Nigerian media mogul Mo Abudu has launched a new cinema label that aims to broaden the spectrum of Nigerian cinema by making more “personal and intimate” films that champion “the voices and perspectives of underrepresented communities.” The label will also serve as a vehicle for Abudu’s directorial ambitions.
The first two projects from Mo Abudu Films are ‘Her Perfect Life,’ and ‘Iyawo Mi,’ which look at “mental health issues from a Nigerian perspective.” Both projects address mental health issues, a taboo subject in Nigeria and throughout much of Africa.
Her Perfect Life follows Onajite Johnson Ibrahim (Pearl Thusi), a 30-year-old woman who appears on Instagram, to have the ideal life — a flourishing career, a loving husband (Ahmed Ibrahim) and two bright and beautiful children — but is secretly suffering from depression and contemplating suicide.
Iyawo Mi looks at mental health among Nigeria’s poorest, in a story of Kunle (Lateef Adedimeji), a young married man whose wife Eniola (Bolaji Ogunmola) has had a mental breakdown and has begun to hallucinate, screaming at their children and neighbors and threatening to kill everyone around her. Kunle tries to take matters into his own hands, with tragic consequences.
Both short films will screen in the Cannes Short Film Corner later this month. Both have also been invited to the Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival.
