Filmmaker Doris Ariole bags 16 TINFF nominations

Award-winning filmmaker Doris Ariole and her American media executive partner, Kady Edwards-Campbell, have collectively earned 16 nominations at the 2026 Toronto International Nollywood Film Festival. These nominations recognize their recent faith-based productions, 'Unboxing Love' and 'Not Letting Us Go'. The collaboration between Ariole's Hadassah Brand and Edwards-Campbell's Kaemedia Networks in the United States underscores the increasing global appeal of Nollywood-Hollywood partnerships and the rising international recognition of faith-inspired storytelling.

As part of the festival, 'Unboxing Love' is set for its world premiere, while 'Not Letting Us Go,' which has already garnered significant audience engagement on YouTube, will also be screened. Ariole expressed that this recognition reflects her years of dedication to producing films that meet international standards. She prefers to describe her productions as "kingdom stories" rather than conventional Christian films, emphasizing their focus on universal themes such as hope, healing, love, and grace.

"Our stories are for everyone. We don’t create films that judge or condemn people of other faiths. We promote God’s love and kingdom values through compelling storytelling that offers hope and comfort," Ariole stated. She further explained that Hadassah Productions is actively working to counter the long-held perception that faith-based films are technically inferior. The company invests in world-class production quality to ensure its films can compete on international platforms.

“

Our stories are for everyone. We don’t create films that judge or condemn people of other faiths. We promote God’s love and kingdom values through compelling storytelling that offers hope and comfort.

"For a long time, faith-based films were viewed as technically mediocre. We are changing that narrative. Our benchmark has always been to produce films that meet international production standards," Ariole added. This latest recognition contributes to Ariole's expanding international profile. Her films have consistently been selected and nominated at festivals across North America since 2016, in addition to receiving accolades in Nigeria, including nominations at the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards.

The collaboration with Edwards-Campbell, according to Ariole, stems from a shared vision to merge Nollywood's storytelling prowess with Hollywood-level production values. This partnership demonstrates that faith-based cinema has evolved into a globally competitive genre capable of attracting mainstream audiences.

“

For a long time, faith-based films were viewed as technically mediocre. We are changing that narrative. Our benchmark has always been to produce films that meet international production standards.