Nigerian historic fantasy ‘OSAMEDE’ willscreen on the 2025 Cannes Movie Market on Might 17 on the Pavillon Afriques, marking a major milestone for Nigerian cinema on the worldwide stage.
Directed by Africa Magic Viewers’ Alternative Awards (AMVCA) winner James Omokwe (Chetam, Ajoche, Riona, Itura) and govt produced by funding and finance veteran Lilian Olubi, the movie follows an orphaned woman who discovers superhuman powers in 1897 colonial Benin Kingdom. Her mission: to harness the facility of the traditional Aruosa stone and liberate her individuals from British colonial management.
Olubi, whereas talking with newsmen in Lagos, mentioned Nigeria has exported music and movies globally, including that, “With OSAMEDE, we’re revolutionising how African historic narratives are offered by bringing the legendary Benin Empire’s mythology to life with manufacturing values and storytelling that mirror Hollywood fantasy epics.”
The movie stars Ivie Okujaye Egboh, Lexan Aisosa Peters, William Benson, Tosin Adeyemi, Lancelot Oduwa Imasuen, and Alexander Bud, bringing to life a story that falls throughout the rising class of African historic fantasy, showcased in current international successes like “The Girl King.”
OSAMEDE represents a singular stage-to-screen evolution, constructing on the theatrical manufacturing staged 12 instances to sold-out audiences by Olubi’s Gold Lilies Productions. This adaptation course of provides the movie a pre-tested narrative basis just like profitable Broadway-to-screen variations.
Director James Omokwe added: “Osamede goes past a fantasy movie set in Africa, with this movie, we’re reclaiming our historic narrative by means of the fantasy style. What ‘Black Panther’ did for Afrofuturism, we’re doing for African historic fantasy rooted in precise Benin Kingdom mythology. Our method combines genuine cultural parts with cinematic spectacle in methods audiences haven’t seen earlier than.”
OSAMEDE arrives at a second when international audiences are more and more in search of genuine cultural storytelling with common attraction. The movie presents a uncommon alternative to capitalize on the confirmed business potential of historic fantasy whereas introducing audiences to the untapped cinematic wealth of Benin Kingdom lore. The movie’s worldwide debut comes as Nigeria’s cinema business continues to broaden globally. This growth resonates with the imaginative and prescient behind Nigeria’s ‘Display Nigeria’ initiative to extend the nation’s cinematic footprint overseas.
The timing is especially important, as “My Father’s Shadow” makes historical past this yr as the primary Nigerian movie to display in Cannes’ Official Choice. Collectively, these movies mark a breakthrough second for Nigerian cinema, making a simultaneous presence in each the pageant’s predominant choice and the movie market.
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