₦airaland Forum

Miami Beach Film Festival Selects Nigerian Short Film For Screening


A Nigerian short film is making significant waves on the international film scene. “Tears for Enebi”—a 16-minute film portraying the real-life ordeal of Enebi Annah, a celebrated beauty queen and poet—tells the harrowing story of how her life is upended when her trusted mentor and confidant rapes her. The deepest betrayal, however, is revealed in a shocking twist: the perpetrator also leads Africa’s most prominent anti-rape organization.

Since its debut, the film has been selected for nearly 20 film festivals worldwide, including the Independent Short Awards in Los Angeles, where it took home two major honors: Best Women Short Film and Best Actress for Rahmah Zakareeyah’s powerful lead performance. The film has also been featured at The Film Collective Film Festival in Virginia, among many others. Its most recent accolade comes with its selection for the Miami Beach Film Festival, marking it as one of the few African short films to be showcased at the prestigious event, scheduled for May 5th, 2026.

“Tears for Enebi” is produced by Godspower Oshodin, in association with Solution Media Studios, Mogson Productions, Purplemat Entertainment, and M2Net Studios. It is co-directed by Seun Manuel Faleye, Peter Atigogo, and Sunki, and features a talented cast including Foluke Daramola, Rahmah Zakareeyah, Seunmanuel Faleye, Kika Oshodin, and Aitaya Hansley.

This short film forms part of a larger series of advocacy-driven stories from Godspower Oshodin, which also includes upcoming projects such as “With Last Debt” and “I Don’t Blame You.” These films are slated for release later this year and are currently screening at festivals across America, Europe, Asia, and Africa.

Rahmah Zakareeyah, the internationally recognized award-winning actress who plays Enebi Annah, said:
“It is a breath of fresh air to be part of this journey. I always look for ways to contribute to societal sanity. Rape is highly condemnable, and I did my best to embody Enebi’s character with all the respect and empathy she deserves.”

Veteran Nollywood actress Foluke Daramola, who made a guest appearance, shared:
“When Dr. Oshodin invited me to be part of his anti-rape film ‘Tears for Enebi’, it was an immediate yes. Advocating against rape and abuse has been my passion since I was a young girl—it’s why I founded Passion Against Rape and Abuse in Africa (PARA Africa). ‘Tears for Enebi’ is a powerful story that directly addresses these urgent issues—and what makes it even more profound is that it is based on a true story.”

Source: https://naijagg.com/miami-beach-film-festival-selects-nigerian-short-film-for-screening/

Once thing I notice about Nigerians is our never ending craze for external validation.

It has its positives and negatives. When you want us to keep forging ahead and never playing local, it is a good thing. In fact, I acknowledge it here

SixSeven:
Exactly. As much as I am disappointed in those guys begging for money and call out begging behaviour especially by officials at the airport and everywhere, what worries non-Nigerians is the confidence an average Nigerian has. It's unmistakable, it's undeniable and it's a sign of success. And you know success has enemies. If you doubt me, watch from 1:19:00 when this lady describes Nigerians and she reminds you that Lagos is not Nigeria and non-Nigerians can't understand our vibe. You can't give what you don't have, it's in us.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E9Y8JU0ynac

One more thing is that while Nigerians can overdo, when it comes to competence, we can overdo too. We will call you out if you are faking it and that's a sign of excellence. When you want to keep doing well at what you do. Nigerians keep aiming higher, fight for international relevance and don't just play local. Nigerians are fighting for Grammy wey no be their own. They fight for film festivals that aren't theirs. A sign of greatness is when you don't rest on your oars. I am happy Mo recognized how the world system works and why Nigeria needs to focus on Nigeria and Africa. I miss our thought leaders of the 60s - 70s. Na wetin make Fela reconsider himself in the 70s after going through the American experience and understanding what Pan Africanism means.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mG5XVSjFijc

Nigerians who live in Southern Africa can tell you how these people are. See, the world knows that once Nigeria gets its act together, the world will shake because Nigeria ably represents the power/threat of the black man. It's better to leave us confused with maladministration and disorganization. That's why I can't give up on the country. Its current state of affairs is a paradox of some kind because the country with highly intelligent people is being run by cowards and undeserving miscreants. When you are big, you are big, there's no time to be wasting on small issues.

Yes we are so amazing! Haibo, leave trash for LAWMA 🗑️

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UmmHSbQ5ulY

But in the quote above, if you listen to Mo Abudu, I am glad she has now found out that we don't need any international validation, let's build our own. Now that's where government comes in. Unfortunately, the government has not made the people proud of these contributions. For instance, Nollywood practitioners complained about government neglect. It was not until 2014 when the government of Jonathan recognized them and the Minister of Finance, NoI included this sector in our GDP. Our government does not appreciate art, so invariably, people will go outside and work for those who will recognize them and their work. Unfortunately, you cannot tell a story if you are not the owner. Those international people are continuing a post colonial legacy of their own narrative of Africa and they will continue to be a gatekeeper for our own stories.

