Kenya will soon welcome the Nigerian psychological thriller Over the Bridge, set to premiere on June 6, 2025, in select cinemas across Nairobi. This marks the debut release from Screen Connect, a new Pan-African distribution initiative aimed at connecting African audiences with high-quality, culturally significant films.
Screen Connect, launched in 2024 as part of the Moving Pictures program by Some Fine Day Pix and GIZ, seeks to address distribution gaps within the African film industry. With a focus on making films from different African countries accessible across the continent, the initiative intends to strengthen the reach of African storytelling from cities like Kigali, Lagos, and Johannesburg, to Nairobi and beyond.
Cassandra Onwualu, co-founder of Screen Connect, highlighted the challenge many African audiences face in accessing films from other regions of the continent. “We want Kenyan audiences to enjoy Nigerian films and vice versa. Through partnerships with filmmakers and cinemas, we aim to promote local talent and contribute to the growth of African cinema,” she said.
Onwualu, alongside co-founders Marete Selvin of Kenya and Mizero Kabano Yannick of Rwanda, chose Over the Bridge as their first theatrical release under the Screen Connect banner. More films will follow as they expand their presence in African markets.
Directed by Tolu Ajayi, known for his work on MTV Shuga Naija and Showmax’s Diiche, Over the Bridge tells the story of Folarin, a successful investment banker whose life unravels after a government project his firm manages goes wrong. Starring Ozzy Agu, Segilola Ogidan, Joke Silva, Deyemi Okanlawon, Chimezie Imo, and Paul Adam, the film blends corporate intrigue with personal turmoil.
Ajayi shared that the film draws from his own experience during a corporate internship in Lagos in the 1990s, offering a deeper look at the social consequences of success. “Having it all often means bearing it all,” he said.
Over the Bridge has already made an impact, earning 12 nominations at the 2024 Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA), and winning Best Cinematography and Best Production Design.
The film will be shown at Century Cinemax Junction, Garden City, and Two Rivers in Nairobi through the month of June.
Watch Trailer below
