Doris Ariole and Kady Edwards-Campbell Earn 16 Nominations at Film Festival

Award-winning filmmaker Doris Ariole and her production partner, Kady Edwards-Campbell, an American media executive, have received 16 nominations at the 2026 Toronto International Nollywood Film Festival. Their latest faith-based projects are titled 'Unboxing Love' and 'Not Letting Us Go'.

This achievement comes from the partnership between Ariole's Hadassah Brand and Edwards-Campbell's Kaemedia Networks in the United States. It shows how faith-inspired storytelling is gaining international attention, and how Nollywood and Hollywood are working together more.

A statement shared with Saturday Beats mentioned that 'Unboxing Love' will have its world premiere at the festival. 'Not Letting Us Go', which has already received a lot of views on YouTube, will also be shown.

Reacting to this success, Ariole said the nominations show her dedication to making films that meet global standards. She prefers to call her films “kingdom stories” instead of traditional Christian films. She believes her work touches on themes like 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 stated.

Ariole also mentioned that Hadassah Productions is working to change the idea that faith-based films lack quality. They are putting money into top-notch production to compete on international levels.

“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 explained.

This latest recognition boosts Ariole's growing international reputation. She noted that her films have been selected and nominated at film festivals in North America since 2016. She has also been recognized in Nigeria, including nominations at the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards.

Her partnership with Edwards-Campbell shows a shared goal of blending Nollywood's storytelling talents with Hollywood-level production quality. This proves that faith-based films can now compete globally and attract broader audiences.