Media mogul Mo Abudu has dismissed allegations that a group within Nollywood is working with cinema owners to restrict screening opportunities for certain films.
Speaking on ARISE TV, Abudu emphasised that cinema operations are guided by business considerations and audience demand rather than personal preferences or favoritism.
Veteran actress Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, who joined the discussion, noted that concerns about unfair practices in the industry have become increasingly common.
“I have heard these things, people have been saying this. Actors themselves have come out to say this has happened to them. And there are some fans too who corroborate these stories, confirming that some people convinced them to watch one movie apart from the movie they came to see,” Omotola said.
Responding, Abudu said, it makes no commercial sense for cinemas to restrict screenings or discourage audiences from watching particular films.
Abudu cited EbonyLife Cinemas, which she owns, as an example, stating that the company prioritises filling seats to maximize return on investment.
Abudu explained that screening schedules are adjusted based on performance, with cinemas balancing creative considerations with operational costs like electricity and staff salaries.
She emphasised that decisions are not personal and apply equally to all producers, regardless of ownership or status.
Responding, Abudu said, “I can’t speak for all the cinemas, but I can certainly speak for EbonyLife Cinemas. it’s not true. We run a professional business. Our return on investment depends very heavily on making sure that we have people sitting in every single cinema.
“It is in our interest to ensure that every cinema is full. We have five cinemas in EbonyLife. We do about 30 screenings a day. That’s about 900 screenings in a month. There is plenty of space.”
Addressing complaints about peak-hour slots, she said audience demand does not always align with expectations. “Even if you say people prefer peak hours, and they get 50% of that, that’s still about 450 screenings in a month,” she said.
“When your film is in our cinema and it has no audience, and I am running air conditioning and paying staff, and you only have two or three people in a 100-seater cinema, by the next week we are going to have a conversation,” she said. “That time slot can no longer really work.”
“There is no sentiment to anybody being in the cinema space,” Abudu added
To buttress her point, she referenced a film produced by her daughter, Temidayo Abudu, which was removed from cinemas due to poor turnout, “My daughter had a film in the cinema last year. When it wasn’t performing, we had to move the film out. So there is no sentiment,” she said.
“This is about return on investment. It does not matter who owns the film. If I, Mo Abudu, make a film and we are not able to fill up the seats, it’s going to give way to the next film that can,” she added.
The comments come amid growing tension between filmmakers and cinema operators, with some alleging unfair practices and unfavourable screening times.
