A short film is like a quick but memorable introduction. You meet characters you watch for maybe thirty minutes, but that stay with you forever. And you discover directors and writers who are pushing the boundaries of filmmaking and storytelling. In Nollywood, an abundance of these films exist, spanning genres and lengths. Within the boundaries of time and maybe even budget concerns, they create vibrant worlds and memorable characters that will keep you on the lookout for more.
In that spirit, here are 10 Nollywood short films you should definitely check out on YouTube this month.
Siraam
Running time: 32 minutes
Director: Uzoamaka Power
Genre: Comedy Drama
There are many coming of ages a woman will experience and with Siraam, Uzoamaka guides us through the journey of the titular character learning how her relationships have defined her. With a powerhouse performance from Genoveva Umeh and a supporting cast to match, Siraam is a warm hug and a reminder that everything will be alright.
Tell It No More
Running time: 15 minutes
Director: Chukwu Martin
Genre: Drama
Tell It No More could have fallen into a boring preachiness because of the subject matter but it navigates its story with a careful effectiveness. We meet an almost docile married woman (Martha Ehinome) and follow her on a journey of discovery that reveals a twist in the end that feels like a gut punch.
Watch Tell It No More on YouTube
When Tari Met Voke
Running time: 10 minutes
Director: Adebayo Oduwole
Genre: Romance
In this ten minute short film, we witness one of the most electric moments between two people (Sharon Rotimi and Timilehin Ojeola) who meet each other at a party and strike a conversation that hints at a future love story. It’s like watching the first sparks of a raging fire and the familiarity of the moment draws you into the space between them.
Watch When Tari Met Voke on YouTube
Japa
Running time: 9 minutes
Director: Adiukwu Daniel
Genre: Drama
Migration has fractured many Nigerian relationships and in Japa, we see two young lovers, Fola and Emeka, who are about to be torn apart by one of them leaving. It’s a quiet meditation on the ways relationships fracture not just because of migration but also because of the external pressures.
Dear Dija
Running time: 28 minutes
Director: Ifeoma Chukwuogo
Genre: Romance
As we meet this teenage couple at the centre of this film, we are granted access into the intimate way the language of young love is formed. Dija and Nnamdi sit in their balconies across from each other’s homes and talk about films against their parents wishes. It’s a film that hinges on conversation to draw you into their cinematic universe.
12 Hours
Running time: 25 minutes
Director: Tobe Nosike
Genre: Mystery thriller
In this mystery thriller, Kelvin (Stan Nze) wakes up to a horrific predicament and must recall the last 12 hours of his life. While he retraces his steps, he must reckon with guilt, betrayal and the spiritual forces at play. Within 12 Hours, you are asked questions about grappling with your fate or accepting what has happened.
Journey Of Singleness
Running time: 22 minutes
Director: Barnabas Ayo-Ilekhaize
Genre: Romance
In Barnabas’ debut, he lets his camera follow a single woman in the most mundane of ways as she slowly falls in love. In many ways a film about loneliness, we are drawn into the world of this character we have all been before.
Watch Journey of Singleness on YouTube
Market People
Running time: 12 minutes
Director: John Jeremiah
Genre: Experimental Drama
This experimental short follows two people who pose as a couple in order to secure an apartment. It’s told mostly via narration with scenes melding into each other and a story that is both familiar and strange. The ending sneaks up on you as you wonder where these characters’ lives will go.
Watch Market People on YouTube
Something Sweet
Running time: 29 minutes
Director: Dika Ofoma
Genre: Romance
An age gap romance is a delicate cinematic subject but Dika handles it with the appropriate care as we watch Zioara (Michelle Dede) and Leke (Ogranya) fall into a tender love. With bright colours, moving performances and a sensual soundtrack we are both given the fantasy and reality of falling into the most unconventional of love.
Watch Something Sweet on YouTube
Ndia
Running time: 21 minutes
Director:Stella Damasus
Genre: Psychological thriller
In Stella Damasus’ directorial debut, she reintroduces herself with a powerful performance that tackles mental health and identity within a family. It stars her daughter opposite her and this intimate affair lends depth to a story that asks what trauma can do to a woman.
