After making its debut at the Nollywoodweek Paris Film Festival weeks ago, it appears that Adekunle ‘Nodash’ Adejuyigbe’s The Delivery Boy has become a film festival delight. In case you didn’t know, the movie screened at the New York African Film Festival last month, which marked 25 years of being a global melting pot of African cinema.

Along with 66 films from 25 countries, The Delivery Boy is Nodash’s first, self-funded feature film. So, you might be inclined to ask: what’s the big deal? Well, aside from being the only Nigerian film that screened at NYAFF, the movie also earned a string of glowing reviews so much so that the time slotted for the Q and A session wasn’t enough and organisers had to procure another hall for the session to continue.

The film screened to a hall full of film enthusiasts, reporters and Hollywood insiders, among who was Andrew Dosunmu, the director of movies like 2013’s Mother of George and 2017’s Where is Kyra? Dosunmu has an enviable body of work but let’s keep the spotlight on Nodash, shall we?

Over the last few years, Nodash has grown to become a silent powerhouse in Nollywood. When not giving filmmaking tips via Instagram, Nodash is writing and directing movies. The award winning and internationally recognised cinematographer directed photography for films like Isoken, The Tribunal and Kunle Afolayan’s The Bridge, and the third season of popular web series Gidi Up.

About The Delivery Boy: I guess we are going to be seeing more of characters like Amir and Nkem when the movie hits theatres. Per the movie’s plot synopsis, Amir is a young orphan raised in an African extremist group who runs away on the eve of a suicide mission, taking his bomb vest with him. He runs into Nkem, a young sex worker escaping a lynch mob for a crime committed while trying to get money to save her dying brother. Before the night is over, they traverse the underbelly of the Nigerian metropolis as they search for their identities, their stolen pasts, money, and any semblance of peace they can find.

Nodash is known for mentoring young talents so it’s no surprise that he showcases rookie Jammal Ibrahim for the lead role. Jammal stars alongside MTV Shuga Naija star Jemima Osunde, Charles Etubiebi, Jude Chukwuka, Chris Iheuwa and Kehinde Fasuyi. Fun fact: The Delivery Boy was made on a shoestring budget. By itself, the movie has garnered much acclaim, and I can’t help but wonder about Nodash’s next project if sufficiently funded.