Veteran Nollywood icon Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde has taken a bold new step in her film career with the premiere of her directorial debut Mother’s Love at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) in September 2025. The screening, held at TIFF Lightbox Cinema 5 on September 6, marked not just another film premiere but the launch of Omotola’s voice as a filmmaker.
At 47 years old and with over 300 films to her credit, Omotola is showing that growth and reinvention don’t stop. In Mother’s Love, she explores themes of maternal sacrifice, unresolved grief, resilience, and healing. The film uses both English and Pidgin English to communicate deeply emotional stories about a mother-daughter bond and the quiet strength that often goes unseen.
The TIFF premiere brought together a mix of industry heavyweights, rising stars, and longtime Nollywood observers. Among those in attendance were Shuaibu Husseini (DG of Nigeria’s National Film and Video Censors Board), filmmakers like Obi Emelonye and Ramsey Nouah, and cast members including Lilian Afegbai and Noray Nehita. The red carpet was glitzy, the audience receptive, and many noted the emotional impact of Mother’s Love.
Omotola spoke about why this project is deeply personal: after decades of interpreting other people’s stories, she felt compelled to tell something from her own perspective. She described Mother’s Love as more than a film—it’s an intimate look at what binds us, what hurts us, and what we carry in silence. Makoko, the waterfront community often referred to as the “Venice of Africa,” features in the film, and Omotola said that capturing authentic locations was important.
The premiere also serves as a landmark in Omotola’s 30-year journey in Nollywood. She has now added director to the long list of roles she has inhabited: actress, producer, writer. Mother’s Love is expected to roll out more broadly: after the TIFF showing, a Lagos premiere is set for early 2026, followed by a global theatrical release.
For fans and critics alike, Mother’s Love is more than just a new film—it’s a testament to growth, change, and the power of telling your story on your own terms. Omotola’s move behind the camera has been watched closely; the success of this premiere could mark a new chapter for Nollywood, where the stories we see reflect more diverse voices, more emotional truth, and more authenticity.
