The Esiri brothers’ Clarissa is set for release in select cinemas on Dec. 11 through Neon following its breakout premiere at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival.
Directed by twin brothers Arie and Chuko Esiri, the film premiered in the Directors’ Fortnight section at Cannes, becoming only the second Nigerian feature selected in the section’s history.
Clarissa marks the duo’s second feature following Eyimofe (This Is My Desire) and reimagines Virginia Woolf’s Mrs. Dalloway within a contemporary Lagos setting.
Written by Chuko Esiri and set entirely in Nigeria, the film follows Clarissa, a Lagos socialite preparing to host a gathering at her home before reconnecting with friends from her past. Over the course of one evening, old memories, unresolved desires and lost ambitions resurface as the group reflects on their shared history.
The title character is portrayed at different stages of her life by Academy Award nominee Sophie Okonedo and Queen Charlotte actress India Amarteifio.
The ensemble cast also includes David Oyelowo, Ayo Edebiri and Toheeb Jimoh, with casting by Nina Gold.
Neon, which acquired the film for distribution, also released new images from the drama alongside the announcement of its theatrical release date.
The distributor has previously backed award-winning titles including Bong Joon Ho’s Parasite and Sean Baker’s Anora, both of which won the Academy Award for Best Picture.
Clarissa joins Neon’s growing 2026 slate ahead of its December release.
