Jumafor Ajogwu, film producer is positioning his UK-based production company, Bold Pictures, to create films rooted in African and diaspora experiences for audiences across international markets.
The company’s first feature, Which Way, had its Africa premiere at the Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF) in Lagos on Tuesday, following its recognition at the Portugal Indie Film Festival, where it won Best Director and Best Cinematography.
The Lagos premiere recorded significant audience interest, with more than 350 people registering for the invitation-only screening.
Demand was so high that organisers had to secure a third hall after the original two screening halls filled up.
Ajogwu, who has worked on productions including Lionheart, The Milkmaid and My Father’s Shadow, said Bold Pictures was established to develop African stories with international appeal.
“The African diaspora is one of the most culturally powerful audiences in the world, and it is still underserved by cinema,” he said. “We are building a company that makes films for that audience, with the quality to travel anywhere.”
Which Way, directed by Jide Okeke, was shot in Lagos and completed in the UK. The production is the first in the company’s planned slate, which includes Sleepless, a psychological thriller supported by the British Film Institute (BFI) and Screen Yorkshire through their Producers’ Lab, Local Landscape, Global Horizon 2026.
Ajogwu was also among six UK producers selected by the BFI to attend the Toronto International Film Festival as part of the UK delegation in September, creating opportunities for international partnerships and co-productions.
The producer, who is also a member of the British Independent Film Awards Springboard cohort, said strategic collaborations would be central to the company’s growth.
“No independent African film company can do everything alone,” he said. “Working with partners lets a film be rooted in Nigeria and built to travel at the same time. That is how we want to make every film.”
Bold Pictures presents Which Way in conjunction with Afribold Pictures Network and Future 6 Media. Details of its wider release are expected to be announced.
Ifeoma Okeke-Korieocha is the Aviation Correspondent at BusinessDay Media Limited, publishers of BusinessDay Newspapers.
She is also the Deputy Editor, BusinessDay Weekender Magazine, the Saturday Weekend edition of BusinessDay.
She holds a BSC in Mass Communication from the prestigious University of Nigeria, Nsukka and a Masters degree in Marketing at the University of Lagos.
As the lead writer on the aviation desk, Ifeoma is responsible and in charge of the three weekly aviation and travel pages in BusinessDay and BDSunday. She also overseas and edits all pages of BusinessDay Saturday Weekender.
She has written various investigative, features and news stories in aviation and business related issues and has been severally nominated for award in the category of Aviation Writer of the Year by the Nigeria Media Nite-Out awards; one of the Nigeria’s most prestigious media awards ceremonies.
Ifeoma is a one-time winner of the
prestigious Nigeria Media Merit Award under the ‘Aviation Writer of the Year’ Category.
She is the 2025 Eloy Award winner under the Print Media Journalist category.
She has undergone several journalism trainings by various prestigious organisations.
Ifeoma is also a fellow of the Female Reporters Leadership Fellowship of the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism.
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