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Omotola Jalade–Ekeinde has spent implicit 3 decades successful beforehand of the camera, becoming 1 of Africa’s astir celebrated actresses and adjacent earning a spot connected the TIME 100 list. Now, she’s stepped into an wholly caller role, this clip down the camera. On 6 September 2025, astatine the 50th Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), Omotola premiered her directorial debut, “Mother’s Love,” marking a caller section successful her bonzer career.
The film’s archetypal screening was held astatine TIFF’s Lightbox 5, wherever an assemblage of distributors, income agents, and manufacture insiders gathered to spot what the Nollywood icon had created. And for Omotola, who has agelong been a look of African cinema, it was a accidental to yet archer a communicative done her ain lens.
“Mother’s Love” is an intimate look astatine maternal resilience, exploring the quiescent but enduring power of mothers crossed antithetic walks of life. At its core, it examines mother-daughter relationships—particularly those betwixt mothers and their archetypal daughters—while besides touching connected themes of grief, PTSD, and societal inequality.
The screening drew a singular crowd, from Nigeria’s NFVSB Director General Shuaibu Hussein to acclaimed filmmakers Obi Emelonye, Lonzo Nzekwe, and Charles Uwagbai. Cast and unit members, including supporting histrion Lilian Afegbai, shaper Rogers Ofime, shaper and manager Oreoluwa Awolowo Nora, writer Oyin Debby, and casting manager and histrion Lala Akindoju were besides successful attendance. Familiar Nollywood faces similar Linda Osifo and OC Ukeje joined the audience, alongside friends who came to cheer Omotola on.
The effect was resoundingly positive. UK-based manager Obi Emelonye described it arsenic “a debut that deserves to beryllium studied astatine Harvard,” a glowing endorsement that speaks to the value of her archetypal outing arsenic a filmmaker.
Set to premiere successful Lagos successful aboriginal 2026 earlier a wider planetary release, the film’s travel volition align with Mother’s Day, making its themes each the much poignant. For Omotola, this isn’t conscionable a caller originative milestone, it’s besides a solemnisation of her singular travel successful film, 1 that has seen her germinate from Nollywood royalty into a planetary taste voice.
At its heart, “Mother’s Love” tells the communicative of a young pistillate from a privileged inheritance who, during her NYSC year, steps beyond her sheltered upbringing to observe resilience, identity, and purpose—all shaped by the dependable guidance of her mother’s love.
The formed includes Omotola herself, alongside Ifeanyi Kalu, Noray Nehita, Lilian Afegbai, Nosa Rex, and Olumide Oworu.
See photos from the premiere below
English (US) ·