Filmmaker Niyi Akinmolayan has renewed his criticism of cinema operators in Nigeria, accusing some venues of poor practices that are affecting screenings of his new film, Colours of Fire.
In a video shared on Instagram on Saturday, he addressed cinema operators and the public about challenges during the busy December film season.
He said filmmakers face competition not only from each other but also from international films and economic conditions. “There’s a lot happening at the same time. What we should not do is create division where it’s not there,” Akinmolayan said.
The director said some cinemas listed Colours of Fire on their websites, collected money from customers, and then told them the film was not showing when they arrived. “If you have a slot that you’ve chosen for a film, honour that agreement. Let people who have come to see the film, see the film,” he said, adding that cinemas should apologise when mistakes happen.
He later warned online critics: “You cannot bully me. You’re wasting your time. Nollywood is one. We’re fighting this fight together.”
Akinmolayan had earlier threatened to name and publicly expose cinemas that do not correct scheduling and ticketing issues affecting his film.
His comments come amid similar complaints from other Nollywood filmmakers.
Actress and producer Toyin Abraham expressed frustration over the treatment of her film Oversabi Aunty, saying some cinemas misinform customers about availability and assign showtimes that make it hard for audiences to attend. “A 10 am showtime, how do you expect it to sell?” she asked.
Similarly, actress Ini Edo, who produced A Very Dirty Christmas, shared that fans told her they were misinformed about showtimes and denied access to screenings. She called the experience “exhausting” despite her investment and commitment to the project.
