Actor IK Ogbonna has criticised what he calls “politics” and unfair practices in Nigeria’s cinema industry, alleging that Ini Edo’s film A Very Dirty Christmas has been deliberately undermined. He said the situation makes it difficult for filmmakers to recover their investments despite putting in huge effort and resources.
In a post on Instagram, Ogbonna claimed that some cinemas have repeatedly shifted showtimes, removed the movie from scheduled slots and even turned off air conditioning in halls showing the film. He added that celebrities doing meet and greets have had unpleasant experiences, while some front desk staff allegedly influence customers away from certain films through biased suggestions.
Ogbonna urged cinema operators and the producers involved in such actions to stop, warning that these tactics are damaging the entire industry. He stressed that producers invest heavily and only want a fair chance to show their work and recoup their funds.
He also defended the creative rights of filmmakers, insisting that external bodies should not dictate what artists can or cannot do. He pointed to the Film Censors Board as the legally recognised regulator that screens and approves movies before they are released.
The actor’s comments follow threats from the Christian Association of Nigeria over the title A Very Dirty Christmas, which he described as unfair, especially as the movie is performing well nationwide. He questioned why CAN did not speak up during the promotional stage but waited until the film had gained traction in cinemas.
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