What happens when a story dares to break the silence?
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| Director Michael Ichie Panda Okolie |
Nollywood’s latest short film, Amira, is not just another cinematic release, it’s a raw and urgent confrontation with the harrowing reality of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). This age-old practice, which continues to strip millions of women and girls of their bodily autonomy, often exists in the shadows. But Amira refuses to let it stay there.
With some of Nigeria’s most respected filmmakers rallying behind it, the film is set to spark the conversations many would rather avoid. Acclaimed industry figures Imoh Umoren, James Omokwe, Remi Ibinola, and Obinna Okerekeocha are joining forces as executive producers to back the vision of director Michael Ichie Panda Okolie and screenwriter Osas Idubor.
More Than Just a Film, A Mirror to Reality
For screenwriter Osas Idubor, Amira is not merely a story, it is a voice for the unheard.
“This film speaks for those who have been silenced for too long. FGM isn’t some distant, abstract issue, it is happening right here, in our communities, in our backyards. We cannot keep turning away,” Idubor asserts.
Shattering Taboos Through Cinema
African cinema has often shied away from addressing FGM, perhaps because the subject is wrapped in deep-rooted cultural and societal complexities. But Amira is different. It refuses to tiptoe around the brutality of this practice. Instead, director Michael Ichie Panda Okolie delivers an unfiltered, emotionally charged portrayal that lays bare the physical and psychological scars left behind.
“This isn’t just about making a film, it’s about forcing an issue into the public consciousness,” Okolie explains.
Nollywood has long been a mirror reflecting society’s triumphs and struggles, but with Amira, it becomes a megaphone, amplifying voices that must no longer be ignored.
As the world continues to grapple with gender-based violence and human rights abuses, Amira stands as a powerful reminder: storytelling is more than entertainment, it is activism.
Watch-Out!
IMUSTTALK | 2025
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