Actor Bucci Franklin and filmmaker Bolanle Austen-Peters shared a warm moment at the premiere of Wale Ojo’s This Is Not a Nollywood Movie on Thursday.
In a video from the event, Bucci, who featured in Austen-Peters’ project To Kill a Monkey, is seen prostrating for the 56-year-old before they exchanged a hug. Austen-Peters responded with a smile, asking, “How are you?”
Bucci then called the videographer closer and said, “She is number one.”
The actor became one of the breakout stars of To Kill a Monkey with his portrayal of “Oboz”, a feared cyber-fraud kingpin. He previously revealed that he did not attend the public audition and got the role after recording a monologue in a hotel room while recovering from malaria. His performance has since earned widespread praise from viewers and critics.
Austen-Peters, founder of Terra Kulture and BAP Productions, has established herself as one of Nollywood’s most consistent filmmakers. Her credits include 93 Days, The Bling Lagosians, Collision Course, Man of God and the 2024 historical film House of Ga’a.
She also directed the award-winning biopic Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, which highlights the activism of the late women’s rights icon. The film won Best Overall Feature Film and Best Screenplay at AFRIFF.
