Mimi Bartels’ Movies Spark Excitement at Prestigious Toronto Film Festival
Nigerian film producer Mimi Bartels has recorded another major achievement in her career as projects associated with her received international exposure at the 2026 Toronto International Film Festival.
The festival featured The Market and The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives, while Bartels also served as producer of Old Scores: The Black Book 2. Her involvement in the productions reflects her expanding role in developing Nigerian stories for audiences beyond the country.
Bartels has spent more than 16 years working across different areas of the film business, including production, development, financing, co-production and distribution. During that period, she has been involved in the development, financing and co-production of more than 30 films.
Her distribution experience has also helped bring more than 110 titles to audiences.
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The filmmaker is currently the co-Founder and Director of Creative and Productions at Anakle Films. She previously held the position of General Manager at FilmOne Studios.
Several of the productions connected to her career have performed strongly at the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards, collectively receiving more than 30 nominations and recording two wins.
Bartels was named Nigeria’s highest-grossing producer in 2021 and has also contributed to the industry beyond production, serving as a juror for the International Emmy Awards and the AMVCA.
Commenting on her projects’ presence at TIFF, Bartels said the festival was significant because it aligned with her ambition of developing content capable of moving from local audiences to the international market.
According to her, the event provided an avenue to celebrate the films while creating opportunities for Nigerian stories to connect with audiences, filmmakers and other industry professionals globally.
Bartels also has a connection to The Black Book, having participated in its early creative development. The film went on to become Netflix’s most-watched African Original of 2023.
She later served as producer of Old Scores: The Black Book 2, an Anakle Films and Invention Studios production.
Another major project in her portfolio is The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives, based on Lola Shoneyin’s acclaimed novel. The screen adaptation was developed through a collaboration between EbonyLife Group, Nile Group, Genesis Group and Silverbird Cinemas.
Bartels said her filmmaking philosophy is centred on creating more than entertainment. Her goal, she explained, is to develop stories capable of connecting with people, creating value and reaching audiences outside Nigeria.
The TIFF exposure represents another step in that broader effort to position Nigerian productions for international audiences.
