Nigerian filmmaker Mimi Bartels has achieved another major milestone as two of her productions, ‘The Market’ and ‘The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives’, were screened at the 2026 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF).
In addition to co-producing ‘The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives’, Bartels also produced ‘Old Scores: The Black Book 2’, which was presented at the festival. Both projects highlight different dimensions of her over 16 years of experience in film production, development and distribution.
The producer has participated in the development, financing and co-production of more than 30 films, while her work in distribution has supported the release of over 110 titles.
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Bartels, former General Manager of FilmOne Studios, is currently Co-Founder/Director of Creative and Productions at Anakle Films. Her production portfolio includes films that have collectively earned over 30 Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA) nominations and secured two wins.
She was named Nigeria’s highest-grossing producer in 2021 and has served as a juror for both the International Emmy Awards and the AMVCAs.
Commenting on having two of her projects featured in Toronto, Bartels said the recognition fits into her drive to project Nigerian stories onto the global stage.
“As I am focused on local-to-global content, TIFF 2026 was more meaningful in the journey of taking our titles to the world, on our own terms,” she disclosed.
“TIFF provides an opportunity not only to celebrate the work itself, but also to connect the stories we are telling in Nigeria with audiences, filmmakers and industry professionals from around the world,” she noted.
Bartels also played a key role in the early creative development of ‘The Black Book’, which emerged as Netflix’s most-watched African Original in 2023. She returned as producer for its follow-up, ‘Old Scores: The Black Book 2’, a joint production by Anakle Films and Invention Studios.
Her screen adaptation of Lola Shoneyin’s celebrated novel, ‘The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives’, was executed in collaboration with EbonyLife Group, Nile Group, Genesis Group and Silverbird Cinemas.
Speaking on her filmmaking philosophy, Bartels said her vision goes beyond simply producing movies to crafting stories with wider resonance.
“The goal is not simply to make films. It is to build stories that connect with people, create value and have the potential to travel,” she stated.
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