Dust to Dreams, a short film written and directed by Idris Elba and produced by Nigerian media mogul Mo Abudu, will premiere on November 14th on the streaming platform EbonyLife ON Plus.
Set in Lagos, the film tells the story of a dying nightclub owner who passes on his inheritance to his modest daughter. When a soldier’s estranged father returns, old tensions arise between the families, but music becomes the path to reconciliation. The story culminates in a duet that heals their broken relationship and revitalizes the storied club.
The cast includes British singer-songwriter Seal and Nollywood actors Nse Ikpe-Etim, Eku Edewor, Atlanta Bridget Johnson and Constance Olatunde.
“This film was the most collaborative process, from the production to the actors to the musicians. It was made because family is important and love never dies,” Elba said.
Earlier this month, Abudu launched EbonyLife ON Plus, an African lifestyle destination that celebrates creativity, culture and opportunity.
“Being able to bring ‘Dust to Dreams’ to life was a dream come true. This film is a heartfelt reflection of who we are: our love for family, our passion for music, and our deep connection to each other,” Abdu said. “These feelings are universal, and through this story we want the world to understand that, in the end, we are not all that different. This is not a movie about poverty or pity porn that the Western world tends to expect from us.”
Abudu is co-producing with Heidi Uys, Gina Carter, Temidayo Makanjuola and Inem King under her Ebonylife Films banner. This project is sponsored by Afreximbank.
Dust to Dreams had its world premiere at the Toronto Film Festival in September, followed by a European screening at the BFI London Film Festival. The film is currently up for consideration for both the Oscars and BAFTAs.
A special behind-the-scenes look at the production will also be premiered on EbonyLife ON. The film’s original soundtrack, “Mama,” written by Seal, Olatunde, Elba and The Cavemen and performed by Seal and Constance, will be released worldwide on Spotify on November 14th.
