The Specialists adds another international honour to the Nigerian filmmaker’s growing list of recognitions
There has been an outpouring of congratulations from friends, family members, filmmakers and industry colleagues following the latest international recognition of Nigerian filmmaker and creative entrepreneur Paulgold Olalekan Joseph, who has been named Best Producer –Nollywood Film at the 10th edition of the Toronto International Nollywood Film Festival (TINFF@10) in Canada.
Paulgold received the honour for his work on the feature film The Specialists, a political crime thriller produced by AFRIGOS Films. The official TINFF@10 winners list confirms The Specialists as the winning film in the Best Producer Nollywood Film category.
The recognition has triggered renewed celebration among those who have followed Paulgold’s journey over the years, particularly colleagues who describe his career as one built less on noise and more on persistence, production, mentorship and an unwavering commitment to Nigerian cinema.
For many close to him, the TINFF award is significant because it comes for a film that has continued to attract international recognition before its commercial release.
The Specialists had earlier secured Best Diaspora Film at the International Black & Diversity Film Festival in Ontario, Canada, while also receiving recognition at the Global Music Awards in California for its original sound and music score. The film was subsequently selected at TINFF@10, where it received multiple nominations before emerging with the Best Producer – Nollywood Film honour.
TINFF’s official 2026 nominations list also records Paulgold as a nominee for Best Director – International for The Specialists.
“This one feels particularly special”
Friends and colleagues say the latest recognition represents more than another award on a shelf. They point to Paulgold’s long-standing involvement in film production, training and creative industry development, particularly through AFRIGOS Film & Media Academy, where he has invested substantially in training and developing emerging filmmakers.
Those close to the filmmaker describe him as someone who has consistently operated across several sides of the industry — as a producer, director, trainer, creative entrepreneur and mentor — while continuing to develop his own productions.
The TINFF recognition therefore comes at an interesting point in his career, as The Specialists continues to travel internationally and attract attention from festivals, distributors and industry stakeholders.
A film that keeps travelling
Written by Emil Garuba and Echobu Michael Garuba, The Specialists features an ensemble cast that includes Sam Dede, Bimbo Akintola, Francis Duru, Baaj Adebule, Preach Bassey, Mbasiti Jesse and Mariah Ugbashi, among others.
The film was directed and produced by Paulgold Olalekan Joseph and developed as an ambitious Nigerian production with international aspirations.
The official TINFF nominations page listed The Specialists among the nominees for Best African Film, Best Director – International, Best Producer International, Best Cinematography Film and Best Original Music Score, among other recognitions.
For members of Paulgold’s professional circle, the latest award reinforces what they have been saying about the filmmaker for years: that his strongest story may ultimately be the body of work he is building.
“We are proud of the journey”
Speaking informally about the recognition, people within his circle have described the award as a moment worth celebrating not only for Paulgold but for the wider team behind The Specialists. The sentiment among those celebrating him is that producing a feature film is ultimately a collective undertaking, and that the award reflects the contributions of the writers, actors, cinematographers, crew, financiers, post-production collaborators, partners and everyone who helped move the film from script to screen.
For Paulgold, however, the recognition also represents another international marker in a career that has increasingly moved between filmmaking, film education, creative entrepreneurship and industry development.
And perhaps fittingly, The Specialists is still only beginning its journey. The film remains positioned for further festival, distribution and audience opportunities as its international recognition continues to grow.
For the people who have known Paulgold long before the latest headlines, the celebration is therefore not simply about an award. It is about watching years of work, sacrifice and persistence finally receive recognition on an international platform.
And this time, Toronto has added its voice: Paulgold Olalekan Joseph and his Hollywood post-production collaborator Chuck Okudo are officially the recipients of the 2026 TINFF Best Producer – Nollywood Film award for The Specialists.
About the Author
