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As global streamers like Netflix and Amazon Prime finally make inroads in Africa, Nigerian-Canadian filmmaker Lonzo Nzekwe is enjoying his moment in the sun at the Toronto Film Festival.

CAA Media Finance boarded Nzekwe’s Nigeria-set Canadian revenge thriller Orah with worldwide representation, excluding Canada, just before the feature that stars Star Trek: Discovery actor Oyin Oladejo in the titular role had a prestigious TIFF market screening on Monday night as part of the festival’s expanded Industry Selects program.

The film, with a script 12 years in the making and shot in Canada and Nigeria, marks a triumph for Nzekwe, who like fellow black Canadian filmmakers long had his work neglected, ignored or dismissed before a Canadian industry reckoning after the murder of George Floyd finally diverted meaningful local financing to underrepresented creators.

“These stories that we thought weren’t interesting, or there was no audience, now people are gravitating...

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Star Trek: Discovery actress Oyin Oladejo is starring in the indie feature Orah, from director Lonzo Nzekwe and fellow Nigerian-Canadian creative talent.

Oladejo plays the titular character Orah Dokubo, who at age 15 killed a man in Nigeria before fleeing Africa with her infant son. Seventeen years later, Orah is an illegal immigrant in Canada and working as a taxi driver for an attorney and his high-profile Nigerian client, Bami Hazar, who are both involved in international money laundering.

After Hazar orders the murder of Orah’s son, she begins a revenge spree to bring Hazar to justice and has to resort to violence to settle the score when all legal options fail.

Oladejo is a Toronto-based actress originally from Nigeria who plays Lieutenant Junior Grade Joann Owosekun on Star Trek: Discovery and also starred on Hulu’s Endlings. Nzekwe wrote and directs Orah,...

Ryan Miningham's "Blue" was named best narrative feature film, Llewellyn Smith's "Herskovits at the Heart of Blackness" was best documentary and Lucky Ejim's "The Tenant" took the top audience prize at the 10th annual Hollywood Black Film Festival, which concluded Sunday in Beverly Hills.

Winners were announced at the fest's Filmmaker and Storytellers Awards brunch, which was held at Life on Wilshire.

Morocco Omari's "(Mis)leading Man" was the short film winner.

"The Second Half," written by Andrew Chang and directed by Ralph Jeffrey Elmont, was the winner in the student film category.

"1 Out Of 10," directed by Q, won in the music video category.

The first place winner in the Hbff Storyteller Competition, designed to created opportunities for black screenwriters, was "Good Mother," written by Cassie Henderson. "Born to Pitch," written by Robyn Hatcher, took second place honors. The third place award went to Dapo Adeshiyan's "Far Away From Here.

Director Lucky Ejim took home the top audience prize for his immigration drama 'The Tenant' at Sunday ceremonies closing out the 10th annual Hollywood Black Film Festival (Hbff) in Beverly Hills. Ejim's film competed against 102 films during the six-day fest. Other winners included 'Blue,' directed by Ryan Mingham, about a prize fighter looking to change his life for the better. Best Short Film was awarded to '(Mis)Leading Man," by Morocco OMari. Director Llewellyn Smith's 'Herskovits At the Heart of Blackness,'...

Director Lucky Ejim took home the top audience prize for his immigration drama 'The Tenant' at Sunday ceremonies closing out the 10th annual Hollywood Black Film Festival (Hbff) in Beverly Hills. Ejim's film competed against 102 films during the six-day fest. Other winners included 'Blue,' directed by Ryan Mingham, about a prize fighter looking to change his life for the better. Best Short Film was awarded to '(Mis)Leading Man," by Morocco OMari. Director Llewellyn Smith's 'Herskovits At the Heart of Blackness,'...