Fatimah Binta Gimsay has released first-look images from her upcoming short films Binta is Okay and Monday with Demilade, shared via social media and produced by Double C Media.
Following the release, the writer-director spoke with The Nollywood Reporter to share details about the projects, which form part of a broader slate. She explained, “Technically it’s two short films and one feature film (Black Market).” The short film Binta is Okay features Susan Pwajok and Mallum Arik, while Monday with Demilade stars Pwajok and Mike Afolarin, though stills from the latter have not yet been released.
Gimsay said she took a more focused approach on writing and directing this time. “This time around, I focused more on writing and directing because I struggle when I fully produce and direct,” she says.
She describes Binta is Okay as being inspired by stories of young women navigating the tension between sex education and religious beliefs. “We want to do something different and a little unhinged with a character who is figuring herself out and has an audience for it. It explores relationships with the self, body, mother, boys, and most especially with God,” she explains.
She also credited her team for shaping the production process. “It was a sweet shoot because of my core team, which included myself and Susan Pwajok as executive producers, Nicole Ofoegbu as producer, Nora Awolowo as director of photography, and Chris Udomi as production designer.”
Looking ahead, Gimsay said the team is exploring distribution and screening options outside YouTube. “We’re open to distribution conversations, and right now we’re also open to screenings. We want to try something different from YouTube, as we had done with Laraba and Balarabe.”
She also briefly spoke about Monday with Demilade, which explores darker themes. “Monday with Demilade is a different story exploring drug abuse and heartbreak. It’s what happens when you’re trying to save someone you love, but your love is not enough for them,” she says.
