The Nigerian psychological thriller The Weekend has been acquired by Canal+ for a French-dubbed release across more than 60 territories.
The agreement, brokered via international distributor iFind Pictures, encompasses linear and subscription video-on-demand platforms throughout Africa, Europe and French overseas territories.
Directed by Daniel Oriahi and produced by Uche Okocha, the film follows an orphan who discovers the disturbing secrets of her fiancé’s estranged family. Since its debut, the production has gained significant international traction, becoming the first independently produced Nigerian feature to premiere at the Tribeca Festival. It has also screened at the BFI London Film Festival and the NollywoodWeek Film Festival in Paris.
The deal highlights an increasing shift in the global media landscape, where African genre films are being treated as scalable international assets rather than regional niche content. For Lagos-based Trino Motion Pictures, which is nearing its 10th anniversary, the partnership represents a transition from a domestic producer to a global studio.
Managing Director Uche Okocha stated that the partnership is a milestone for the company.
“This partnership with Canal+ is a major milestone for The Weekend and for Trino as a company,” he said. “From the outset, our ambition was to create a film that could travel, a story rooted in Nigeria but universally understood. To now see the film reach audiences across such a wide range of territories is incredibly meaningful, and speaks to the growing global demand for African stories told at scale.”
The Weekend dominated the 2024 Africa Movie Academy Awards, securing 16 nominations and winning titles including Best Film and Best Screenplay.
The cast features Uzoamaka Aniunoh and Bucci Franklin alongside veterans Keppy Ekpenyong-Bassey and Gloria Anozie-Young. Also cast are Meg Otanwa, Damilola Ogunsi, James Gardiner and Bryan Okoye.
The psychological thriller follows Nikiya (Uzoamaka Aniunoh), an orphan searching for belonging, who persuades her fiancé Luc (Bucci Franklin) to introduce her to his estranged family. What begins as a hopeful visit soon descends into a disturbing ordeal, as hidden truths and long-buried traditions come to light.
