Nigeria’s relationship with the BFI London Film Festival has grown from a quiet introduction to a bold cinematic statement. When Nigerian films first appeared at the festival, they carried the weight of introducing our stories to audiences that were still learning to take Nollywood and African cinema seriously. Today, those same stories stand alongside films from Hollywood, Europe, and Asia, proving that Nigeria is not just part of the conversation but is helping to shape it. 

The BFI London Film Festival (LFF), remains one of the world’s premier film showcases, ranking alongside Cannes, Venice, Berlin, and Toronto. Every October, the festival transforms London into a global hub for cinema, drawing filmmakers, critics, and fans to red carpets, Q&As, and screenings throughout the city. This year, the 69th edition takes place from 8–19 October 2025, across venues such as BFI Southbank, BFI IMAX, and Royal Festival Hall.

For Nigerian filmmakers, LFF has become more than just a festival; it has become a stage where local stories meet global conversations. It offers a bridge between arthouse creativity and Nollywood commercial ambition, giving our filmmakers both recognition abroad and momentum at home. The journey has been steady, starting with small, independent voices, then moving through glossy Nollywood dramas, and now arriving at a point where Nigerian films compete at the very highest levels of world cinema.

Here are Some Nigerian films that have made their way to the BFI London Film Festival in the last few years

2010 – Relentless (Andy Amadi Okoroafor)

Okoroafor opened the door in 2010 with Relentless. He told the haunting story of a Lagos soldier returning from war, trying to rebuild his life while carrying emotional scars. Though it had limited exposure in Nigerian cinemas, the film made festival audiences pause and rethink what Nigerian cinema could achieve artistically. Viewers today can stream Relentless for free on Plex.

2011 – Mother of George (Andrew Dosunmu)

Andrew Dosunmu followed with Mother of George, a visually striking drama about a Nigerian couple in Brooklyn torn between love, tradition, and the pressure to have children. With Danai Gurira in the lead role, the film mesmerised audiences and critics alike. While it lacked a major Nigerian cinema release, it is currently available to stream on Netflix and Prime Video, making it one of the most accessible Nigerian festival classics.

2013 – B for Boy (Chika Anadu)

Chika Anadu’s B for Boy confronted tradition head-on with its story of a pregnant woman under pressure to deliver a male heir. The film received wide praise at LFF and beyond, positioning Anadu as one of the boldest voices of her generation. Though its Nigerian box office impact was limited, it continues to live on through Apple TV and Mubi, ensuring that its feminist message still resonates today.

2015 – Fifty (Biyi Bandele)

Bandele’s Fifty brought a Nollywood polish and commercial sensibility to LFF. Following four women in Lagos dealing with love, family, and career at midlife, it struck a chord with Nigerian audiences and went on to enjoy a full cinema release across the country. Its subsequent run on Netflix and Showmax gave it continued life with streaming audiences across Africa and beyond.

2020 – Eyimofe (This Is My Desire) (Arie & Chuko Esiri)

The Esiri brothers shook international audiences with Eyimofe, a story of two Lagosians. Mofe and Rosa, seeking better lives abroad. The film’s realism, shot on 16mm, and its unflinching humanity made it one of Nigeria’s most critically acclaimed works. While it had limited screenings at home, Eyimofe is now available on Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV, making it widely accessible to global viewers.

2021 – Juju Stories (Surreal16 Collective)

In Juju Stories, directors C.J. Obasi, Abba T. Makama, and Michael Omonua merged their talents to explore Nigerian folk magic through three supernatural tales. Their anthology redefined Nollywood genre filmmaking, proving that our filmmakers could embrace fantasy and horror with as much sophistication as any global counterpart. Though it wasn’t a multiplex hit, it continues to circulate on Amazon Prime Video, where curious viewers can still watch it.

2024 – The Weekend (Daniel Oriahi)

Daniel Oriahi’s The Weekend made audiences shiver with its tense psychological thrills. Following a woman visiting her fiancé’s family, only to unearth dark secrets, the film stood out at the BFI and later premiered in Nigerian cinemas nationwide. It grossed over ₦18 million shortly after release, proving that a festival film could draw crowds at home too. While it hasn’t landed on a major streaming platform yet, industry insiders suggest a deal is imminent.

2024 – Wami Wata (C.J Obasi)

C.J. Obasi’s Mami Wata is a visually striking Nigerian film that reimagines West African folklore through a bold, black-and-white cinematic lens. Set in the fictional village of Iyi, the story explores themes of tradition, spirituality, and resistance as the community’s devotion to the water goddess Mami Wata clashes with modern forces of power and corruption.

Nigerian Films at the 2025 Festival

By 2025, Nigeria’s presence at the BFI London Film Festival has expanded dramatically. This year, two films carry the Nigerian flag at the event, spanning shorts, documentaries, experimental projects, and feature dramas. Their inclusion signals both continuity and transformation: Nigeria no longer arrives as an outsider at the BFI, but as a cinema culture whose voice matters on the world stage.

Dust to Dreams (Idris Elba with Nigerian collaborators)

Idris Elba, working with Nigerian producers including Mo Abudu, directed this polished 19-minute short set in Lagos. It tells the story of a dying nightclub owner who entrusts her legacy to her shy daughter, igniting family tensions when a long-lost father reappears. With Seal among the cast, Dust to Dreams has already stirred conversations at Toronto and BFI. Though it has not yet reached streaming, its Lagos setting and emotional depth make it one of 2025’s most anticipated Nigerian-linked projects.

Dreamers (Joy Gharoro-Akpojotor)

Written and directed by Joy Gharoro-Akpojoto in her directorial debut. Dreamers tells the story of Isio, a Nigerian-born immigrant in the UK, who had lived undocumented for two years and was at the verge of deportation. Sent to the Hatchworth Removal Centre, with the hope of getting a fair asylum hearing, she finds love in her roommate, Farah. With its first debut at Berlinale 2025, Dreamers holds Akpojotor’s personal experience as an immigrant. The cast includes; Ronke Adekoluejo, Ann Akinjiri, Diana Yekinni, Aisha Hart and Harriet Webb.

Dreamers will screen on the 10th and 11th of October 2025.

My Father’s Shadow (Akinola Davies Jr.)

Akinola Davies Jr., working with his brother Wale, crafted My Father’s Shadow, a semi-autobiographical tale set during Nigeria’s 1993 elections. It follows two brothers reconnecting with their estranged father, weaving a personal story with a political context. The film made history as the first Nigerian fiction work in Cannes’ Official Selection, winning a Caméra d’Or Special Mention.

FilmOne released it nationwide in September 2025, and Mubi has already picked it up for streaming in multiple countries, including the UK, US, and Ireland. Its mix of international prestige and Nigerian cinema access makes it a landmark moment for Nigerian film.

My Father’s Shadow will screen on the 17th and 18th of October 2025.

Conclusion

From Relentless in 2010 to the two Nigerian films on the list in 2025, our journey at the BFI London Film Festival tells a powerful story of growth. We began with arthouse films that introduced our voice. We now stand with works that win prizes at Cannes, sell out screenings in Nigeria, and stream globally on Netflix, Prime Video, Showmax, Mubi, and Apple TV.

This evolution shows that Nigerian cinema is not only part of global cinema. It is helping to define it. As six new films prepare to light up the BFI stage this October, one thing is clear: Nigeria has come far, but the journey has only just begun.