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Breaking Through: Nigeria Films at the Cannes Festival 2025

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The 78th edition of the Cannes Film Festival from May 13 to May 24, 2025 marks a historic turning point for Nigerian cinema. For the first time ever, Nigeria isn’t just participating at the prestigious global event; it’s staking a powerful claim on the world stage.

From a debut national pavilion to the official recognition of two groundbreaking films, Nigeria is rewriting the narrative of African storytelling at Cannes. This year’s festival features 22 films in the Official Selection, but what makes 2025 unforgettable for Nollywood isn’t just the numbers, it’s the quality, boldness, and cultural depth of the stories being told.

This is more than presence. It’s representation with purpose, and a moment that signals a new era for Nigerian film.

Here are the two Nigerian films making waves at Cannes 2025, each bringing a unique story and perspective to the global stage.

My Father’s Shadow

Director: Akinola Davies Jr.

Category: Cannes Official Selection

Premiere Date: May 18, 2025

My Father’s Shadow makes history as the first Nigerian feature film to be included in the Cannes Official Selection. Set against the backdrop of the 1993 Nigerian presidential election, the film follows two brothers navigating a politically tense Lagos with their estranged father.

With raw emotion, political insight, and masterful cinematography, this film represents a milestone for Nigerian storytelling on the global stage.

Osamede

Director: James Omokwe

Category: Cannes Film Market Screening

Screening Date: May 17, 2025

Rooted in African mythology and history, Osamede is a fantasy thriller set in the 1897 Benin Kingdom. It follows a young orphan girl who discovers her superhuman powers and sets out to protect her people against colonial threats. With its stunning visuals and mythical narrative, Osamede is a bold testament to Nollywood’s capacity for genre innovation and world-building.

Its screening at the Cannes Film Market puts the spotlight on Nigeria’s ability to compete at a global scale.

Conclusion

With the groundbreaking inclusion of My Father’s Shadow and the fantasy brilliance of Osamede, Cannes 2025 marks a monumental moment for Nollywood.

This is not just a breakthrough, it’s a blueprint for the next chapter of Nollywood: bold, visionary, and ready to take center stage. Which of these Nigerian films will you watch first? The historical and emotional layers of My Father’s Shadow? The magical, mythical adventure of Osamede? Let me know in the comments which one you’re most excited to see.

Read also: From Nominees to Reigning Stars 

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Lori Harvey Rocks a Daring Thigh-High Slit at Chanel’s Paris Show

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Photo credit: Instagram

Lori Harvey stepped out for the Chanel Fall/Winter 2026 Womenswear Show in Paris, wearing a look that paired a cropped tweed jacket with a vivid red blouse and a beige Chanel skirt cut with a striking high slit.

The look consists of a bright red blouse worn beneath a cropped brown and cream tweed jacket. The blouse was slightly open at the collar, creating a V-shaped neckline. The jacket featured tweed fabric and metallic buttons along the front.

Photo credit: Instagram

Harvey wore a beige Chanel midi skirt that was fastened in front with three rows of large buttons. The cut opened high along the right side, forming a high slit revealing her leg. A slim burgundy belt sat at the waist, repeating the colour of the blouse.

She completed her look with a small black quilted Chanel clutch, narrow-tinted sunglasses, and pointed nude heels.
Harvey kept her hair pulled back into a firm ponytail. Her makeup featured warm tones, with softly shaped brows, light eye definition and glossy nude lips. Harvey’s styling and choice of accessories helped her stand out among the guests at the Paris show.

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Jadrolita Goes Futuristic in All-Pink for her Birthday Shoot

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Photo: Ibor Edosa Victor

When it comes to birthday photoshoots, most celebrities play it safe. A glamorous dress, soft lighting, a cake prop and a few smiles for the camera. But Jadrolita chose a completely different direction for her latest birthday shoot. She stepped into a futuristic world, dressed head to toe in pink, poses as a character pulled straight from a sci-fi film rather than a traditional celebrant.

Photo: Ibor Edosa Victor

Photo: Ibor Edosa Victor

The concept leaned heavily into technology, identity, and digital culture, themes that already sit at the center of Jadrolita’s public persona. Known for blending artificial intelligence storytelling with lifestyle content, her birthday shoot felt personal and carefully planned rather than experimental.

The first thing that stands out is the colour choice. Every part of the look revolves around pink. It gave the impression of someone existing in a digital universe where colour replaces emotion and storytelling happens visually before words are spoken.

Her outfit consists of a fitted bodysuit crafted from a glossy material. The structure hugged her silhouette closely, creating a clean outline from shoulder to ankle.

Photo: Ibor Edosa Victor

Photo: Ibor Edosa Victor

Layered over the bodysuit was a sculpted jacket designed with exaggerated shoulders and defined edges. The tailoring introduced structure without making the outfit look heavy. Instead, it reinforced the futuristic theme, resembling protective gear worn by a character built for a digital era. Not forgetting her glasses which completed the futuristic look.

Hair and makeup followed the same direction. Her hair was styled in a short pixie cut with clean edges. Her makeup was kept nude.

What makes this birthday shoot notable is how clearly it reflects Jadrolita’s brand. She has built an online identity around digital intelligence, virtual interaction, and futuristic storytelling. Instead of separating her birthday celebration from that identity, she leaned fully into it.

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Are We Finally Getting the R9 Album? Fans Read the Signs Around Rihanna

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Photo Credit - Instagram

It’s been ten years since “Anti” came out in January 2016. It spent two weeks at number one on the Billboard 200. Ten years later, her fans are still waiting for R9. But this week, she gave them the clearest sign yet.

On February 26, 2026, Rihanna took to her Instagram and posted a day-in-the-life video. It started at 9 PM with a Savage X Fenty design meeting that stretched towards 2 AM. Before leaving, she turned to her team and said: “I still have to go to the studio after this. And I have to make a Mardi Gras costume for my son after the studio. Longest day ever.”

She followed through. By 2:30 AM she was inside the studio seen working at the mixing board, writing in a notebook, and chatting with her team. The session ran past 5 AM. At one point, someone in the room said “We in business, Kuk,” and Rihanna replied “Yes, let’s go.” Kuk is widely believed to refer to Kuk Harrell, the vocal producer behind her hits “Umbrella” and “Only Girl in the World”.

Photo Credit – Instagram

No music was heard in the clip. No release date was announced. But the video alone was enough to send the Navy into an overdrive.

This is not the first time she has hinted about her album. In December 2019, she posted an Instagram video of a dog dancing, captioned: “Update: me listening to R9 by myself and refusing to release it.” Then in May 2020, she told British Vogue she was “very aggressively working on music.”

But her most detailed update came in February 2025, in a cover story for Harper’s Bazaar. She addressed the long delay directly:

“Way off! There’s no genre now. That’s why I waited. Every time, I was just like, ‘No, it’s not me. It’s not right. It’s not matching my growth. It’s not matching my evolution. I can’t do this. I can’t stand by this. I can’t perform this for a year on tour.’ “I’ve been in the studio the whole eight years. But it didn’t hit me. I was searching for it. I went through phases of what I wanted to do. I know it’s not going to be anything that anybody expects. And it’s not going to be commercial or radio digestible. It’s going to be where my artistry deserves to be right now. I feel like I’ve finally cracked it, girl!”

She also said: “I think music is my freedom. I just came to that realization. I just cracked the code on what I really want to do for my next body of work”.

No release date. No tracklist. No official announcement. But Rihanna is in the studio, and this time the whole world will be watching.

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