Nigerian Adaptation of 'Mrs. Dalloway' Set for Cannes Premiere with Major African Backing
Similar Articles
‘Clarissa’ Reimagines ‘Mrs Dalloway’ in Lagos with Star-Studded Cast
Clio Barnard's 'I See Buildings Fall Like Lightning' Set for Cannes Premiere
Flix Oven Launches African-Korean Filmmaker Residency Program at Cannes
Cohen Media Group Acquires U.S. Rights to Sundance Winner 'Lady'
Nomadic Film Space Launches at Cannes to Connect African Creators With Capital
The film 'Clarissa,' a Lagos-set adaptation of Virginia Woolf's 'Mrs. Dalloway,' is scheduled to premiere at the Cannes Film Festival. Backed by the African Export-Import Bank's (Afreximbank) investment arm, the project represents a strategic investment in the continent's creative economy. Neon has acquired the sales rights for the film, which features a notable cast and was shot on 35mm in Nigeria.
Facts First
- 'Clarissa' will premiere at Cannes in the Un Certain Regard sidebar on May 16.
- The film is a Nigerian adaptation of Virginia Woolf's 'Mrs. Dalloway,' shot on 35mm in Lagos and Delta State.
- Financing came from Afreximbank's CANEX Creations, a new equity-investment arm for the African creative economy.
- The cast includes Sophie Okonedo, David Oyelowo, and Ayo Edebiri, directed by Arie Esiri and Chuko Esiri.
- Neon holds the sales rights for the film after acquiring them.
What Happened
Neon has released a first-look image for 'Clarissa,' a film adaptation of Virginia Woolf's 'Mrs. Dalloway' set in Lagos. The film is scheduled to premiere on May 16 in the Un Certain Regard sidebar at the Cannes Film Festival. Directed by Arie Esiri and Chuko Esiri, the story follows a Lagos society woman whose gathering of friends leads to a reckoning regarding their relationships and aspirations. The Esiri brothers shot the film in 35mm in Lagos and Delta State, Nigeria. Neon, an indie distributor, has acquired the sales rights for the film.
Production financing for the Nigeria shoot was provided by CANEX Creations and MBO Capital. CANEX Creations is a subsidiary of the African Export-Import Bank's (Afreximbank) equity-investment arm, established in March 2024 as part of Afreximbank's strategy to invest in the African creative economy. Osahon Akpata was appointed as its CEO in September 2023.
Why this Matters to You
If you follow global cinema, this signals a notable shift in where major artistic stories are being told and financed. The backing by a pan-African financial institution like Afreximbank suggests a growing, structured investment in African creative talent, which could lead to more diverse stories reaching international audiences like those at Cannes. For film enthusiasts, the project combines a classic literary source with a specific Nigerian cultural context and a cast of acclaimed actors, promising a unique cinematic experience.
What's Next
The immediate next step is the film's world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival in May. Its reception there will likely influence its broader distribution and sales strategy, managed by Neon. The involvement of CANEX Creations... indicates this model may be applied to more African creative ventures in the future, potentially shaping the continent's film industry output.