasporas. Thus, from May 11 to 14, 2023, 26 short and full-length films and animations are to be discovered at the cinema L’Arlequin in Paris for the 10th edition.
« The best of African cinema »
A nod to Nollywood. With nearly 2,500 feature films a year, the Nigerian film industry, called Nollywood, ranks second in the world in terms of film productions. This industry created from scratch in Africa competes with Bollywood and Hollywood.
The Nollywood Week Award
Since its inception in 2013, Nollywood Week aims to encourage the film industries of the African continent and to value the work of directors, producers and actors through a prize awarded by the public.
Five films to discover during Nollywood Week 2023
MY MAMA NA ASHAWO
Country : Nigeria Genre : Drama – Length : 23 min – Prod : Brenda Ogbukaa Garuba, Michael Garuba – Year : 2022 Director : Nwamaka Chikezie – Cast : Annointed Augustine, Tonia Chukwurah, Zainab Popoola
For a school essay exercise, a young boy must talk about his mother’s profession… A prostitute.
DONKEY CURSE
Country: Nigeria Genre: Comedy – Length: 100 min – Prod: Biodun Stephen, Kingsmen Entertainmento – Year: 2021 Director: Biodun Stephen – Cast: Bimbo Ademoye, Timini Egbusan, Michael Onabanjo, MC Lively
A charming and arrogant young man returns to Nigeria from the United Kingdom. A stranger casts a spell on him and everything changes overnight.
BA NI
Country: Nigeria Genre: Drama – Length: 119 min – Prod: Anita Abada – Year: 2023 – Director: Daniel Ehimen – Cast: Lucy Ameh, Sani Danja, Emmanuel Kuye, Korede Lawal, Funky Mallam, Issac Binkat Marhabi, Gregory Ojefua
A young girl is sucked into the underworld of street beggars and must do everything to escape the control of her abusive boss.
CHOKE
Country: Nigeria Genre: Thriller – Length: 87 min – Prod: Chris Odeh – Year: 2022 – Director: Mr Orimz – Cast: Chimezie Imo, Gloria Anozie, Kanayo O. Kanayo, Nkem Marchie, Trinity Ugonabo, Norbert Young
A young sickle cell patient breaks down when her only chance at love evaporates.
THE SONG MAIDEN
Country: Nigeria – Length: 3 min – Prod: Oluwatobiloba Sanni – Year: 2022 – Director: Nkem Stanley Nwaturuocha
An animated short film about child marriages and their effects on the young girls who are victims.
Serge Noukoué, a culture lover
Born in Paris to Beninese parents, he grew up between France, Cameroon, Senegal and the Central African Republic. After a school exchange in New Orleans (USA), he completed a Master’s degree in Cultural Project Management at the University of Paris 12. Following his studies, Serge Noukoue gained experience in audiovisual and production with the French channel Trace TV, the Sithengui Festival (South Africa) and CulturesFrance (now the French Institute). Attaché of audiovisual mission in Sao Paulo (Brazil) from 2009 to 2011, he is then in charge of mission at Canal France International (CFI) from 2011 to 2012. Today, Serge Noukoue is the co-founder of a Parisian festival around Nigerian cinema that has become unmissable: Nollywood Week.
Going there:
NollywoodWeek (NOW)!
From May 11th to 14th, Arlequin cinema 76 rue de Rennes, 75006, Paris
