Mo Abudu, Funke Akindele, Osiberu make ‘40 Most Powerful Women in International Film’ list

Nigerian filmmakers, Mo Abudu, Funke Akindele and Jade Osiberu have been listed among the ‘40 Most Powerful Women in International Film’.

According to The Hollywood Reporter (THR) on Monday, the 40 filmmakers as “the pioneering executives and creators who are producing tomorrow’s global hits”.

The Nigerian trio made the list alongside other women from China, UK, France, Germany, Italy and South Korea.

THR spotlighted Abudu’s ‘Dust to Dreams’ film directed by Idris Elba, and Akindele’s ‘A Tribe Called Judah’ which generated over N1.4 billion at the box office.

Osiberu, on the other hand, was described as “the most artistically ambitious of a new generation of Nigerian producer-directors”.

Speaking to THR, Abudu said: “We need a systemic shift towards inclusion”.
“Recognizing that diverse storytelling is not just about representation; it is about unlocking a wealth of untapped creative potential.”

Below is THR list of the ‘40 Most Powerful Women in International Film’:

Mo Abudu — CEO EbonyLife Media (Nigeria)
Marine Ade, Janine Jackowski — Co-founders, Komplizen Film (Germany)

Funke Akindele — Producer, Film One Entertainment (Nigeria)

Lila Avilés — Producer, Limerencia Films (Mexico)

Farhana Bhula — Head of Creative, Film4 (U.K.)
Barbara Broccoli — Co-owner, Eon Productions (U.K.)

Bettina Brokemper — Founder, Heimatfilm (Germany)

Francesca Cima — CEO, Indigo Film (Italy)

Clémence De Lampugnani — Artistic Adviser, TF1 Film Production (France)

Valérie Delpierre — CEO, Inicia Films (Spain)

Sidonie Dumas — CEO, Gaumont (France)

Maria Ekerhovd — Founder, Mer Film (Norway)
Cécile Gaget — CEO, Carrousel (France)

Amelia Granger — Exec VP Film, Working Title (U.K.)

Yoko Higuchi-Zitzmann — CEO, Telepool (Germany)

Jay Hunt — Chair, British Film Institute (U.K.)
Rocío Jadue — Head of Films, Fabula (Chile)

Anne-Laure Julienne-Camus, Sophie Seydoux — CEO and VP, Pathé (France)

Elizabeth Karlsen — Co-founder, Number 9 Films (U.K.)
Guari Khan — Managing Director, Red Chillies Entertainment (India)

Minyoung Kim — VP Content for Asia, Netflix (South Korea)

Iris Knobloch — President, Cannes Film Festival (Germany/France)

Yoonhee Choi — CEO, Barunson Entertainment (South Korea)

Anne-Laure Labadie — Deputy Director, Le Pacte (France)

Miky Lee — Vice Chairwoman, CJ (South Korea)

Jia Ling — Founder, Big Bowl Entertainment (China)
Marie-Ange Luciana — Les Films de Pierre (France)

Kasia Malipan — Freelance Producer, Element Pictures (U.K.)

Anna Marsh — CEO, StudioCanal (U.K./France)

Manuela Melissano, Valeria Jamonte — Producers, Tempesta (Italy)

Laura Mora, Daniela Abad, Mirlanda Torres — Producers, La Selva Cine (Colombia)

Christina Morbin, Sandra Tapia — Arcadia Motion Pictures (Spain)

Jadesola Osiberu — Founder, Greoh Studios (Nigeria)

Ewa Puszczynska — Producer, Extreme Emotions (Poland)

Tessa Ross — Co-CEO, House Productions (U.K.)

Beata Saboova — CFO, Wrong Men (Belgium)

Carole Scotta — CEO, Haut et Court (France)

Daisy Shang — Chairwoman, Fantawild Animation

Charlotte Vincent — CEO, Aurora Films (France)

Eva Yates — Director of BBC Films (U.K.)