77: The Festac Conspiracy, the highly anticipated sequel to Izu Ojukwu’s acclaimed period drama, ’76, is set to make an exclusive preview at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival in France this May.
By Vivian Nneka Nwajiaku
77: The Festac Conspiracy, the highly anticipated sequel to Izu Ojukwu’s acclaimed period drama, ’76, is set to make an exclusive preview at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival in France this May. The sequel was selected for this honour by the Nigerian Film Corporation (NFC), marking a landmark moment for the production.
Directed by Ojukwu and produced by Adonis Production, 77 reimagines the historic events of the Second World Black and African Festival of Arts and Culture which took place in Lagos in 1977, known widely as FESTAC ’77. The film blends fact and fiction to explore the politics, ambitions, and cultural pride that surrounded one of the most significant Pan-African events of the 20th century.
Acclaimed Nollywood actor, Ramsey Nouah, who starred as Captain Joseph Dewa in ’76 will reprise his role in the sequel, with several other members of the cast returning to continue from where the first film left off.
Speaking on the film’s significance and the Cannes preview, Executive Producer, Adonijah Owiriwa, remarked, “This film is a reclamation of Africa’s rich history. The project was about revisiting a defining moment in African unity and cultural assertion, bringing to life a tale of the ambitions, conflicts, and triumphs that shaped our storytelling.
“Through cinema, we are not only preserving our past but ensuring that the world engages with our stories on our terms. The Cannes showcase is a pivotal step in shifting the global perception of African cinema, proving that our stories are as grand, complex, and worthy of global platforms as any other.”
Executive Producer, Prince Tonye Princewill, adds, “77 is a reflection of the strides we have made in both production quality and storytelling. As an executive producer, I’ve seen firsthand how we have evolved from a growing industry to a force that competes globally in terms of scale, ambition, and technical expertise.
“African stories are no longer confined to a niche audience; they are reaching global markets, and this film is an example of that. It embodies the high production values we’ve worked tirelessly to grow and this is a landmark moment, not only for the ’77 film, but for the race as a whole; showing the world that African cinema is a powerhouse of creativity.”
The film’s Cannes preview underscores growing international interest in Nigerian stories, coming on the back of other Nigerian historical films selected to participate at Cannes this year. In April, it was announced that Akinola Davies Jr.’s My Father’s Shadow, a historical drama set against the backdrop of the 1993 Presidential Elections, would premiere in the Un Certain Regard section at Cannes, while James Omokwe’s Osamede, a retelling of the 1897 Benin Invasion, would premiere at the Cannes Film Market.
FilmOne Entertainment, the West African distribution company with distribution rights for 77: The Festac Conspiracy, expects that the film will be a landmark in Africa’s journey towards global prominence. In the words of Kene Okwuosa, Group CEO of FilmHouse Group, “The Festac ’77 film is a significant contribution to African storytelling in reshaping global narratives. The selection for Cannes is indeed a great endorsement for the future of Africa in global box office.
“For too long, African stories have been sidelined or misrepresented in global media, and this film signifies a turning point and an opportunity for the world to witness the richness and depth of our culture, history, and creative storytelling. This moment, at one of the most prestigious film festivals in the world, marks the beginning of a new era in which we get to lead conversations on the global stage, redefining what it means to tell and distribute authentically African stories.”
77: The Festac Conspiracy is slated for release sometime in 2025. Details about the film are available here.