Actor, producer, and reality TV star Pere Egbi has opened up about the significant financial losses he incurred on his latest film project, supporting fellow actor Femi Branch’s concerns about challenges faced by Nigerian filmmakers in cinemas.
In an Instagram post on December 31, Pere detailed his ordeal with his movie, The Silent Intruder, which he claimed was unfairly treated by cinema operators.
Pere revealed that he invested over ₦150 million of his personal savings into the film’s production and borrowed an additional ₦11 million from a friend in London, bringing the total cost to over ₦200 million. However, the film grossed only ₦53 million in cinemas, leaving him with a meager ₦8 million in profits.
Expressing frustration, Pere noted that despite being released nearly 11 months ago, The Silent Intruder has not been picked up by major streaming platforms like Netflix or Prime Video, unlike other films released around the same time.
He disclosed that the financial strain forced him to leave Nigeria and return to the United States to work and repay the loan he took to fund the film. Pere also threatened to release the movie on YouTube if no streaming deals materialize by the end of January 2025.
In his Instagram post, Pere wrote: “Dear Femi Branch, thank you for speaking out. Everything you said is true. I planned to wait until January 2025 to act, but I’ve had enough.
“Cinemas hiding films and giving poor screen times happened to The Silent Intruder. I spent over ₦150 million of my funds, borrowed another ₦11 million, and after investing over ₦200 million, the film grossed only ₦53 million, with me receiving just ₦8 million.
“It’s been nearly 11 months, and still no Netflix or Prime Video deal, while other films are streaming. Because of this, I had to leave Nigeria and return to America to repay my loan. If nothing changes by January’s end, I’ll release the film on YouTube. Enough is enough.”
Pere’s experience highlights the challenges Nigerian filmmakers face, from cinema practices to limited opportunities for streaming distribution.