The other part for me is that Nigerians are fond of show off. So international is a bragging right. That's why we are crazy about Grammys, Emmys and all manners of awards that do not belong to us!

Until the black ants have a leader, they will continue to remain confused. Write your own story and own it.

This is good and commendable. Nigeria to the world

Congratulations to them all.

Congratulations to the producer.

Nigerian Filmmakers and love drama TUFUAKWA

They can't create film that will make global audience go wow.
Na to dey do drama and yeye love story dem sabi

SixSeven:
Once thing I notice about Nigerians is our never ending craze for external validation.

It has its positives and negatives. When you want us to keep forging ahead and never playing local, it is a good thing. In fact, I acknowledge it here



But in the quote above, if you listen to Mo Abudu, I am glad she has now found out that we don't need any international validation, let's build our own. Now that's where government comes in. Unfortunately, the government has not made the people proud of these contributions. For instance, Nollywood practitioners complained about government neglect. It was not until 2014 when the government of Jonathan recognized them and the Minister of Finance, NoI included this sector in our GDP. Our government does not appreciate art, so invariably, people will go outside and work for those who will recognize them and their work. Unfortunately, you cannot tell a story if you are not the owner. Those international people are continuing a post colonial legacy and they will continue to be a gatekeeper for our own stories.

The other part for me is that Nigerians are fond of show off. So international is a bragging right. That's why we are crazy about Grammys, Emmys and all manners of awards that do not belong to us!

Until the black ants have a leader, they will continue to remain confused. Write your own story and own it.

I'm trying to understand what the government's business is with the entertainment industry.

SixSeven:
Once thing I notice about Nigerians is our never ending craze for external validation.

It has its positives and negatives. When you want us to keep forging ahead and never playing local, it is a good thing. In fact, I acknowledge it here



But in the quote above, if you listen to Mo Abudu, I am glad she has now found out that we don't need any international validation, let's build our own. Now that's where government comes in. Unfortunately, the government has not made the people proud of these contributions. For instance, Nollywood practitioners complained about government neglect. It was not until 2014 when the government of Jonathan recognized them and the Minister of Finance, NoI included this sector in our GDP. Our government does not appreciate art, so invariably, people will go outside and work for those who will recognize them and their work. Unfortunately, you cannot tell a story if you are not the owner. Those international people are continuing a post colonial legacy and they will continue to be a gatekeeper for our own stories.

The other part for me is that Nigerians are fond of show off. So international is a bragging right. That's why we are crazy about Grammys, Emmys and all manners of awards that do not belong to us!

Until the black ants have a leader, they will continue to remain confused. Write your own story and own it.

While validation might be a reason I also think it has to do with that so many bad news about the country. So when a good news happens it is kind of relief and a thing of joy for Nigerians.

erad:
I'm trying to understand what the government's business is with the entertainment industry.

You don't understand the government's business with the entertainment industry

The US uses entertainment not only for influence in the world, but for national security. Inthe wake of World War II, the United States government transitioned from the overt propaganda of wartime to a sophisticated "Cultural Cold War" strategy, using entertainment as a primary tool of soft power. This effort was driven by a desire to counter Soviet influence and project an image of American freedom, diversity, and technological superiority to the rest of the world. Through agencies like the State Department and the newly formed CIA, the government became a silent partner in the arts, funding international tours for "Jazz Ambassadors" like Louis Armstrong and Dizzy Gillespie to showcase American cultural vibrancy. Behind the scenes, the CIA covertly bankrolled magazines and promoted Abstract Expressionist painters, using their avant-garde style as proof of the intellectual liberty found only in a democratic society.

Domestically, the relationship between the Pentagon and Hollywood formalized into a "military-entertainment complex." Please google this term to find out more about it. To secure the use of expensive military hardware, bases, and personnel for films, studios allowed the Department of Defense to vet scripts, ensuring that the armed forces were portrayed with prestige and heroism. Meanwhile, the creation of the United States Information Agency (USIA) turned the government into a prolific film producer in its own right, distributing thousands of documentaries and newsreels globally to "tell America’s story." By the mid-1960s, this commitment to cultural influence culminated in the establishment of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), which institutionalized federal funding for the arts as a permanent pillar of American society, ensuring that entertainment remained a vital asset for both national identity and international diplomacy.


