Ny Nana’s OKEOGHENE, an Urhobo-language supernatural drama, has secured 21 nominations at the 10th edition of the Toronto International Nollywood Film Festival (TINFF), making it one of the festival’s most nominated films this year. The recognition places the project among the standout titles of the anniversary edition.
Nana, who serves as the film’s writer, producer and director, spoke with The Nollywood Reporter about the inspiration behind the story, the significance of the nominations and plans for the project moving forward. According to her, the film was created to spotlight a culture that is rarely represented on screen.
She described OKEOGHENE as a story that explores identity, faith and tradition while celebrating Urhobo culture. From its conception, the project was rooted in a desire to tell an authentic indigenous story and present it to a wider audience beyond Nigeria.
Reflecting on the nominations, Nana said the moment felt rewarding for both her and the team behind the production. She noted that the recognition also signals growing international interest in indigenous African stories and filmmakers.
“Receiving 21 TINFF nominations, including Best Photography, Best Female Filmmaker, Best Short Film, Best Indigenous Film and Best Experimental Short Film, is incredibly humbling,” she said. “It means our team’s hard work is being recognized and that indigenous African stories are finding a global audience.”
Expanding on what the achievement means personally, Nana said she has always wanted to tell stories connected to her roots. She explained that showcasing Urhobo traditions and culture has remained one of her long-term goals as a filmmaker.
“I’ve always wanted to tell stories from where I was born and showcase the richness of Urhobo tradition and culture,” she said. “Seeing OKEOGHENE receive 21 nominations is incredibly rewarding because it shows there’s a place for authentic indigenous stories on the global stage.”
Turning to the inspiration behind the film, Nana traced its origins to her upbringing in Urhobo land and her experiences with the Igbe religion. She said stories surrounding spirituality and water played a major role in shaping the narrative of the film.
“OKEOGHENE was inspired by a true story and by my upbringing in Urhobo land,” she explained. “Growing up, I was surrounded by stories of people believed to have a spiritual connection to water, and I experienced the traditions, songs, dances and practices of the Igbe religion.”
She added that telling the story was important because the culture and spirituality explored in the film are rarely depicted on screen. According to Nana, the project was also an opportunity to introduce global audiences to aspects of Urhobo heritage.
“I wanted to authentically showcase the beauty, spirituality and traditions of the Urhobo people and introduce audiences to the cultural legacy of the Igbe religion,” she said.
When asked whether Nigerian audiences would get the opportunity to watch the film locally, Nana confirmed that plans are underway for screenings in Nigeria after its festival run. However, she noted that the current focus remains on the international festival circuit.
“We’ve applied to several film festivals in Nigeria and are excited about the possibility of screening the film at home,” she said. “Once the festival run is complete, we plan to have a Nigerian premiere.”
OKEOGHENE stars Caroline Areoghene Igben, Elijah Ogann Anighoro and Victoria Abaku in lead roles.
