Shall We Meet Tonight
| Shall We Meet Tonight | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Wapah Ezeigwe |
| Written by | Wapah Ezeigwe |
| Produced by | Bisi Alimi Lanre Njoku |
| Starring | Uzoamaka Onuoha Goodness Emmanuel Jasperwills Ebuka |
| Cinematography | Ayoola Oladimeji |
| Edited by | Ayoola Oladimeji |
| Music by | Mcpherson Aghah |
Production company | Vengiance Productions |
Release date |
|
Running time | 15 minutes |
| Countries | Nigeria United Kingdom |
| Languages | English Igbo |
Shall We Meet Tonight is a 2025 Nigerian LGBT+ romantic short film written and directed by Wapah Ezeigwe, and co-executive produced by Bisi Alimi and Lanre Njoku. The film explores themes of arranged marriage and lesbian love. It was produced by a UK-based African queer-led production company[2] and was selected as an official entry at the BFI Flare: London LGBTIQ+ Film Festival.[3]
Plot
When a young woman is given in marriage to an influential man through an arranged union, she falls in love with a townswoman who becomes her secret lover. The film explores the emotional complexities of queer love and the challenges of existing and navigating a patriarchal Nigerian society.[4][5]
Cast
Source[6]
- Uzoamaka Onuoha
- Goodness Emmanuel
- Jasperwills Ebuka
- Ugo Doris
Reception
Reviewing the film for What Kept Me Up, Ini-Abasi Jeffrey described it as "a queer essential, yet far from perfect," noting that "the characters never find any depth in the short time we are with them; we never get a sense of Adaora and Susanna's romantic history and how it reached the point we see."[7]
In an interview with Zikoko Magazine, Bisi Alimi said the film was funded by the British Council and the British Film Institute. He also explained that the filmmakers deliberately departed from the tragic narratives often associated with queer stories, as they felt many queer love stories tend to follow that trajectory.[8]
At the third edition of The Filmjoint Awards in 2026,[9] which recognises short films in Nigeria, the film received ten nominations and won three awards.[10][11]
Awards
- Best African Film – Shall We Meet Tonight (Wapah Ezeigwe)
- Best Picture – Shall We Meet Tonight (Bisi Alimi and Lanre Njoku)
- Best Cinematography – Shall We Meet Tonight (Ayoola Oladimeji)
References
- ↑ "Shall We Meet Tonight (2025)".
- ↑ "Vengiance Productions". www.vengianceproductions.com. Retrieved 7 June 2026.
- ↑ Shall We Meet Tonight (2025) — Wapah Ezeigwe. Retrieved 7 June 2026 – via filmsandfestivals.britishcouncil.org.
- ↑ "Shall We Meet Tonight". FilmFreeway. Archived from the original on 8 February 2025. Retrieved 7 June 2026.
- ↑ "Wapah Ezeigwe's 'Shall We Meet Tonight' Examines Queer Love and Marital Constraint in Contemporary Nigeria - What Kept Me Up". whatkeptmeup.com. 9 April 2025. Archived from the original on 13 December 2025. Retrieved 7 June 2026.
- ↑ "Full Cast of Movie "Shall We Meet Tonight" (2025)". Retrieved 7 June 2026.
- ↑ "Short Film Review: Wapah Ezeigwe's 'Shall We Meet Tonight' is Far from Perfect, But a Queer Essential - What Kept Me Up". whatkeptmeup.com. 30 April 2025. Retrieved 7 June 2026.
- ↑ Mirilla, Dennis Da-ala (12 April 2025). "Bisi Alimi on How to Tell Queer Nigerian Stories in Nollywood". Zikoko!. Archived from the original on 19 January 2026. Retrieved 7 June 2026.
- ↑ "The Filmjoint Awards (TFA)". THE FILMJOINT. Archived from the original on 22 January 2026. Retrieved 7 June 2026.
- ↑ "FilmJoint Awards 2026: "Shall We Meet Tonight" Leads With Ten Nods - Nollywood Reporter". 8 October 2025. Archived from the original on 7 November 2025. Retrieved 7 June 2026.
- 1 2 ""Shall We Meet Tonight" and "On Our Skin" Top FilmJoint Awards 2026 - Nollywood Reporter". 11 February 2026. Retrieved 7 June 2026.
- ↑ "The Filmjoint Awards 2026: Full List of Award Winners - What Kept Me Up". whatkeptmeup.com. 10 February 2026. Retrieved 7 June 2026.