Extra Mile, the inspired feature film produced by Five2 Media and Entertainment, has been honored with the best film for a filmmaker: the Nollywood Award at the International Nollywood Film Festival Toronto (Tinff) 2025.
The powerful production, headed by executive producer Solate Ovundah-Akarolo and produced by jewel Grant along with Ovundah-Akarolo, captivated hearings and judges equally with his sincere narration of stories, star performances and an innovative approach to Nollywood cinema.
The Win Cements Five2 Media and the reputation of entertainment as a force within Nollywood, reinforces the growing presence of the industry on the world stage and highlights the creative power of women behind the camera.
The film tells a moving story about friendship and the options that try it. Mercy Johnson, Jim Iyke, Lilian Esoro and other Nollywood veterans offer actions that provide weight and tenderness to the screen. What takes the film beyond its stellar power is its honesty, the way in which it explores betrayal and resistance with clarity that is both intimate and universal.
“Tinff’s recognition is a stimulus for female voices in Nollywood to continue breaking limits and telling stories that matter,” said producer Jewn Grant.
The prize was received on behalf of Five2 Media and Entertainment by the leader of communications based in Canada, Oraye St. Franklyn, who transmitted the gratitude and dedication of the company of the prize to each cast member and the team that worked tirelessly to give life to the move.
For the executive producer of the film Solate Ovundah-Akarolo, the prize is deeper than the prestige. He points out a turning point for the industry, where female filmmakers are not only participating but also lead and are celebrated by the powerful stories they tell. In Toronto, where African and diaspora cinema know an international audience, that message could not have been clearer.
Nollywood has long caught attention for its great production, but moments like this extend its reach to global cinema, opening doors to new audiences, broader distribution and new conversations. Extra Mile is proof that Nollywood’s stories travel well, with the weight of local realities while playing issues that resonate in cultures worldwide.
The award is not just a victory for a film or filmmaker. It is a marker of Nollywood’s constant ascent and a reminder that when women enter the frame as narrators, the view is broader, bolder and richer. Extra Mile is both a handicraft celebration and a promise of what is to come.
Among the stars galaxy that attended the stars award and a gala event around the world were Ayo Makun de Nollywood, also known as Ay and Julius Agwu.
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