With a writing and producing credit spanning over a decade, Emil Garuba continues to contribute creatively to the film industry, and now, he is stepping into the Marche du Film (Cannes Film Festival) on the 16th of May 2026 with his feature film ‘Ashawo’ under the ‘Work-In-Progress’, which is a pitching of unfinished films at the film festival. Emil Garuba is one of the five filmmakers selected to pitch.
The Marché du Film (Cannes Film Market) is the world’s leading film market, held annually in May alongside the Cannes Film Festival as its official business wing. It functions as the primary international hub for over 14,000 professionals, including producers, buyers, and sales agents, to network, sell, finance, and showcase over 3,400 film projects across 140+ countries.
This is part of the “AFRIFF Goes to Cannes” programme and the AFRIFF Film and Content Market for the continued belief in African storytelling and the filmmakers carrying it forward. This also highlights Nollywood projects for global visibility and investment, following the producer’s success at the 14th African International Film Festival. Emil Garuba was a co-producer of the feature film “To Adaego With Love”, which was a notable selection and best screenplay winner at the African International Film Festival.
‘Ashawo’ is a crime thriller following a young sex worker who investigates a sex-trafficking network after her best friend is killed. This film is written and directed by Emil Garuba. Produced by Sutoritera Limited in co-production with Brenda Ogbukaa Garuba of Ziva Works Limited.
