Unclaimed, the latest feature from acclaimed director Biodun Stephen officially opened in Nigerian cinemas nationwide, following a private industry premiere at Alliance Française, Ikoyi.

The psychological thriller, which stars Kunle Remi, Timini Egbuson, Elma Mbadiwe, Teniola Aladese, and Omowunmi Dada, blends suspense with emotional realism, offering a cinematic portrayal of the complexities of memory, family, and survival.

Set against the backdrop of loss and unresolved trauma, the movie follows a tightly wound narrative where personal histories unravel, and moral decisions are put to the test.

The film explores red flags, fractured relationships, and what it means to reclaim one’s truth, marking a strategic shift toward more layered and genre-fluid storytelling in Nollywood.

Kayode Kasum, producer of Unclaimed and founder of FilmTrybe, shared:

“Unclaimed is more than just a film, it’s a deeply emotional journey into family, identity, and the unspoken truths that shape us. We’re incredibly proud of the team that brought this story to life and excited for audiences to experience something bold, raw, and truly Nigerian.”

The premiere gathered key stakeholders from Nigeria’s creative economy, including producers, actors, media partners, and distribution executives.

Ladun Awobokun, Chief Content Officer at FilmOne Entertainment, emphasized the strategic importance of films like UNCLAIMED in shaping theatrical performance:

“At FilmOne, we are increasingly focused on distributing local content that is bold in genre and refined in execution. A film like Unclaimed reflects our commitment to stories that challenge conventions and deepen the creative range of Nigerian cinema.”

The film marks the debut release from Hook Entertainment and is distributed in collaboration with FilmOne Entertainment and Film Trybe.

The project is part of a wider content slate driven by studios seeking to elevate indigenous storytelling across cinema platforms in Nigeria and beyond.

Distributed by FilmOne Entertainment, the genre-defining feature explores identity, loss, and emotional rupture.

“Producing Unclaimed is more than just filmmaking, it’s about delivering a different kind of Nollywood experience.

One that’s bold, authentic, and dares to tell stories in ways our industry hasn’t explored enough.

I’m proud to bring this vision to life alongside my partners at The Hook Creative Agency, our production partners at FilmTrybe, and our distribution partners at FilmOne Entertainment.”

Sam Ochonma, CEO of The Hook Entertainment & Executive Producer

Ifeoma Okeke-Korieocha is the Aviation Correspondent at BusinessDay Media Limited, publishers of BusinessDay Newspapers. She is also the Deputy Editor, BusinessDay Weekender Magazine, the Saturday Weekend edition of BusinessDay. She holds a BSC in Mass Communication from the prestigious University of Nigeria, Nsukka and a Masters degree in Marketing at the University of Lagos. As the lead writer on the aviation desk, Ifeoma is responsible and in charge of the three weekly aviation and travel pages in BusinessDay and BDSunday. She also overseas and edits all pages of BusinessDay Saturday Weekender. She has written various investigative, features and news stories in aviation and business related issues and has been severally nominated for award in the category of Aviation Writer of the Year by the Nigeria Media Nite-Out awards; one of the Nigeria’s most prestigious media awards ceremonies. Ifeoma is a one-time winner of the prestigious Nigeria Media Merit Award under the 'Aviation Writer of the Year' Category. She is the 2025 Eloy Award winner under the Print Media Journalist category. She has undergone several journalism trainings by various prestigious organisations. Ifeoma is also a fellow of the Female Reporters Leadership Fellowship of the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism.

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