Nollywood luminaries Mo Abudu, Funke Akindele, and Jade Osiberu have been honored on The Hollywood Reporter’s prestigious list of the 40 Most Powerful Women in International Film. This recognition celebrates women who are advancing global storytelling and supporting emerging talents amidst a tumultuous film market.

The magazine commended Mo Abudu for her resilience and innovation in the African media landscape. Despite setbacks such as Amazon Prime Video’s withdrawal from African original productions, Abudu has continued to thrive. She began her journey as a talk show host before becoming a prominent TV and film producer and theater chain owner. Her latest endeavor, the short film Dust to Dreams, directed by Idris Elba, secured funding from the African Export Import Bank’s new $1 billion Creative Africa film fund.

Funke Akindele, the producer at Film One Entertainment, was celebrated for her diverse career and recent political involvement. Her film A Tribe Called Judah, which she wrote, directed, produced, and starred in, has become Nigeria’s highest-grossing film, earning approximately $1.2 million at the box office. This achievement underscores her significant impact on the Nigerian film industry.

Jade Osiberu, founder of Greoh Studios, was recognized for her artistic vision and innovative storytelling. The magazine lauded her for her work on Gangs of Lagos, a crime thriller for Amazon that showcases her cinematic prowess. Her upcoming feature, Everything Scatter, explores the interconnected lives of five young individuals during a day of street protests in Lagos, further demonstrating her narrative ambition and creativity.

In addition to these Nollywood stars, the list features other influential filmmakers such as Maren Ade and Janine Jankowski from Germany’s Komplizen Film, Lila Avilés of Mexico’s Limerencia Films, Farhana Bhula, the Head of Creative at Film4 in the U.K., and Clémence de Lampugnano, Artistic Adviser at TF1 Film Production in France.

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