Award-winning filmmaker, Doris Ariole, and her production partner, who is also an American media executive, Kady Edwards-Campbell, have secured a combined 16 nominations at the 2026 Toronto International Nollywood Film Festival for their latest faith-based productions titled, ‘Unboxing Love’ and ‘Not Letting Us Go’.
The nominations, achieved through a collaboration between Ariole’s Hadassah Brand and Edwards-Campbell’s Kaemedia Networks in the United States, underscore the growing international recognition of faith-inspired storytelling and the increasing global appeal of Nollywood-Hollywood partnerships.
A statement shared with Saturday Beats noted that as part of the festival, ‘Unboxing Love’ will have its world premiere, while ‘Not Letting Us Go’, which has already attracted strong audience engagement on YouTube, will also be screened.
Reacting to the milestone, Ariole stated that the recognition reflects years of commitment to producing films that meet international standards.
Rather than describing her productions as conventional Christian films, the filmmaker said she prefers the term “kingdom stories,” explaining that her projects focus on universal themes such as hope, healing, love and grace.
“Our stories are for everyone. We don’t create films that judge or condemn people of other faiths. We promote God’s love and kingdom values through compelling storytelling that offers hope and comfort,” she said.
Ariole added that Hadassah Productions is intentionally challenging long-held perceptions that faith-based films are technically inferior by investing in world-class production quality capable of competing on international platforms.
“For a long time, faith-based films were viewed as technically mediocre. We are changing that narrative. Our benchmark has always been to produce films that meet international production standards,” she said.
The latest recognition adds to Ariole’s growing international profile. According to her, her films have consistently received selections and nominations at film festivals across North America since 2016, alongside recognition in Nigeria, including nominations at the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards.
The collaboration with Edwards-Campbell, she said, reflects a shared vision of combining Nollywood’s storytelling strengths with Hollywood-level production values, demonstrating that faith-based cinema has evolved into a globally competitive genre capable of attracting mainstream audiences.
