Three prominent Nollywood filmmakers, Toyin Abraham, Niyi Akinmolayan, and Ini Edo, have accused some cinema operators in Nigeria of deliberately disadvantaging their films through unfavourable screening practices.
The producers allege that certain cinemas assign commercially weak time slots, restrict films to a single daily showing, and in some cases declare movies sold out while redirecting patrons to other screenings. They argue that these actions significantly affect ticket sales and overall revenue.
Actress and producer Toyin Abraham, whose film Oversabi Aunty is currently in cinemas, said the movie has failed to generate expected income due to what she described as deliberate sidelining. According to her, some cinemas schedule the film for early morning or late-night slots, which she says are unlikely to attract large audiences.
Abraham also alleged that customers who paid for tickets to her film were redirected to other movies. She questioned the commercial logic of assigning a 10 a.m. screening time, noting that such slots rarely perform well at the box office.
Film director Niyi Akinmolayan, producer of Colours of Fire, raised similar concerns, accusing some cinemas of collecting money from ticket buyers without screening the film. He warned that if the situation persisted, he would publicly identify the cinemas and managers involved.
In a statement shared online, Akinmolayan said he would name cinemas that listed his film, sold tickets, and then failed to show it to audiences.
Actress Ini Edo, who is producing a film for the first time, also expressed frustration over her experience with cinema operators. She shared videos on social media showing moviegoers complaining about how her film was handled in cinemas.
Describing the process as exhausting, Edo said she faced what she perceived as intentional obstruction despite investing heavily in the project. She added that the experience highlighted broader issues of gatekeeping and intimidation within the industry.
The complaints have renewed scrutiny of how screen time is allocated in Nigerian cinemas, especially during December, which is widely regarded as the most competitive period for film releases due to high audience turnout and multiple premieres.
As of the time of reporting, cinema operators have not publicly responded to the allegations.
About the Author
