Celebrated Ghanaian filmmaker Shirley Frimpong-Manso has made history with her Nollywood debut film, Stitches, which has been officially selected for the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) Industry Selects program.
Industry Selects is a curated showcase of 10 outstanding films chosen beyond TIFF’s Official Selection, reserved exclusively for accredited buyers and distributors.
It highlights works with strong global acquisition potential, making it one of the most anticipated categories at the festival.
Set in Lagos, Stitches follows the story of Boma, a talented young fashion designer who, after a personal tragedy, leaves her modest beginnings to join her estranged aunt’s high-society fashion house.
Caught between ambition, class struggles, and the search for acceptance, Boma’s journey intertwines with the city’s haute couture world and a budding romance with the son of Lagos’ leading philanthropic fashionista.
Speaking about the film, Frimpong-Manso described it as a modern African fairytale with universal themes.
“With its blend of glamour, grit, and raw emotion, Stitches is a story for anyone who’s ever felt the weight of societal expectation. This isn’t just a film. It’s a reminder that African stories – especially Nollywood ones – can inspire the world,” she said.
TIFF programmer Liane Cunje praised the film’s elegance and emotional depth, while Shirley herself reflected on the personal connection she found during production.
“Stitches stole my heart. I spent over a month in Lagos working on my first Nollywood film, and the experience was unforgettable. The story offered me refuge on my hardest days – a world of love, loss, family, and judgment that felt achingly familiar yet refreshingly new.”
Stitches will be screened exclusively for industry professionals at TIFF 2025, marking a significant milestone for Frimpong-Manso as she expands her filmmaking beyond Ghana to Nollywood, further cementing her reputation as one of Africa’s most visionary storytellers.
