Damilola Orimogunje’s Dear Ajayi has won two awards at the 83rd Venice International Film Festival, adding another milestone to the Nigerian filmmaker’s growing international profile.
The 2026 period drama received the Bisato d’Oro Award for Best Cast and Performances and the CICT-UNESCO Enrico Fulchignoni Prize, presented with the Fellini Medal, at Venice Days, the independent section of the Venice Film Festival also known as Giornate degli Autori.
The achievement follows the film’s historic selection as the first Nigerian production to compete in the Venice Days programme. Dear Ajayi had its official screening at Venice on September 10 as part of the 2026 selection.
The Enrico Fulchignoni jury recognised the film for its treatment of migration within a changing Nigerian society, while also highlighting the performances of its two central actors and Orimogunje’s direction.
The Bisato d’Oro jury, meanwhile, recognised the ensemble cast for its performances and the way the film uses Nigerian music and culture in telling its story.
Set in southwestern Nigeria in the 1990s, Dear Ajayi follows two estranged sisters, Ade and Titi Ajayi, whose lives have taken sharply different directions. Their already strained relationship is tested when their ailing mother returns to the family home, forcing the sisters to confront unresolved tensions.
Bimbo Akintola plays Ade, a devout Christian who has become the family’s main provider, while Tosin Adeyemi plays Titi, an aspiring singer whose ambitions and independent outlook clash with her sister’s values. Their mother’s return brings old resentments back to the surface, forcing the women to confront questions of faith, ambition, sacrifice, family and the lives they have chosen.
The film also stars veteran actress Lanre Hassan, William Benson, Antar Laniyan, Uzoamaka Power, Michelle Dede, Chioma Omeruah, popularly known as Chigul, Tope Tedela and Baaj Adebule.
Orimogunje wrote, directed and produced the film. He produced it alongside Ajah Enene-Orimogunje and Bose Oshin, with Zorana Mušikić, May Odeh and Joshua Alabi serving as co-producers.
KC Obiajulu handled cinematography, Olalekan Afolabi edited the film, Abisola Omolade served as art director, Ajah Enene-Orimogunje designed the costumes, while Ré Olunuga composed the music.
The production companies behind Dear Ajayi are Mayana Films, 2o9ine Films, Depth and Optics Productions and Zynox Productions.
Dear Ajayi is Orimogunje’s second feature film following For Maria: Ebun Pataki. Its Venice run has now given the film two international awards before its planned wider release in Nigeria.
The film is set for a nationwide theatrical release in Nigeria on November 13, 2026, with FilmOne handling its West African distribution.
