Film and TV

Nollywood
Nollywood’s Political Unconsciousness and the Critic’s Quagmire

If films are inherently political, if all films have something to say, though they may…

Variations on a Theme
MIFF 2026: “Variations on a Theme” Is a Masterpiece That Occasionally Forgets to Trust Itself

Variations on a Theme is proof that the most political act available to cinema is…

Chronicles from the Siege
MIFF 2026: “Chronicles From the Siege” Is the Film That Says What Politics Has Failed To

With Chronicles from the Siege, Abdallah Al-Khatib proves that cinema is indeed political and that…

Dao
MIFF 2026: Alain Gomis’ “Dao” Is a Three-Hour Act of Cultural Memory That Earns Every Minute It Asks For

Dao is the kind of film that announces its ambitions in every frame and then,…

Zikoko Life
“Zikoko Life” Review: Big Cabal’s Anthology Mostly Finds Its Rhythm in Its Second Edition

If this is what a second edition looks like under pressure to match its predecessor,…

Alechenu
“Alechenu” Review: A Potent Social Commentary Undone by Its Untapped Narrative Potential

Alechenu does well in its pursuit of social relevance, but the narrative is dampened by…

What Do the Maknines Dream Of
MIFF 2026: “What Do the Maknines Dream Of”, “Obi Is a Boy”, and “Whispers of a Burning Scent” Find Beauty in the Difficult Act of Letting Go

Whether contemplating migration, gender identity, or an unconventional romance, What Do the Maknines Dream Of,…

Nollywood
For How Long Can We Sustain This Thing of Ours?: On Bootstrapping and the Current Iteration of Nollywood

Nollywood filmmakers have proven their capacity for innovation under constraint, time and again, but there…

Sarra Ryma
MIFF 2026: In Conversation with Sarra Ryma on Migration, Love, and “What Do the Maknines Dream Of”

“I think cinema has a responsibility to look for the human being behind the law,…

African cinema
African Cinema’s Long Road to Freedom

African cinema can be regional, sure, just like any other cinema. But it is also…