This Is Not a Nollywood Movie

The most self-aware Nigerian film of the year, This Is Not a Nollywood Movie is a satirical comedy about the industry itself. Ema Edosio shows an unexpected gift for absurdist comedy following a first-time filmmaker (Timini Egbuson) navigating a production that goes wrong in every conceivable direction.

Musician Simi is a genuine revelation in an acting role, dry and precise with better comic timing than actors who have been doing this for decades. The film’s observations about how Nigerian films get made and how commercial pressure distorts artistic intention are sharp enough to have reportedly made established industry figures uncomfortable.

Verdict: Funny, affectionate, and genuinely cutting where it needs to be. The Nollywood industry deserves this film.