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Nigerian filmmaker Damilola Orimogunje’s period drama, Dear Ajayi, has earned international recognition after securing two awards at the 83rd Venice International Film Festival.
The film made history as the first Nigerian production to compete in the Venice Giornate degli Autori, popularly known as Venice Days.
Its strong showing at the prestigious festival further highlights the growing presence of Nigerian cinema on the international film circuit.
Dear Ajayi received the Bisato d’Oro Award for Best Cast and Performances, recognising the strength of its acting ensemble.
The production also won the 38th CICT-UNESCO Enrico Fulchignoni Prize, popularly known as the Fellini Medal.
Orimogunje, who directed, wrote and produced the film, celebrated the recognition alongside members of the cast and crew.
He described the festival experience as a privilege and dedicated the awards to everyone who contributed to bringing the project to life.
He also congratulated the other filmmakers whose works received recognition at the festival, while expressing confidence that the film’s international journey was only beginning.
Set in southwestern Nigeria during the 1990s, Dear Ajayi explores family relationships, personal sacrifice and the challenges created by changing social expectations.
The story follows two sisters, Ade and Titi Ajayi, whose complicated relationship takes centre stage after circumstances force them to live together under the same roof while caring for their paralysed mother.
Ade, played by veteran actress Bimbo Akintola, is a deeply religious woman who has taken on much of the responsibility for supporting her family. Her sense of duty and commitment to her faith shape many of the decisions she makes.
Her younger sister Titi, portrayed by Tosin Adeyemi, has a very different outlook. An aspiring singer, she is determined to pursue her ambitions despite the expectations placed on her by her family and society.
Their contrasting personalities create tension as unresolved issues from the past begin to surface. Through their experiences, the film examines grief, ambition, responsibility, sacrifice and the complicated ties that can exist between family members.
The film features a notable ensemble that includes Lanre Hassan, popularly known as Mama Awero, William Benson, Antar Laniyan, Uzoamaka Power, Michelle Dede, Chioma Omeruah, Tope Tedela and Baaj Adebule.
The production was made under Orimogunje’s 2o9ine Films, with Bose Oshin, Ajah Enene-Orimogunje, Zorana Mušikić and May Odeh also serving as producers.
Re Olunuga handled the film’s musical score, while FilmOne Entertainment is responsible for its distribution across West Africa.
Following its acclaimed Venice appearance, Dear Ajayi is set for a wider Nigerian theatrical release on November 13, 2026. However, audiences eager to see the film before its nationwide launch have been able to catch it in selected cinemas since September 18.
The film’s awards in Venice represent another significant moment for Nigerian filmmaking, particularly for productions seeking to tell locally rooted stories to audiences beyond Africa. Dear Ajayi combines a distinctly Nigerian setting with universal themes of family, loss, aspiration and resilience, giving it a broader emotional appeal.
Its recognition at one of the world’s major film festivals places further attention on Orimogunje’s work and the cast behind the production.
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