The Nigerian historical fantasy film Osamede is set to debut at the Pavillon Afriques taking place during the 2025 Cannes Film Market on May 17. The film, directed by James Omokwe and executive produced by Lilian Olubi, tells the story of an orphaned girl who discovers superhuman powers in the Benin Kingdom. The little girl’s mission is to harness the power of the ancient Aruosa stone and liberate her people from British colonial control.
Speaking about the film, Olubi said, “Nigeria has exported music and films globally, but with Osamede, we’re revolutionising how African historical narratives are presented by bringing the legendary Benin Empire’s mythology to life with production values and storytelling that mirror Hollywood fantasy epics.”
The film’s cast includes Ivie Okujaye Egboh, Lexan Aisosa Peters, William Benson, Lancelot Oduwa Imasuen, and Alexander Bud.
Omokwe, the film’s director, said, “Osamede goes beyond a fantasy film set in Africa, with this film, we’re reclaiming our historical narrative through the fantasy genre.”
“What ‘Black Panther’ did for Afrofuturism, we’re doing for African historical fantasy rooted in actual Benin Kingdom mythology,” he added. “Our approach combines authentic cultural elements with cinematic spectacle in ways audiences haven’t seen before.”
While Osamede’s screening takes place outside at the Pavillon Afriques, My Father’s Shadow, a film by Akinola Davies Jnr, will make history as the first Nigerian film to screen as part of the Cannes’ Official Selection.
Other African projects in Cannes, outside of My Father’s Shadow, are Morad Mostafa’s Aisha Can’t Fly Away, a co-production between Tunisia, Egypt, and Qatar; and Erige Sehiri’s Promised Sky, a Tunisian film.
Cameroonian-French director Thomas Ngijol’s Indomptables and Moroccan-French director Robin Campillo’s Enzo have also been selected for Directors’ Fortnight, a parallel section of the Cannes Film Festival. And French-Moroccan writer Leïla Slimani and Congolese director, Dieudo Hamadi are part of the Cannes jury this year.
