Tobe Nosike calls himself a storyteller. Nothing more, nothing less. It is the description he leads with, and it explains a lot about how 12 HOURS, his directorial debut, came to be.
Asked how the story came about, he goes back to one specific morning. “The idea for 12 HOURS came from a question that popped into my head one rainy Sunday morning. What if someone finally got everything they’d been chasing but it was already too late?” he says. “That question fascinated me because so many of us spend our lives pursuing success.”
From there, he built a story around time, choices, relationships, and how fragile life really is. He was not interested in wrapping it up neatly. “I love films that make you think, so we intentionally made 12 HOURS to invite different interpretations rather than hand the audience every answer,” he says.
12 HOURS is a 25 minute mystery thriller following Kelvin, a Lagos based photographer who wakes at midnight to an inexplicable terror and must relive the final 12 hours of his life to find out why. The film stars Stan Nze alongside Gideon Okeke, Chy Nwakanma, Pretty Mike of Lagos and Obehi Aburime.
On what making the film was actually like, Nosike does not undersell how much work went into it. “12 HOURS was a very ambitious project for us. We spent a lot of time in pre-production making sure every scene had a purpose because psychological thrillers rely heavily on details,” he says. “We wanted the audience to keep questioning what was real and what wasn’t, so the shots, the pacing of the story and the score were all intentional.”
He came away from the shoot with a lesson he did not expect. “One of the biggest lessons from making the short film was that limitations can actually make you more creative. We had to think differently, solve problems on set, and trust the cast and crew to bring the vision to life,” he says. “Looking back, I’m incredibly proud of what everyone achieved.”
12 HOURS went on to win Best Short Film Nollywood at the Toronto International Nollywood Film Festival in 2024, one of several selections and awards on its festival run. Asked how that felt, Nosike does not hide behind modesty. “It was incredibly humbling. Every selection and award was a reminder of the power of stories. Good stories,” he says. “It was encouraging to see people from different backgrounds connect with the film. It also challenged me to become a better storyteller and reminded me that every new project has to earn its own place. I’m grateful for the recognition, but I’m even more excited about what’s next.”
On why the film took so long to reach streaming, and why YouTube, his answer is short. “I guess we wanted to allow the film to travel the festival circuit first,” he says.
He wants one thing to stay with people after the film ends. “One thing I hope people take away from the film is that life is too short to spend it with the wrong people. Choose your relationships wisely and always pray to God. Always,” he says.
Asked what has changed since his directorial debut, and what has stayed the same, he answers both at once. “Looking back, I can only thank God for the growth. I’ve become more patient, more intentional, and more disciplined. I’ve also learned that directing isn’t about having all the answers, it’s about creating an environment where everyone can do their best work,” he says. “But if there’s one constant, it’s my love for brilliant storytelling. That hasn’t changed at all.”
