Ahead of its May 15 cinema debut, The Boy Who Gave is being positioned by director Allison Precious Emmanuel as a shift toward more emotionally driven storytelling in Nollywood.
In an interview with The Nollywood Reporter (TNR), Emmanuel said the film reflects what he believes is an existing audience appetite for stories that prioritise emotional depth over spectacle. According to him, Nigerian cinemas have long been dominated by comedy and action films, leaving limited room for more heartfelt narratives.
“I think there’s a demand for heartfelt storytelling. Prior to this time, they told me that only comedy films should be in cinemas because those are the films people want to come and see. Me now making a film that is not a comedy or action film is like ‘what are you doing?’ I think that diversity is important,” he said.
For Emmanuel, this demand signals a need for films that hold audiences through their emotional weight. He described The Boy Who Gave as an attempt to begin addressing that gap.
The director also spoke about the film’s recently released poster, noting that its imagery was deliberately selected to reflect the tone of the story.
“When you look at the characters on the poster, you see weight… We wanted to make people see the poster and be like ‘this is emotionally heavy,’” he said.
He added that the film is intentionally centred on everyday people, a choice that influenced both its storytelling and visual presentation. According to Emmanuel, the goal is to foreground ordinary experiences and make them the emotional core of the narrative.
On marketing, the filmmaker said he is taking a less conventional approach ahead of the release, aiming for organic audience growth rather than relying primarily on large promotional budgets.
Set in the Niger Delta, The Boy Who Gave tells a story that explores the sacrifices of firstborn siblings. The film previously screened at the 2025 African International Film Festival (AFRIFF), where it received three nominations.
With its upcoming release, Emmanuel is set to make his theatrical debut as a feature filmmaker.