After premiering at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), winning Best Movie and Best Writing at this year’s Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA), opening the 32nd edition of the New York African Film Festival (NYAFF), and screening at the 2024 Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF) where it won the Special Jury Award, Afolabi Olalekan’s debut feature film Freedom Way will begin its cinema run in Nigeria on July 18, 2025.

Directed by Olalekan and produced and written by BluHouse Studios founder Blessing Uzzi, the film is a clear representation of Nigeria’s crippling challenges — from corrupt police officers to economic and political instability, destabilising policies, and bad governance. Freedom Way highlights how these issues frustrate the efforts of everyday citizens. Inspired by the director’s personal experience with the Nigerian Police Force, the film draws heavily from relatable themes.

‍

‍

Freedom Way follows the stories of nine individuals from different walks of life whose routines are constantly disrupted by unfavorable laws and corrupt police officers. The film explores how tech entrepreneurs struggle to keep their startups afloat after a government policy threatens to shut down their businesses. On the other hand, motorcyclists search for ways to survive after the same policy strips them of their source of income. The film stars Adebowale “Mr Macaroni” Adebayo, Teniola Aladese, Ogranya Jable Osai, Jesse Suntele, Mike Afolarin, Femi Jacobs, Meg Otanwa, Taye Arimoro, and Bimbo Akintola.

In a press statement, Uzzi expressed her excitement about screening Freedom Way in Nigerian cinemas. She said, “It feels really good, surreal, for Freedom Way to finally be screening in Nigerian cinemas. I’m excited to see how people will receive it here, where it matters the most.” Aside from being Olalekan’s debut film, it is also BluHouse Studios’ first full theatrical release. The film will be distributed by Genesis Pictures.

‍