Shirley Frimpong-Manso’s Nollywood Debut Stitches to Premiere at TIFF 2025

Award-winning Ghanaian filmmaker Shirley Frimpong-Manso is making history with her Nollywood debut, Stitches, which has officially been selected to premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) 2025 under the Industry Selects lineup.

This marks a major milestone in her celebrated career, as Stitches steps into Nollywood’s spotlight on one of the world’s biggest cinema stages.

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About the Film: 

Stitches

Stitches tells the story of Boma, a gifted young fashion designer and hopeless romantic, who leaves her small sewing room behind to join her estranged mother’s elite Lagos fashion house. As she battles ambition, love, and societal expectations, Boma finds herself torn between two worlds — the opulence of high society and the raw struggles of her past.

With Lagos as a backdrop, Stitches promises to deliver a seductive, modern fairytale romance while highlighting the glamour and competitive edge of the African fashion industry.

The film stars Liane Cunje, alongside Nollywood icons Ramsey Nouah, Dakore Egbuson-Akande, and Regina Askia, with appearances from rising stars like Tomi Ojo and Obinna Okenwa.

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Shirley Frimpong-Manso’s Career Journey

Shirley Frimpong-Manso is no stranger to groundbreaking storytelling. From hosting TV and radio shows in Ghana to founding Sparrow Productions, her path has been anything but ordinary.

She has directed hits such as The Perfect Picture, A Sting in a Tale, and the continent’s first cinema series, Adams Apples. Her 2017 rom-com Potato Potahto premiered at Cannes Film Festival and is currently streaming on Netflix.

Known for her bold stories, layered characters, and commitment to African narratives, Shirley continues to redefine storytelling on the continent one frame at a time.

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Why TIFF 2025 Matters

TIFF’s Industry Selects is a curated program of 10 films chosen for their global acquisition potential, giving Stitches a prime opportunity to reach distributors and audiences worldwide. For Shirley, this not only signals her Nollywood debut but also places her among the African filmmakers shaping cinema’s global future.

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With Stitches making its world premiere, Shirley Frimpong-Manso is stitching together Nollywood, Ghanaian creativity, and global cinema, and all eyes are on TIFF 2025.