Cannes Festival Boosts Nigerian Film "Land Apart"

Filmmaker Bem Pever expressed that the Cannes Film Festival opened vital conversations for Nigerian cinema that would have otherwise taken years to initiate. He highlighted the festival's role in showcasing the talent and energy of the global film industry, particularly emphasizing the need for authentic African stories.

Pever's film "Land Apart," which is set among the Tiv people in Benue State and explores themes of oil discovery and agriculture, is produced by Samira Buhari as executive producer, with Emil Garuba as the writer and Salli William as producer. The film features notable stars such as Richard Mofe-Damijo and Onyeka Onwenu.

Pever noted the challenges of bringing Nigerian films to the international market, emphasizing the importance of packaging and presenting stories that resonate globally while remaining true to their Nigerian roots. "Land Apart" is set for a nationwide release in Nigeria in October 2026, with distribution handled by Nile Entertainment. The film has already been selected for several international film festivals, including the Zanzibar International Film Festival and the Roma African Film Festival.