Extra Mile Honoured as Best Female Filmmaker at TINFF 2025
Nigerian feature film Extra Mile has clinched the Best Film by a Female Filmmaker (Nollywood) award at the Toronto International Nollywood Film Festival (TINFF) 2025.
The movie is a production from Five2 Media and Entertainment, spearheaded by Executive Producer Solate Ovundah-Akarolo, with Joy Grant and Ovundah-Akarolo jointly producing.
What Makes Extra Mile Stand Out
Extra Mile explores a storyline of friendship strained by tough decisions, weaving themes of betrayal and resilience. It features performances from Nollywood stars including Mercy Johnson, Jim Iyke, Lilian Esoro, among others. Critics and festival judges praised the film’s heartfelt narrative, strong ensemble cast, and its fresh perspective within Nollywood cinema.
Reactions & Significance
Joy Grant commented that the award serves as encouragement for female filmmakers in the Nigerian film industry to continue breaking barriers and telling meaningful stories.
The award was collected in Toronto by Oraye St. Franklyn, Five2 Media’s Canada-based communications lead, who dedicated it to the cast and crew for their hard work. Solate Ovundah-Akarolo noted that the win marks a pivotal moment where female filmmakers are not just participating but being celebrated for leading roles in storytelling.