Film Reviews by Okoro Godwin (A participant of the Lagos Fringe Young Critics and Reviewers Program)
HYBRID IDENTITY: MERGING BOUNDARIES.A unified review of six short films by OKORO GODWIN In these six diverse films, identity emerges not as a fixed state but as a hybrid of survival, spirituality, culture, morality, and personal conflict. Each story presents characters caught between who they are, who society expects them to be, and who they […]
Film Reviews by Chukwuma Chimdiebube (A participant of the Lagos Fringe Young Critics and Reviewers Program)
RECOMPENSE ‘Recompense’ is a solemn film, written and executed with intention and precision, it possesses a clear message, one that unclads revenge, religious hypocrisy, violence, unforgiveness, and deception. It boasts captivating and emotion evoking acting performances, and as such they drive the narrative with powerful pushes, to result in what I would call a ‘good […]
Film Reviews by Sibahle Mabaso (A participant of the Lagos Fringe Young Critics and Reviewers Program)
Title of film: Coop Year: 2024 Region: Saudi Arabia Coop offers us a tender tale about innocence, single fatherhood, and the pursuit of belonging. It follows the story of a young Adam, who accidently bursts his team’s football, and must replace it. Should he be unable replace it, the condition is that he and his […]
The Old Soldier
Every time I come across an action film made by a Nigerian, my first instinct is to swipe past it. You might ask why? Because I don’t think we’ve gotten there yet when it comes to stunts. When I started watching this short film, I expected it to be below standard, but from the first […]
Film Reviews by Emmanuella Nwachukwu (A participant of the Lagos Fringe Young Critics and Reviewers Program)
This is a solid attempt at a thriller. The plot isn’t exactly new, it’s one we’ve seen in too many films before, but this short film found It’s way around it. The story follows a couple struggling with money issues, and the wife has another life, a job and world she’s kept hidden from her […]
Beneath Command
This film made me tie wrapper. And yes, I mean it. Beneath Command is about grief, twisted loyalty, family, expectations, and love; or at least, it tried to be. The story follows an engaged girl whose lover is taken away by the same military her brother works for, all because her lover dared to challenge […]
Isekonu
ISEKONU is a bold look at the reality so many women face when they’re accused of killing their husbands. The film follows a young widow whose brother-in-law wastes zero time accusing her of his brothers death, and from that moment, you already know you’re not watching a lighthearted story. What worked? Honestly, almost everything. The […]
IRIN AJO (THE JOURNEY)
Irin Ajo starts off like one of those films where you don’t fully understand what’s going on yet, but you’re still following happily. From the very first scene, it feels like someone gently takes your hand and says, “Come on, let’s go,” and you just follow them without stress because… why not? The film follows […]
LAGOS FRINGE SPOTLIGHT SERIES: EMPOWERING STORIES THAT TRAVEL THE WORLD
Featuring Emmanuel Okocha, Executive Producer, Instinct Pictures At the heart of Lagos Fringe lies a powerful truth: our stories matter. For theatre-maker Emmanuel Okocha, that truth began on church stages and matured into global platforms. As the founder of Instinct Pictures, Emmanuel has used the Lagos Fringe stage as both a launchpad and laboratory where […]
Inside Esther’s World: Meet Bola Stephen Atitebi, the Actress Behind the Voice That Won’t Be Silenced
Some roles are simply acted. Others, like Esther, become lived experiences. For nearly a decade, Bola Stephen Atitebi has embodied the fierce and fragile core of Esther’s Revenge, a searing play that dives into silence, survival, and generational healing. As the production continues its UK tour through Scarborough, Leeds, and Bristol, Bola opens up about […]