Curatorial note:

Cinema's charm often begins with the discovery that it can capture not only existing reality, but also show what isn't really there. For the protagonists of Crocodile, this discovery becomes a practice. They shoot science-fiction films on a phone, build props from whatever materials are at hand, and teach themselves visual effects. What starts as a childhood pastime gradually turns into a profession, and this path reflects the contemporary possibilities of image-making, where one can learn to shoot and find an audience even before any direct contact with the film industry. That's why the story of The Critics may feel especially close to our local context, where a path into film can begin with independent projects, and the profession is learned on the job.

At the same time, Crocodile invites us to look at cinema not through the familiar figure of the director-auteur, but as a collective practice. The Critics is made up of brothers and friends, and their early films cast family members, neighbours and other friends. All of their work grows out of a shared process, in which roles are distributed among the group, skills develop alongside one another, and ideas are discussed together. Growing up in the film therefore means both each member's professional development and an attempt to preserve the ability to make films together once a shared passion becomes a job. This collective spirit exists not only within the film's story: Crocodile itself is made by director Pietra Brettkelly in collaboration with its own subjects.

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Synopsis:

In Kaduna, Nigeria, teenagers with boundless imagination and an incredible passion for cinema make science-fiction films. Their toolkit is limited to a phone, some fabric and an old laptop, but that's enough to build sprawling fantastical worlds of spaceships and future technology. Their own story turns out to be no less fantastical. Posting their films on YouTube, they draw excitement not only from a wide audience but from the film industry itself. New opportunities open a path into professional filmmaking, but as they grow up, success increasingly reshapes the group's dynamics — sometimes in ways they never expected.

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Content warning:

The film contains references to sexual harassment.

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Languages:

English, Hausa, Yoruba

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Festivals and Awards:

Award: Tribeca Film Festival, 2026, Best Film · Viewpoints

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Selection: Berlin International Film Festival, 2026, World Premiere · Forum

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