Stitches stands as the only African film in this year’s Industry Selects lineup.
By Joseph Jonathan
Ghanaian filmmaker, Shirley Frimpong-Manso, will make her Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) debut this September with Stitches, her first Nollywood production, selected as one of ten titles in the festival’s Industry Selects programme. TIFF, which returns for its landmark 50th edition from 4th to 14th September 2025, introduced Industry Selects as a strategic showcase for films with strong international distribution potential, aimed exclusively at accredited buyers and distributors.
Produced by Chris Odeh under BRS Studios and distributed by Blue Pictures Entertainment, Stitches stands as the only African film in this year’s Industry Selects lineup. The section, programmed by Liane Cunje, is regarded as one of TIFF’s most significant industry initiatives, spotlighting audience-ready films poised for the global marketplace.
Set in Lagos, Stitches tells the story of Boma, a gifted young fashion designer who, in the aftermath of personal tragedy, leaves her modest beginnings behind to join her estranged aunt’s prestigious fashion house. Caught between ambition, class divides, and a quest for belonging, Boma navigates the high-pressure world of Lagos haute couture, where she also encounters romance with the son of a celebrated philanthropic fashion icon.
While screenings under Industry Selects are limited to industry professionals, the film’s inclusion marks a significant milestone for both Frimpong-Manso and Nollywood. Known across Africa for acclaimed works such as the AMAA-winning The Perfect Picture (2009), AMVCA-winning Contract (2014), Potato Potahto (2017), and Shampaign (2015), the filmmaker continues to extend her reach beyond Ghanaian cinema.
With Stitches, she not only cements her first appearance at TIFF but also affirms Nollywood’s growing visibility in international industry spaces.
The Full 2025 TIFF Industry Selects Lineup
This year’s Industry Selects programme features ten standout titles representing a range of genres and global perspectives:
- A Survivor’s Tale (2025 – Belgium, France) | dir. Micha Wald | Pulsar Content
- Dolph: Unbreakable (2025 – Canada, USA, Sweden) | dir. Andrew Holmes | Upstream Flix Inc.
- Falling (2025 – UK) | dirs. James Krisel, Colin Krisel | Gulfstream Pictures, UTA
- Find Your Friends (2025 – USA) | dir. Izabel Pakzad | CAA
- Hana Korea (2025 – Denmark, Korea) | dir. Frederik Sølberg | REinvent International Sales
- Holy Days (2025 – New Zealand, Canada) | dir. Nathalie Boltt | Blue Fox Entertainment
- Killing Castro (2025 – USA) | dir. Eif Rivera | CAA
- On the End (2025 – USA) | dir. Ari Selinger | Moontown Productions, Wise Child Studios
- Stitches (2025 – Nigeria) | dir. Shirley Frimpong-Manso | Blue Pictures Entertainment
- Straight Circle (2025 – UK) | dir. Oscar Hudson | Global Constellation
The diversity of this slate highlights TIFF’s role as a hub for international storytelling, with Stitches standing out as the sole African representative. Against this global backdrop, the film’s selection underscores the continuing resonance of African cinema within the international marketplace, positioning Nollywood on one of the most strategic stages for worldwide distribution.