Filmmakers Omotola Jalade, Laju Iren and the late Allwell Ademola’s films have been released in cinemas ahead of the International Women’s Day celebration on Sunday.
The projects, Mother’s Love, Kilanko: The Invisible Child and Onobiren: A Woman’s Story, opened in cinemas on Friday.
Mother’s Love marks the directorial debut of Omotola after decades in Nollywood. The drama follows Adebisi, a young woman who leaves her sheltered life during her National Youth Service Corps year and begins to discover independence, love and family tensions.
The story focuses on mother and daughter relationships, social expectations and personal growth.
Omotola also appears in the film alongside Olumide Oworu, Nosa Rex and Lilian Afegbai.
Kilanko: The Invisible Child is the first and last cinema directing project of the late Allwell.
She directed the film before her death in December 2025. Actor Rotimi Salami produced the project as a tribute to her legacy.
The drama centres on themes of resilience, sacrifice and strength across generations. The cast includes Rotimi Salami, Ibrahim Chatta and Tina Mba.
Another film released on Friday is Onobiren: A Woman’s Story, directed by Laju. The film marks her cinema debut.
Laju is the wife of Pastor Emmanuel Iren, founder of Celebration Church International.
Onobiren tells the story of Roli, a woman navigating cultural expectations, ambition and personal renewal in a riverine community.
The cast includes media personality Chude Jideonwo, Deyemi Okanlawon, Bisola Aiyeola and Patience Ozokwor.
With Mother’s Love, Kilanko: The Invisible Child, and Onobiren all hitting cinemas on Friday, audiences have rich, diverse tales of women. These films are perfectly timed to celebrate International Women’s Day and the powerful voices women bring to storytelling.
The cinema release of the three films comes two days before International Women’s Day, celebrated globally on March 8 to recognise the achievements of women and promote gender equality.
The day has been observed for more than a century and is marked around the world with events that highlight women’s contributions to society, as well as conversations about rights, representation and opportunities for women in different fields, including film and media.
