Chinazaekpere Chukwu's feature directorial debut is scheduled to screen on October 28 at EbonyLife Place London.
Her Daughters' Mother, a Nollywood drama, has been selected for Film Africa 2026 in London. The selection was announced by Women in the Arts on Instagram, in a post celebrating Chinazaekpere Chukwu's feature directorial debut. The post read: "@gailchukwu is whoever she says she is and even more! Having your directorial debut go global is no small feat! We are super proud of you, queen."
Film Africa, presented by the Royal African Society, runs in London from October 23 to November 1. The film is scheduled to screen on October 28 at EbonyLife Place London.
Chukwu wrote and directed the film, which is set in Benin City, Edo, and explores motherhood, marriage and the societal expectations around the preference for male children. She said it was intended to feel like a juxtaposition of The Joys of Motherhood by Buchi Emecheta and Stay With Me by Ayọ̀bámi Adébáyọ̀. Chukwu described the film's emotional core:
"It reaches deep into the rights of women, how their lives are decided for them until the end, first by their families/spouses and finally by their kids."
The film follows Ejiro, who was married off at 16 and returns home in her thirties as a widow raising two daughters. Ejovwoke Obas Olikuntuyi plays her.
Seeking a more secure future for her children, Ejiro enters a second marriage with Osato, a lorry driver played by Philip Asaya. He promises security and education for her girls in exchange for a male heir, and when Ejiro struggles to meet his demands, the marriage becomes difficult.
Her eldest daughter, Ejaita, is played by Osas Okonyon. A teenager who dreams of becoming a doctor, she struggles with her mother's protectiveness. Najite Dede and Adeoluwa Akintoba also star.
Chukwu wrote the screenplay with Sunday Melvin Iwinosa, from a story by Efosa Ogbomo. One Child Grace Studio produced the movie, working with C.A.N.O Productions, Nka Pictures, along with Uncut Gem Productions; the movie was shot in Urhobo, Bini, English and Nigerian Pidgin.
Chukwu was named Best Director by the EbonyLife Creative Academy for A Psalm for Abigail. Her short film Ti e Nbo screened at the Africa International Film Festival in 2023, and she directed The Yard, an 18-episode television series, in 2025.
The London screening is held at EbonyLife Place London, a culture, entertainment and cinema venue set up by Mo Abudu, the Nigerian media mogul, and the EbonyLife Group. Its 160-seat Amani Auditorium is dedicated to African and Black cinema. The first EbonyLife Place, in Lagos, began operating in Victoria Island in 2019.
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