Renowned Nigerian actress Genevieve Nnaji has expressed her long-standing desire to see stronger collaboration across African film industries, calling for more intercontinental productions that will better showcase African stories on a global stage.
Speaking on the Deadline Podcast, the award-winning filmmaker said one of her biggest creative aspirations has been to see African countries work together more closely in film production rather than operating in isolation.
Genevieve Nnaji noted that such collaboration would not only strengthen the industry but also help amplify African narratives internationally.
“I think my dream has always been that we have some intercontinental production within the African region. And I can’t wait to see that happen,” she said.
Genevieve Nnaji, who gained global recognition after her directorial debut Lionheart became the first Nigerian film acquired by Netflix, also reflected on the growth of the Nigerian film industry, popularly known as Nollywood.
She described Nollywood as still relatively young, estimating it to be about 40 years old, but emphasised that its growth within that short period has been significant and impressive.
According to Genevieve Nnaji, the industry has made remarkable progress despite structural and financial limitations, and still holds enormous potential for future expansion and global recognition.
The actress also highlighted the increasing presence of women in leadership roles within Nollywood, noting that the rise of female producers, directors, and filmmakers has been particularly inspiring.
“Seeing a lot more female producers, directors, and filmmakers come up is also very inspiring to me,” she said.
Her comments reflect a broader shift in the Nigerian film industry, where more women are now taking on behind-the-scenes creative and executive roles, helping to reshape storytelling perspectives and production standards.
Genevieve further expressed optimism about the future of African cinema, stating that the industry is still in its early developmental stage and has not yet reached its full potential.
“I think we just started. Time is still very young, and we have a lot more to achieve,” she added.
The actress emphasised that African stories carry depth, cultural richness, and global relevance and should be given more opportunities to reach international audiences.
She expressed hope that future productions would allow global viewers to better understand the diversity and complexity of Nigeria and Africa as a whole.
“The stories that come out of Nigeria, I can’t wait for people to actually see the depth of who we are as a nation, as a culture, as a continent,” she said.
Genevieve Nnaji has long been regarded as one of the most influential figures in Nollywood, both for her acting career and her contributions to expanding the industry’s global reach.
Her 2018 film Lionheart marked a historic milestone when it was acquired by Netflix, positioning Nollywood more firmly on the global streaming map and sparking conversations about language, representation, and African storytelling in international cinema.
In recent years, she has maintained a relatively low public profile, making selective appearances and focusing more on production and creative development.
She was recently honoured at the Red Sea Film Foundation’s Women in Cinema gala during the 79th Cannes Film Festival, an event that recognised her contributions to African cinema and female representation in filmmaking.
Despite her reduced on-screen presence, Genevieve remains one of Nollywood’s most respected voices, often contributing to discussions about industry development, storytelling quality, and global collaboration.
Her latest remarks have once again reignited conversations about the future of African cinema and the importance of cross-border partnerships in strengthening the continent’s entertainment industry.
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