Racheal Emem Isaac, the filmmaker behind Them Don Get Me, has spoken about the creative journey behind the thriller-horror short and what its debut selection and Audience Choice Award nomination at the Canada International Mobile Film Festival (CIMFF) means for her career.
Speaking with The Nollywood Reporter (TNR), Isaac says the film began as a personal creative challenge rather than an awards project.
“To be honest, I wasn’t trying to tell a profound story when I started making Them Don Get Me. I was simply bored one day and thought, ‘Why don’t I just shoot something?’ I wanted to challenge myself by creating a thriller-horror film.”
As production progressed, she says the story gradually took shape. Through suspense and tension, the film explores the unsettling idea that danger can find a person no matter how carefully they try to hide. It also encourages audiences to stay alert, reminding them that seemingly small decisions can have lasting consequences.
The CIMFF recognition marks the first award nomination of the film. For Isaac, it is an emotional milestone, especially because she never created the project with festivals in mind.
“Yes, this is the film’s first nomination, and it means more to me than I can fully express.”
She explains that although she initially doubted the film, the positive response it received on social media encouraged her to think differently. A friend’s suggestion to submit it to the festival eventually led to the nomination.
“That one decision led to this nomination,” she says, adding that the experience reinforced an important lesson: never allow fear to stop you from sharing your work.
Producing the film also came with significant challenges. Isaac worked without a fully developed script and handled nearly every aspect of production herself. As the project’s sole cast member, she acted, directed, shot and edited the film.
“Working alone meant I had limitations, but those limitations forced me to become more creative,” she says.
Beyond the nomination, Isaac believes locally rooted stories deserve global audiences because the emotions at their core are universal. Her goal, she says, is to create films that make people feel seen and understood regardless of where they come from.
“The more authentic and culturally rooted our stories are, the more they stand a chance of resonating with international audiences because authenticity connects.”
Whether she is making thrillers or stories about womanhood, relationships, health and everyday life, Isaac says she hopes her films remain grounded in Nigerian realities while speaking to audiences everywhere.
“If someone watches one of my films and walks away feeling seen, challenged, inspired or understood, then I’ve done my job as a storyteller.”
The Canada International Mobile Film Festival (CIMFF) is scheduled to hold on Sept. 12, 2026.