Every government that is serious gets involved in entertainment business. Let me give you another example. In Italy, the government passed a law about dubbing movies. Mussolini's regime banned foreign-language screenings and required local dubbing to ensure propaganda control. This established a long-standing industry standard to day. When you bring in movies to them, they must meet their own language requirements. They preserve their own language that way, they also create jobs for their people because if you want to sell in that market, you need to translate to Italia.

Entertainment is easy control the people and if the government is serious about it, they will invest heavily into it. Entertainment costs money, that's why it needs government support. I give it to our creatives for doing a lot without government's support which is actually GOVERNMENT NEGLIGENCE.

Nollywood should invest in action, horror and fiction movies. That is what will sell globally.

Romance movies no dey sell market.

Nollywood, repent!

Incase Nollywood is looking for fiction writers, I dey here. I have a movie script titled "Chidi's battle".

It's a movie where the protagonist Chidi battles the Army of Terrignum when they attempted to invade Mars.

ChizzyBuna:
Nigerian Filmmakers and love drama TUFUAKWA

They can't create film that will make global audience go wow.
Na to dey do drama and yeye love story dem sabi

Nothing I wan learn for Nollywood these days. Nothing, no global exposure, no technical exposure,no financial exposure, no IQ nothing nothing just love and kingdom movies.

Tears of Enebi and Amadioha loading

SixSeven:
You don't understand the government's business with the entertainment industry

The US uses entertainment not only for influence in the world, but for national security. Inthe wake of World War II, the United States government transitioned from the overt propaganda of wartime to a sophisticated "Cultural Cold War" strategy, using entertainment as a primary tool of soft power. This effort was driven by a desire to counter Soviet influence and project an image of American freedom, diversity, and technological superiority to the rest of the world. Through agencies like the State Department and the newly formed CIA, the government became a silent partner in the arts, funding international tours for "Jazz Ambassadors" like Louis Armstrong and Dizzy Gillespie to showcase American cultural vibrancy. Behind the scenes, the CIA covertly bankrolled magazines and promoted Abstract Expressionist painters, using their avant-garde style as proof of the intellectual liberty found only in a democratic society.

Domestically, the relationship between the Pentagon and Hollywood formalized into a "military-entertainment complex." Please google this term to find out more about it. To secure the use of expensive military hardware, bases, and personnel for films, studios allowed the Department of Defense to vet scripts, ensuring that the armed forces were portrayed with prestige and heroism. Meanwhile, the creation of the United States Information Agency (USIA) turned the government into a prolific film producer in its own right, distributing thousands of documentaries and newsreels globally to "tell America’s story." By the mid-1960s, this commitment to cultural influence culminated in the establishment of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), which institutionalized federal funding for the arts as a permanent pillar of American society, ensuring that entertainment remained a vital asset for both national identity and international diplomacy.


Every government that is serious gets involved in entertainment business. Let me give you another example. In Italy, the government passed a law about dubbing movies. Mussolini's regime banned foreign-language screenings and required local dubbing to ensure propaganda control. This established a long-standing industry standard to day. When you bring in movies to them, they must meet their own language requirements. They preserve their own language that way, they also create jobs for their people because if you want to sell in that market, you need to translate to Italia.

Entertainment is easy control the people and if the government is serious about it, they will invest heavily into it. Entertainment costs money, that's why it needs government support. I give it to our creatives for doing a lot without government's support which is actually GOVERNMENT NEGLIGENCE.

Lol... So you support the government using the entertainment industry as a propaganda machine? Lol. You people are weird.

Carry on.

erad:
Lol... So you support the government using the entertainment industry as a propaganda machine? Lol. You people are weird.

Carry on.

I see that my writing is more likely to resonate more with people who’ve spent time thinking about these systems. It’s more intuitive if you’re used to abstract reasoning and involves doing a lot of work between the lines

I kinda relate with you

There is a series I watched THE ROOKIE; despite the shege people of colour see in the hands of US Police, it still portrays US Law Enforcement in greater light

SixSeven:
I see that my writing is more likely to resonate more with people who’ve spent time thinking about these systems. It’s more intuitive if you’re used to abstract reasoning and involves doing a lot of work between the lines

Wanna ask: despite the bad blood Americans see their Law Enforcers, why are movies related to them break Box Office records

erad:
Lol... So you support the government using the entertainment industry as a propaganda machine? Lol. You people are weird.

Carry on.

TheStoriesOfMan:
Nollywood should invest in action, horror and fiction movies. That is what will sell globally.

Romance movies no dey sell market.

Nollywood, repent!

Incase Nollywood is looking for fiction writers, I dey here. I have a movie script titled "Chidi's battle".

It's a movie where the protagonist Chidi battles the Army of Terrignum when they attempted to invade Mars.

we lack talented fiction scriptwriters

Congratulations to the entire team!