Title: Supacell
Directed by Andrew Onwubolu
Country: United Kingdom
Year: 2024
Genre: Science fiction
Andrew Onwubolu, the versatile British artist with Nigerian roots, is back. Better known on the music scene as Rapman, he made the transition from microphones to cameras in 2019 after the success of Blue Story, a feature film that drew on his Shiro’s Story trilogy, about gang violence in southeast London.
Shared on YouTube, it accumulated more than 20 million views. The formula was a hit, and its commitment to showing the less glamorous side of the British capital attracted curious onlookers and analysts, who came to look for sociological keys to the multiple identities of this London district. This time, with the help of the increasingly powerful Netflix and in series format, he tries to delve deeper into the Afro-descendant population with his new work, Supacell. With a cast of predominantly black British actors, it is presented as an attempt to fuse futuristic elements with urban everyday life.
Released at the end of June, it centers on a group of ordinary people who suddenly develop superpowers. Although the concept is not new, it nevertheless promises a fresh exploration of how these gifts affect the lives of ordinary individuals. The introduction of messages of hope through Afro-descendant superheroes is an undoubted success, especially because this social group has historically been underrepresented in the genre. The series also arrives at a time of reflection in the West, with the rise of far-right speeches.
Title: The Weekend
Directed by Daniel Emeke Oriahi
Country: Nigeria
Year: 2024
Genre: Horror
You never really know someone until you discover their family. It is a crucial step toward building a lifelong bond before marriage. That’s what they say. But what happens when the future in-laws keep a nightmarish secret? Director, Daniel Emeke Oriahi, addresses the consequences of meeting one’s in-laws in The Weekend.
There are no doubts. The bustling Nigerian film industry, Nollywood, keeps directors busy: in the last decade, this filmmaker has produced more than 25 films. But the filmmaker has achieved a breakthrough in his career when the Tribeca Festival (New York) premiered his latest work last June. The selection represents recognition of his 41 years of age. And one thing to keep in mind: with a very limited budget, this script opens the door for Nollywood to bet on this genre.
