Funke Akindele expands Nollywood reach with international film releases

Nigerian filmmaker Funke Akindele is working to bring Nollywood to a global audience through productions that highlight African experiences. Akindele, an actress, writer, producer, and director, has achieved significant box office success, including the film Behind the Scenes, which earned over 2 billion naira (approximately $1.6 million) in 2025. Her 2023 film, A Tribe Called Judah, was also a milestone, becoming the first Nollywood movie to earn 1 billion naira.

Akindele is currently promoting her upcoming production, The Four: No One Fights Alone. The film is scheduled for a UK premiere on November 29 at ODEON Luxe Leicester Square in London, followed by a worldwide cinema release on December 11.

In recent interviews, Akindele noted that her film Everybody Loves Jenifa is her most expensive production to date, citing high costs for logistics and set construction in both Nigeria and Ghana, specifically at the Safari Valley Resort. Her work contributes to Nigeria’s film industry, which is the second largest in the world by production volume, employing over 1 million people.