Backed by CANEX Creations Inc. (CCInc), the intellectual property investment arm supported by Fund for Export Development in Africa (FEDA), the film reflects a strategic commitment to scaling Global Africa intellectual property for worldwide audiences. NEON will oversee theatrical release in the United States and key international territories, with NEON International managing foreign sales.
A Lagos Reimagining of a Literary Classic
Directed by twin Nigerian filmmakers Arie Esiri and Chuko Esiri, Clarissa is a contemporary reimagining of Mrs Dalloway by Virginia Woolf, relocated from post-war England to modern-day Lagos. Shot on 35mm across Lagos and Delta State, the film unfolds over the course of a single evening as its titular protagonist prepares to host a party at her home. The gathering becomes a conduit for memory—bringing former intimates back into her orbit and stirring reflections on love, ambition, secrecy, and the quiet compromises of adulthood.
The decision to shoot on film rather than digital speaks to the filmmakers’ artistic aspirations. The texture and permanence of 35mm, they suggest, is intended to anchor Clarissa within the lineage of enduring modern cinema.
A Distinguished Cast Anchors the Production
The ensemble cast bridges continents and generations of acclaimed talent. Academy Award and Emmy Award nominee Sophie Okonedo stars alongside Golden Globe and BAFTA nominee David Oyelowo and Emmy Award winner Ayo Edebiri. They are joined by India Amarteifio, known for Bridgerton; Toheeb Jimoh of Ted Lasso; and Nikki Amuka-Bird, recognized for her role in Knock at the Cabin.
The Esiri brothers write, direct, and produce the film, building on the international success of their debut feature Eyimofe (This Is My Desire), which premiered at the Berlinale, garnered multiple African Movie Academy Awards, and later received release by Janus Films before its inclusion in the Criterion Collection—a rare distinction that affirmed its lasting artistic significance.
Producing alongside the Esiris are Theresa Park of Per Capita Productions and Nicholas Weinstock of Invention Studios, with co-producers Nina Gold and Thomas Bassett. Executive producers include Sophie Okonedo, Dolly Omodolapo Kola-Balogun, Osahon Okunbo, and Jason Reif.
African Capital, Global Scale
Production financing for Clarissa’s Nigerian shoot was provided entirely by Africa-based institutions, led by CCInc alongside MBO Capital. The structure highlights an increasingly confident African investment landscape capable of underwriting internationally competitive film projects without reliance on foreign capital at the production stage.
Osahon Akpata, Chief Executive Officer of CANEX Creations Inc., described the film as emblematic of the institution’s mandate: to support globally resonant, IP-driven storytelling rooted on the continent while engineered for export. According to Akpata, the acquisition by NEON not only validates the filmmakers’ creative ambition but also demonstrates the commercial viability of Africa-backed financing frameworks for scalable, cross-border content.
For co-director and producer Chuko Esiri, the project represents a deliberate commitment to continental ownership. Ensuring that Clarissa was both creatively grounded and financially resourced within Africa, he noted, reflects growing confidence that stories of global relevance can originate—and be fully supported—from within the continent itself.
Catalyzing Export-Ready Creative Assets
The deal was negotiated by NEON’s Kate Gondwe, with UTA Independent Film Group representing the filmmakers. Beyond the immediate distribution milestone, Clarissa stands as a strategic signal of CCInc’s broader mission: to catalyze export-ready intellectual property across film, television, music, fashion, and other IP-intensive sectors.
As African creative industries increasingly intersect with global markets, investments such as this position Global Africa storytelling not merely as cultural expression, but as a scalable economic asset class—capable of competing on the world stage while remaining firmly rooted at home.