Renowned Ghanaian filmmaker Shirley Frimpong-Manso has achieved a milestone with her Nollywood debut, Stitches, earning a spot in the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) Industry Select lineup.

She described the film as a contemporary African fairytale with themes that resonates universally.

“With its blend of glamour, grit, and raw emotion, Stitches is a story for anyone who’s ever felt the weight of societal expectation. This isn’t just a film. It’s a reminder that African stories – especially Nollywood ones – can inspire the world,” she said.

The film was hailed by TIFF programmer Liane Cunje for its grace and emotional resonance, as Shirley shared how personally meaningful the project became for her.

“Stitches stole my heart. I spent over a month in Lagos working on my first Nollywood film, and the experience was unforgettable. The story offered me refuge on my hardest days – a world of love, loss, family, and judgment that felt achingly familiar yet refreshingly new.”

Industry Selects is a curated showcase of 10 outstanding films chosen beyond TIFF’s Official Selection, reserved exclusively for accredited buyers and distributors.

It highlights works with strong global acquisition potential, making it one of the most anticipated categories at the festival.

Set in Lagos, Stitches follows the story of Boma, a talented young fashion designer who, after a personal tragedy, leaves her modest beginnings to join her estranged aunt’s high-society fashion house.

Caught between ambition, class struggles, and the search for acceptance, Boma’s journey intertwines with the city’s haute couture world and a budding romance with the son of Lagos’ leading philanthropic fashionista.

Stitches will be screened exclusively for industry professionals at TIFF 2025, marking a significant milestone for Frimpong-Manso as she expands her filmmaking beyond Ghana to Nollywood, further cementing her reputation as one of Africa’s most visionary storytellers.

Shirley Frimpong-Manso directed a stage play for the first time earlier this year

'Honeymoon Hotel' is the title of the stage production, sponsored by Africa Arts Network.

Shirley adapted the 'HoneyMoon Hotel' from playwright Stephen Yaw Oppong and was scheduled to run at the National Theatre in Accra from June 20th to 22nd, 2025.

So much excitement boiled up for the production due to its intriguing title, star power, and cultural significance.

A stellar cast

The play featured Joselyn Dumas, James Gardiner, Ama K. Abebrese, Godwin Namboh, Andrew Tandoh-Adote, Gadede Segbefia, David Dontoh, Jasmine Baroudi, Amanda Jissih and a seamless blend of other outstanding stage and screen actors.

About the play

Honeymoon Hotel, a witty and emotionally rich romantic dramedy set in a luxury hotel designed to celebrate everlasting love — but where not all is as romantic as it seems. As guests arrive with secrets, and the hotel staff navigate their own complicated relationships, chaos and comedy collide in unexpected ways.

The play tackled themes of love, commitment, deceit, and second chances with humour.

A new chapter for Shirley

Speaking on her transition from screen to stage, Shirley shared:

“Theatre is raw, immediate, and alive in a way that is different from film. I’m incredibly excited to be making my theatre debut — it’s been such a thrilling experience diving into rehearsals, working closely with this amazing cast, and rediscovering storytelling in its purest form."

"Honeymoon Hotel is going to be sensational. It’s funny, it’s got a lot of drama and surprises, and I can’t wait for everyone to see what we’ve been cooking up.”

Africa Arts Network, producers of recent theatrical successes including In the Chest of a Woman and You Play Me, I Play You, is once again pushing the boundaries of Ghanaian theatre with a fresh, contemporary production by combining high-quality storytelling, top-tier talent, and immersive production experience.

“Honeymoon Hotel is more than a production — it’s a milestone intended to shift the market size and growth of the theatre industry upward,” said Kofi Adinkra, Founder of Africa Arts Network.

“The introduction of Shirley Frimpong-Manso, one of Africa’s most renowned film directors, into the world of live theatre elevates the artistic standards of the production. "

"It also reinforces the significance of creative crossover to industry growth. Alongside Shirley, the inclusion of notable screen actors to theatre, I believe will help break the barriers between mainstream film production and stage performances, attract new audiences, expand the theatre reach and re-establish theatre as a dynamic, commercially viable space for Ghanaian storytelling.”

An unmissable experience

Expected to attract close to 9,000 audience members across the three days, Honeymoon Hotel is shaping up to be a cultural highlight of the year. With a compelling script, a celebrated director making her stage debut, and a cast of stars, this is theatre at its finest.