# Sylvia (2018 film)

Sylvia is a 2018 Nigerian supernatural thriller film directed by Daniel Oriahi, written by Vanessa Kanu, and produced by Ekene Som Mekwunye for Trino Motion Pictures. The movie was screened at the Nollywood Week in Paris on May 5, 2018 and was released across cinemas on September 21.

## Plot

Richard Okezie decides to leave Sylvia, his lifelong imaginary friend and lover for Gbemi a flesh-and-blood real woman, but complications arise when Sylvia decides to destroy Richard's peaceful life.

## Cast

* Chris Attoh as Richard Okezie
* Zainab Balogun as Sylvia
* Ini Dima-Okojie as Gbemi
* Udoka Oyeka as Obaro
* Ijeoma Grace Agu as Hawa
* Captain Coker as Little Richard
* Amina Mustapha as Little Sylvia
* Precious Shedrack as Teenage Sylvia
* Dumpet Enebeli as Teenage Obaro
* Ndifreke Josiah Etim as Teenage Richard
* Mohammed Abdullahi Saliu as Mr Hassan
* Omotunde Adebowale David (Lolo) as Mrs Iweta
* Lord Frank as Mr Temidayo Davies
* Bolaji Ogunmola as Nurse Karen
* Elsie Eluwa as Richards Mum

## Release

The movie was first screened in May 2018 at the Nollywood Week Paris. The official Trailer was released August 6, 2018. After a premiere at Terra Kulture on the 16th of September, the movie was made available in all cinemas on September 21, 2018

## Critical reception

Sylvia received reviews from critics.
Franklin Ugobude of PulseNG said, “There's a lot to like about Sylvia really: for one, there's this fresh feel to an existing story on spirituality, something that is pretty common in our world today”.
Precious Nwogwu of MamaZeus described the movie as “Spellbinding: The best Nollywood thriller in recent times”.
The Maveriq of Tha Revue’s take was “Sylvia is one of the darkest thrillers that has ever come out of Nollywood and I must commend Trino studios for their courage in making this film because this isn’t the quintessential Nollywood production”.
Oris Aigbokhaevbolo in his feature review on BellaNaija shared “It was heartening to have the origin of the spirit-spouse be broached but never really explained. The film shows it is the product of a Nigerian mind in how the existence of the spiritual realm is taken as a given, and its characters are modern figures wrestling ancient myths, citified kids fighting what we think of us as village people.”

## Accolades
### Film festivals

| Date | Festival |
| May 5, 2018 | Nollywood Week Paris |
| May 23, 2019 | Africa Film Trinidad and Tobago |
List of Award Nominations :
| Award | Category | Recipients and nominees | Result |
| Africa Film Academy (14th Africa Movie Academy Awards) | Best Young/Promising Actor | Zainab Balogun | Nominated |
| Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards (2020 Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards) | Best Actress in a Drama | Zainab Balogun | Nominated |
| Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards (2020 Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards) | Best Writer Movies/ TV Series | Vanessa Kanu | Nominated |
| Golden Movie Awards (2019 Golden Movie Awards) | Golden Actor in Drama | Chris Attoh | Nominated |
| Golden Movie Awards (2019 Golden Movie Awards) | Golden Actress in Drama | Zainab Balogun | Nominated |
| Golden Movie Awards (2019 Golden Movie Awards) | Golden Supporting Actress in Drama | Ini Dima-Okojie | Nominated |
| Golden Movie Awards (2019 Golden Movie Awards) | Golden Movie Drama | Sylvia (Ekene Som Mekwunye) | Nominated |
| Golden Movie Awards (2019 Golden Movie Awards) | Overall Golden Movie | Sylvia | Nominated |
| Golden Movie Awards (2019 Golden Movie Awards) | Golden Sound Editor | Michael Ogunlade | Nominated |
| Golden Movie Awards (2019 Golden Movie Awards) | Golden Editor Video | Jude Chidebe | Nominated |