“For Maria Ebun Pataki” Director, Damilola Orimogunje Begins Filming For “Dear Ajayi”

After nearly ten years of waiting and preparation, Nigerian filmmaker Damilola Orimogunje has finally begun filming his second feature film, Dear Ajayi, following the release of his debut film, For Maria Ebun Pataki, in 2020. The movie, which began principal photography this week, explores the emotional journey of two estranged sisters forced to reunite after the death of their father and their mother’s sudden illness.

Set in the 1990s in southwestern Nigeria, Dear Ajayi stars Bimbo Akintola and Tosin Adeyemi as the lead characters. The story dives deep into the unspoken tensions, unresolved grief, and cultural expectations surrounding womanhood and emotional sacrifice, especially among Nigerian women.

The film is supported by a powerful ensemble cast that includes William Benson, Uzoamaka Power, Michelle Dede, Tope Tedela, Chioma’ Chigul’ Omerua, Baaj Adebule, and Kalu Ikeagwu. The project is being co-produced by Depth and Optics Productions and is set for release in 2026.

Dear Ajayi has received strong recognition during its development. In 2022, it won three awards at the Ouaga Film Lab, including the Sud Écriture Award. It also participated in major international platforms, such as the Berlinale’s Strategic Audience Design lab and Canada’s Nouveau Marché.

Orimogunje describes the film as “a film about what is left unsaid.” He explained that Dear Ajayi is close to his heart—a story he has carried for years and is now finally ready to share.

Orimogunje gained recognition for his 2020 debut, “For Maria Ebun Pataki,” which addressed postpartum depression and garnered him global praise. He later worked as a producer on All the Colours of the World Are Between Black and White, which won the Teddy Award at the 2023 Berlinale.

With Dear Ajayi, Orimogunje continues to carve out a space for emotionally raw, socially conscious Nigerian cinema that tells stories often left untold.

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