Funke Akindele Urges Fans to Stop Sharing Clips from Her New Film ‘Behind The Scenes’

Popular Nigerian filmmaker and actress Funke Akindele has appealed to fans to stop recording and sharing clips from her latest movie, Behind The Scenes, warning that such acts could harm the success of the project.

The appeal came via her Instagram page on Saturday, December 13, 2025, following the spread of videos from cinema screenings, particularly from viewers in the United Kingdom.

Akindele emphasized that recording even a few seconds of the film in the cinema constitutes piracy, undermining the hard work, time, and financial investment poured into the project. According to her, Behind The Scenes represents a significant investment of over ₦1 billion, and unauthorised sharing could lead to substantial losses for everyone involved.

“Please don’t record, we spent over a billion on that project, don’t let me run into debt. Say no to direct & indirect piracy,” she wrote. “Take pictures at the roll-up banners and share your reviews, but no recording inside the cinema, please. Kindly share this message with family and friends—let’s support the hard work behind this masterpiece.”

The film, which explores the emotional pressures, personal sacrifices, and struggles that accompany fame and success, features prominent Nollywood actors including Tobi Bakre, Iyabo Ojo, Scarlet Gomez, and Ini Dima Okojie. It premiered in the UK on December 4, 2025, before its nationwide Nigerian release on December 12, 2025.

Opinion: Supporting Nollywood Means Respecting Cinema Etiquette

Funke Akindele’s message is a reminder of the delicate balance between audience engagement and protecting creative work. In an era where social media encourages instant sharing, even small clips of films can erode box office earnings and affect producers’ ability to fund future projects.

Fans can support Nollywood without compromising its success by watching movies in theaters, sharing reviews, and posting photos at promotional displays—ways that celebrate the film while respecting its creators. Behind The Scenes represents a labor of love, and audiences who honor Akindele’s appeal are ensuring that such passion projects continue to thrive.

With cinema piracy becoming a growing concern, the responsibility lies not just with filmmakers but with moviegoers, who are the true custodians of the industry’s sustainability.