Everybody loves Jenifa is the most expensive film because I had to flat the cast and crew to Ghana,” Fhnke Akindele discloses

Funke Akindele Reveals Why Everybody Loves Jenifa Is Her Most Expensive Film

Nollywood actress and filmmaker Funke Akindele has revealed that Everybody Loves Jenifa is the most expensive film she has ever produced, attributing its high production cost to filming in both Nigeria and Ghana.

The actress disclosed this during an interview with CNN Africa journalist Larry Madowo, where she discussed her filmmaking career, the success of her productions and the financial demands of making the blockbuster movie.

According to Akindele, filming in two countries significantly increased the production expenses, particularly because the entire cast and crew had to be transported to Ghana for some scenes.

Why Everybody Loves Jenifa Was So Expensive

Akindele explained that taking the production beyond Nigeria required a substantial financial commitment.

The filmmaker revealed that the production team travelled to Ghana, where some scenes were filmed at Safari Valley Resort, a luxury hospitality destination.

She described the experience as expensive, explaining that transporting the entire cast and crew across international borders contributed significantly to the film’s budget.

Beyond transportation, filming in another country also involves accommodation, logistics, equipment movement and location expenses.

Akindele also explained that she prefers creating her own filming environments rather than depending entirely on existing properties or people’s homes.

She revealed that she sometimes rents or purchases properties before transforming them into sets that suit her creative vision.

Although she did not disclose the exact amount spent on the production, her explanation provides an insight into the financial demands of making a large-scale Nollywood film.

How Filming in Two Countries Affected the Budget

Producing a movie across two countries involves considerably more planning and expenditure than filming in a single location.

For Everybody Loves Jenifa, moving cast members and crew between Nigeria and Ghana meant additional transportation and accommodation arrangements.

The production also required suitable filming locations, including Safari Valley Resort in Ghana, which Akindele described as an expensive place to shoot.

These expenses demonstrate how international production decisions can increase a movie’s overall budget.

However, the decision to film in Ghana also allowed the production to incorporate a different setting into its storyline, expanding the visual experience beyond the usual Nigerian locations.

What This Says About Nollywood’s Growing Ambition

Akindele’s revelation highlights the growing ambitions of Nigeria’s film industry.

Over the years, Nollywood has continued to expand its storytelling approach, with filmmakers investing in larger productions, international locations and more elaborate cinematic experiences.

The success of Everybody Loves Jenifa demonstrates the commercial potential of ambitious Nigerian productions.

Released in Nigerian cinemas on December 13, 2024, the movie eventually grossed approximately ₦1.88 billion at the Nigerian box office, making it one of the country’s biggest commercial film successes.

Its performance demonstrates that Nigerian audiences are willing to support locally produced films on a large scale.

However, box-office revenue should not be confused with production profit. The money generated from cinema screenings does not automatically represent what the filmmaker takes home after production, distribution, marketing and other expenses.

Akindele’s experience also highlights the financial risks involved in producing expensive films. While bigger budgets can create opportunities for more ambitious storytelling, filmmakers must also consider whether their productions can attract enough audiences to justify the investment.

Ultimately, Everybody Loves Jenifa reflects how far Nollywood’s production ambitions have evolved. Filmmakers are increasingly willing to invest in bigger projects, explore international locations and create cinematic experiences that can attract audiences beyond Nigeria.

For Nollywood, this represents an important step towards greater international recognition and a more competitive film industry.