The Nollywood film industry has achieved another global milestone with the movie 'Black Market', a crime thriller, setting a Guinness World Record for the largest attendance at a film screening in a single location. On Saturday, a total of 51,000 people gathered at Tafawa Balewa Square in Lagos to watch the film. The event drew thousands of movie lovers who began arriving at the venue from 2 pm, forming long queues ahead of the 7 pm screening.
The Guinness World Records confirmed the 51,000 attendance after the event, clarifying that only viewers who remained from the beginning to the end of the film were counted. This confirmation followed an earlier announcement by Lagos State Deputy Governor, Obafemi Hamzat, that 64,000 people had attended the event. The official confirmation triggered celebrations, cheers, and fireworks at the venue.
The organisers had set a target of 50,000 simultaneous viewers in a bid to break the previous record of 43,624 people, set by Iglesia Ni Cristo during a screening of Felix Manalo at The Philippine Arena in Ciudad de Victoria, Philippines, on October 4, 2015. The event was attended by notable figures, including Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Toke Benson, and Nollywood stars such as Lateef Adedimeji, Kunle Remi, Stan Nze, Linda Ejiofor, Gabriel Afolayan, and Kunle Afolayan.
The film 'Black Market' was produced in collaboration with FilmOne Studios, Signet Ring Studios, and Switch Visuals Production. Directed by Fatimah Binta Gimsay and co-written by Gimsay and Abdul Tijani-Ahmed, the film tells the story of five women involved in a cross-border smuggling operation whose lives are thrown into turmoil after the daughter of one of them is kidnapped.
The cast of 'Black Market' includes notable actors such as Linda Ejiofor-Suleiman, Lateef Adedimeji, Omowunmi Dada, Scarlet Gomez, Teniola Aladese, Susan Pwajok, Itele D Icon, and Uzor Arukwe. Gimsay had previously disclosed that breaking the world record was the goal she and her team had set for the project.
The Guinness World Record confirmation was met with excitement and praise from the film's producers and attendees. FilmOne Entertainment took to social media to celebrate the achievement, stating that 51,000+ people came together for the love of film, making history with the largest audience gathering ever for a movie screening.
The achievement marks a significant milestone for Nollywood and the film industry as a whole. The record-breaking event showcased the growing popularity of Nollywood films and the enthusiasm of movie lovers in Nigeria and beyond.
Key points
- The film 'Black Market' set a Guinness World Record for the largest attendance at a film screening in a single location with 51,000 viewers.
- The event was held at Tafawa Balewa Square in Lagos and drew thousands of movie lovers who began arriving at the venue from 2 pm.
- The film's producers and attendees celebrated the achievement, marking a significant milestone for Nollywood and the film industry.
