Wale Ojo, Shaffy Bello lead world premiere tour for ‘Lights Out’
By Olaitan Ganiu British-Nigerian actor Wale Ojo and Nollywood star Shaffy Bello are set to headline the international premiere tour of a new film titled, ‘Lights Out’. They will be
By Olaitan Ganiu
British-Nigerian actor Wale Ojo and Nollywood star Shaffy Bello are set to headline the international premiere tour of a new film titled, 'Lights Out'.
They will be joined by Cameroonian actress Syndy Emade alongside key industry and cultural stakeholders, as the film rolls out across Africa and the United States.
Directed by Enah Johnscott and produced by Carista Asonganyi and Buh Melvin, 'Lights Out' explores the emotional and psychological realities of memory loss within African communities.
According to diaspora-based Check Sense Productions, the film will begin its international rollout on April 18 at Majestic Cinemas Bessenge in Douala, Cameroon.
"It will then expand to Abidjan on May 1 for a wider Pan-African release, before heading to the United States for a premiere on May 2 at Phoenix Theatres Lennox Town Center 24 in Ohio," the statement reads.
Speaking about the project, Johnscott said the film places viewers inside the fragile mind of its central character.
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“Through Lucas's perspective, the film places the audience inside a mind struggling to hold onto reality, inviting empathy before judgment. What appears as a conspiracy slowly reveals confusion — reflecting the emotional truth of cognitive decline,” he said.
Producer Asonganyi said the story is rooted in real-life experiences of families navigating dementia with limited support, while writer and co-producer Melvin said the aim is to spark conversations that move beyond fear toward awareness and care.
"Lights Out is intended to spark conversations that move beyond fear and toward awareness and care," Melvin said.
'Lights Out' has already screened at the Silicon Valley African Film Festival and the ORION International Film Festival, where it was a finalist for Best Feature Narrative. It also featured at the Abuja International Film Festival, earning multiple nominations, including Best Cinematography.
