Nollywood is preparing for a historic moment as the Nigerian film industry sets its sights on the Guinness World Records with Black Market, a film screening event in Lagos designed to attract a record-breaking 50,000 attendees and showcase the global scale of African cinema.
Nollywood is preparing for a potential record-breaking moment as Black Market, a crime thriller starring Lateef Adedimeji and Linda Ejiofor-Suleiman, heads for its September 26 premiere at Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos. Beyond unveiling the film to audiences, the event is designed as a global statement, with organisers aiming to draw 50,000 attendees and surpass the 11-year-old Guinness World Record held by Iglesia Ni Cristo after the 2015 premiere of Felix Manalo, which recorded 43,624 attendees at the Philippine Arena.
The film Black Market tells the gripping story of five market women who run a cross-border smuggling operation. Set against a backdrop of severe fuel scarcity and escalating pressures, their underground business runs with intense discipline until a dangerous kidnapping pulls them into a desperate battle for survival and loyalty. The plot thickens when a rival kidnaps the daughter of one of the women. The group is pushed to the limit, risking everything they have to save her.
Behind Black Market is filmmaker Fatimah Binta Gimsay, who takes on both directing and co-writing duties with Abdul Tijani-Ahmed. The crime thriller brings together a strong ensemble cast featuring Itele D Icon, Scarlet Gomez, Omowunmi Dada and Uzor Arukwe, complemented by emerging talents who add fresh energy to the production.
Following the success of their 2025 hit Red Circle, Rixel Studios returns with Black Market, its second major production, in collaboration with FilmOne Studios and and Signet Ring Studios. The project reflects Nollywood’s continued evolution, combining a gripping crime narrative with an ambitious attempt to create a landmark moment beyond the cinema screen.
