Bam Bam, a Nigerian short film written and directed by Tolulope Itegboje, premiered this week at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) 2025. The film, which combines science fiction with a coming-of-age story, is one of the few Nigerian works in the genre to screen on a major international stage.

 

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Written and directed by Nigerian filmmaker Tolulope Itegboje, the film follows Babatunde, a brilliant but introverted teen whose life is guided by his enigmatic friend, Bam Bam. When love enters the picture, Bam Bam’s encouragement pushes Babatunde out of his shell, but this newfound courage comes at a price: a growing suspicion about his friend’s motives and a profound confrontation with his own defining fears.

 

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The film stars Ambrose Nwoga as Babatunde and Kelechi Udegbe as Bam Bam, alongside Victory Eyong, Emmanuel Oluwatunmise, and Nimi Adekanmbi. Producer Oge Obasi of Fiery Film Company, whose recent feature Mami Wata was Nigeria’s official submission for the 2024 Oscars after winning a Special Jury Award at Sundance leads the production.

Writer-director Tolulope Itegboje, who studied at the London Film School and previously directed the Netflix-licensed documentary Awon Boyz, described the film in a statement as a deeply personal project born from a desire to see Nigerian narratives flourish in unexpected genres. “A film like Bam Bam doesn’t exist in Nigeria. That’s why I had to make it,” Itegboje explained. “At its core, it’s a story about wanting to be seen. That longing is something I know well, from my own youth, filled with loneliness, doubt, and the restless need to belong.” He added that the film grew out of his fascination with how technology can reflect human memory, family, and love.

The project’s team draws on deep experience across Nollywood and global cinema. Cinematography is by Kagho Idhebor, whose recent short The Broken Mask won Best Short Film at the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards in 2024. The film’s score is composed by Ré Olunuga, who recently worked on Disney’s Iwájú and Rise. Editor Ejorh is regarded as one of Nigeria’s top cutters, with credits including The Milkmaid, which represented Nigeria at the Oscars in 2021. The film’s ambitious vision is also backed by a trio of executive producers: Dodos Uvieghara, Ezra Olubi, and Olamide Adedeji.

Following its TIFF premiere, Bam Bam is expected to tour international festivals before a wider release.