Omotola Premieres Directorial Debut "Mother's Love" at TIFF

Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde has spent over three decades in front of the camera. Now, she’s stepped into an entirely new role, this time behind the camera, premiering "Mother's Love" at the 50th Toronto International Film Festival.

Omotola Jalade–Ekeinde has spent over three decades in front of the camera, becoming one of Africa’s most celebrated actresses and even earning a spot on the TIME 100 list. Now, she’s stepped into an entirely new role, this time behind the camera. On 6 September 2025, at the 50th Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), Omotola premiered her directorial debut, “Mother’s Love,” marking a new chapter in her extraordinary career. The film’s first screening was held at TIFF’s Lightbox 5, where an audience of distributors, sales agents, and industry insiders gathered to see what the Nollywood icon had created. And for Omotola, who has long been a face of African cinema, it was a chance to finally tell a story through her own lens.