Nollywood filmmaker Chinazaekpere Chukwu is set to take her feature directorial debut, Her Daughters’ Mother, to an international audience after the drama was selected for Film Africa 2026 in London.
The festival will run from October 23 to November 1, with the 109-minute film scheduled for screening on October 28 at EbonyLife Place London.
The selection was announced by Women in the Arts (@winthearts) in an Instagram post celebrating Chukwu and the international recognition of her debut feature.
The organisation wrote: “@gailchukwu is whoever she says she is and even more! Having your directorial debut go global is no small feat! We are super proud of you, queen”.
Set in Benin City, Edo State, Her Daughters’ Mother explores the pressures women face within marriage and family life, particularly societal expectations surrounding the birth of male children.
The film follows Ejiro, who was married off at 16 and later returns home in her thirties after becoming a widow. She is left to raise her two daughters while navigating the challenges of securing a stable future for them.
Hoping to improve their circumstances, Ejiro marries again. However, her new husband’s desire for a male heir places additional strain on the family and complicates her efforts to build a better life for her children.
Alongside Ejiro’s experience, the story examines the relationship between her and her eldest daughter, Ejaita. The teenager dreams of becoming a doctor but struggles with her mother’s protectiveness as she seeks greater independence.
Ejovwoke Olikuntuyi portrays Ejiro in the drama, which also features Osas Okonyon, Philip Asaya, Najite Dede and Adeoluwa Akintoba.
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The production was handled by One Child Grace Studio in association with C.A.N.O Productions, Uncut Gem Productions and Nka Pictures.
Chukwu’s selection for the festival adds to her previous work in film and television. She won Best Director at the EbonyLife Creative Academy for A Psalm for Abigail.
She also directed the 18-episode television series The Yard in 2025, while her short film Ti e Nbo premiered at the Africa International Film Festival in 2023.
Film Africa, organised by the Royal African Society, presents films from Africa and its diaspora through screenings and related industry events, the News Agency of Nigeria reports.
The festival provides a platform for African stories to reach audiences in London, with Her Daughters’ Mother bringing its themes of motherhood, marriage and gender expectations to the programme.
EbonyLife Place London, where the film will screen, was established by Nigerian media entrepreneur Mo Abudu and the EbonyLife Group to promote African and Black storytelling.
The venue includes the 160-seat Amani Auditorium, dedicated to African and Black cinema, and hosts film screenings, industry conversations and cultural events.
Its London operation extends the EbonyLife brand beyond Nigeria. The original EbonyLife Place opened in Victoria Island, Lagos, in 2019.