Daniel Etim Effiong Makes Directorial Debut with “The Herd” at Cannes Film Festival

Nigerian actor, Daniel Etim Effiong has made his directorial debut with “The Herd,” a 90-minute crime thriller showcased at the Marché du Film segment of the Cannes Film Festival in France—marking a new phase in his career.

Set in Southwest Nigeria, “The Herd” examines the complex issue of herdsmen kidnappings through a narrative rooted in family, love, and generational duty. The film is Effiong’s first feature-length project as a director, following a successful acting career in Nollywood.

“‘The Herd’ is my directorial debut, my first 90-minute fiction film,” Effiong told Nollywire at the premiere of Summer Rain. “It’s a film about herdsmen kidnapping in Nigeria. It’s a beautiful story about family and the extent you’ll go to protect those you love. It’s really about fighting for love. It has a lot of powerful performances, and I can’t wait for you all to see it.”

The project was featured during the panel discussion “The Nollywood Conversations: A Deep Dive into Opportunities to Present African Stories for Global Screens,” held on May 19 and hosted by FilmOne Entertainment in collaboration with the Nigerian International Film Summit (NIFS).

The cast includes Effiong alongside Genoveva Umeh, Mercy Aigbe, Kunle Remi, Tina Mba, and Deyemi Okanlawon. Distribution across Africa is expected, with official release dates yet to be announced.