Luther and Hijack star Idris Elba is poised to take the directorial reins for the upcoming short film Dust To Dreams, featuring singer Seal, Nollywood luminaries Nse Ikpe-Etim and Eku Edewor, Atlanta’s Bridget Johnson, and former Nigerian Idol contestant Constance Olatunde.

The collaboration between Mo Abudu’s EbonyLife Films and African Export Import Bank (Afreximbank) through its Creative Africa Nexus (Canex) brings forth this cinematic endeavour set against the bustling backdrop of Lagos, Nigeria. The narrative details the tale of a mother and her teenage daughter as they navigate the complexities of their relationship, culminating in the daughter meeting her father for the first time.

Created by Mo Abudu and helmed by Elba, the film sees Abudu taking on dual roles as executive producer and producer, with Heidi Uys serving as supervising producer. Joining forces with Abudu and Uys are producers Temidayo Makanjuola, Inem King, and Vanessa Demme.

Golden Globe recipient Elba, hailing from a British-Sierra Leonean-Ghanaian background, and Nigerian media mogul Abudu announced their partnership last year with the aim of fostering emerging talent from Africa and producing a slate of African films and TV shows. Elba, known for his directorial debut in the 2018 film Yardie, brings his expertise to this effort.

Abudu said of the collaboration: “I am delighted to be working with Afreximbank and this incredibly talented team. ‘Dust To Dreams’ is a story close to my heart, and I’m thrilled to bring it to life with such passionate collaborators.”

Multi-Grammy winner and former America’s Got Talent judge Seal, with Nigerian heritage, steps into acting with notable roles in projects such as the 2022 comedy film Me Time and the 2016 Fox musical drama The Passion, showcasing his versatility across different mediums.

Afreximbank, established in the early ’90s under the auspices of the African Development Bank, serves as a pan-African multilateral financial institution, championing initiatives like Dust To Dreams to promote African creativity and cultural exchange.