Nigerian cinema secured a notable presence at the 2026 Toronto International Film Festival and its inaugural industry market, with The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives and The Black Book 2: Old Scores representing two different sides of the country’s growing international film business, as reported by The Guardian. Daniel Oriahi’s The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives received its world premiere in TIFF’s Centrepiece programme, bringing Lola Shoneyin’s acclaimed novel to an international festival audience. The film features an ensemble cast led by Odunlade Adekola, Omowunmi Dada, Iyabo Ojo, Mercy Aigbe and Bimbo Ademoye. Separately, Editi Effiong’s The Black Book 2: Old Scores was presented at TIFF: The Market through the African Works in Progress Showcase powered by CANEX Creations Inc.
The Black Book 2 was one of six African feature projects selected for the showcase, which was designed specifically for international buyers, distributors, sales agents, financiers and streamers. Directed by Effiong, the sequel continues the story of Paul Edima from the 2023 Netflix action thriller, with the character returning to confront old enemies and a wider network of corruption and abuse of power in contemporary Nigeria. Producers include Effiong, Hollywood producer Nicky Weinstock and Mimi Bartels. The original The Black Book became a major global streaming success, reaching No. 3 on Netflix’s global film chart, entering the Top 10 in 69 countries and recording more than 20 million views, according to Variety.
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The two appearances highlight different opportunities within the international film ecosystem. While Baba Segi’s Wives used TIFF as a major festival platform for a completed Nigerian feature, The Black Book 2 used TIFF: The Market as a commercial platform to build international interest around a forthcoming production. The market showcase also included Nigerian projects Dear Ajayi and Last Weekend in October alongside three other African productions, demonstrating the broader effort to connect African filmmakers with global financing and distribution networks. For Nollywood, the Toronto presence points to an increasingly diversified international pathway, where Nigerian films can compete for festival audiences while new projects are simultaneously positioned in front of the global film business.
