Mimi Bartels’ movies set Toronto International Film Festival agog

Nigerian film producer Mimi Bartels has recorded yet another milestone with her two productions, The Market and The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives, which screened at the 2026 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF).

Aside from being one of the producers of The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives, Bartels also served as producer of Old Scores: The Black Book 2, which was presented at the festival. The two projects reflect different aspects of her more than 16 years of experience across film production, development and distribution.

The filmmaker has been involved in the development, financing and co-production of more than 30 movies, while her distribution work has contributed to the release of over 110 titles.

Bartels, who previously served as General Manager of FilmOne Studios, is co-Founder/Director of Creative and Productions at Anakle Films. Her production credits include films that have collectively received more than 30 Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA) nominations, with two wins. She was also named Nigeria’s highest-grossing producer in 2021, and has served as a juror for the International Emmy Awards and AMVCA.

Speaking on the significance of having two productions represented in Toronto, Bartels said the development aligns with her focus on taking Nigerian stories to international audiences.

“As I am focused on local-to-global content, TIFF 2026 was more meaningful in the journey of taking our titles to the world, on our own terms,” she disclosed. “TIFF provides an opportunity not only to celebrate the work itself, but also to connect the stories we are telling in Nigeria with audiences, filmmakers and industry professionals from around the world.”

Bartels was equally involved in the early creative development of The Black Book, which became Netflix’s most-watched African Original of 2023. She returned as producer for its sequel, Old Scores: The Black Book 2, an Anakle Films and Invention Studios production.

Her screen adaptation of Lola Shoneyin’s acclaimed novel, The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives, was a collaborative project involving EbonyLife Group, Nile Group, Genesis Group and Silverbird Cinemas.

Reflecting on her approach to filmmaking, Bartels said her ambition extends beyond production to creating stories that can reach audiences beyond Nigeria.

“The goal is not simply to make films. It is to build stories that connect with people, create value and have the potential to travel,” she stated.