Trino Motion Pictures marks 10 years, names Richard Aseme to Advisory Board

Trino Motion Pictures, the award-winning Lagos-based production and distribution studio, is celebrating its 10th anniversary with the appointment of Richard Aseme, former Co-Head of Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) at Paramount Pictures, to its Advisory Board.

The milestone and high-profile appointment signal the beginning of a new phase for the company as it embarks on an expanded international growth strategy focused on film distribution, co-productions and strategic partnerships across Africa and Europe.

A decade of growth and global recognition

Founded in 2016 by Babatunwa Aderinokun and Uche Okocha, Trino Motion Pictures has evolved from a start-up production outfit into one of Nigeria’s leading film production, international sales, content acquisition, marketing and distribution companies.

Over the past decade, the company has built a catalogue of 16 productions, including eight feature films spanning psychological thrillers, comedy, romantic comedy and horror. Its portfolio includes Sylvia, Three Thieves, The Razz Guy, The One for Sarah, KM17, The Weekend, Love Lockdown, and Grandpa Must Obey, alongside several acclaimed short films led by the historical drama The Encounter.

Trino’s international breakthrough came with The Weekend, which made history in 2024 as the first independently produced Nigerian film selected for the prestigious Tribeca Film Festival in New York. The film later screened at the BFI London Film Festival, Screamfest and the NollywoodWeek Film Festival in Paris.

The production went on to secure a record 16 nominations at the 2024 Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA), winning several top honours, including Best Film, Best Nigerian Film, Best Screenplay and Best Cinematography. Meanwhile, The Encounter won an Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Award (AMVCA), while Sylvia also earned multiple AMVCA nominations.

Today, Trino’s productions are distributed across more than 75 territories worldwide in English and French through cinemas, in-flight entertainment platforms and leading global streaming services including Netflix, Prime Video, Canal+, Kava, HBO Max and Circuit TV, as well as continuous broadcast on DStv.

The company’s international footprint was further strengthened after The Weekend secured an HBO Max distribution deal covering Central and Eastern Europe, while Canal+ acquired the film for distribution across more than 60 French-speaking markets in Africa, Europe and France’s overseas territories.

Building the next decade

Reflecting on the company’s journey, Managing Director Uche Okocha said Trino’s anniversary represents far more than a celebration of past achievements.

“Ten years ago, we said we wanted to take African stories to the world,” Okocha said.

“This anniversary is a celebration of everyone who believed in and helped shape that vision before the evidence was there—our creative collaborators, our partners, colleagues, friends, family and the audiences. The next decade is about building the partnerships, distribution networks and industry infrastructure that allow even more African stories to travel globally.”

He said the company is now making strategic investments to expand its international footprint through stronger distribution networks, co-production opportunities, content acquisition and deeper partnerships across European markets.

Richard Aseme joins Advisory Board

Supporting that vision is the appointment of Richard Aseme, whose career spans more than two decades in global film distribution.

A former Co-Head of EMEA at Paramount Pictures, Aseme currently leads global fintech venture investments at DCG and brings extensive expertise in investment, emerging technology and international media strategy.

A voting member of BAFTA and a graduate of both Oxford University and the UCLA Anderson School of Management, Aseme’s appointment underscores Trino’s ambition to compete not only within Nollywood but across the global independent film industry.

“Richard’s appointment comes at a pivotal moment for Trino,” Okocha said.

“He brings a rare combination of studio experience and investment insight, which will be critical as we expand into new markets and explore new growth models.”

Responding to his appointment, Aseme described Trino as one of Africa’s emerging global film companies.

“What’s compelling about Trino is not just the slate, but the ambition behind it. There is a clear opportunity for production companies emerging from Africa to operate globally, not as regional players, but as part of the international ecosystem. Trino is already moving in that direction, and I’m excited to support that next phase,” he said.

About Trino Motion Pictures

Trino Motion Pictures (RC 1339833) is an award-winning African film production, international sales, content acquisition, marketing and distribution company headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria.

Since its establishment in 2016, the company has remained committed to producing authentic African stories that entertain, inspire and connect audiences worldwide. Its films are distributed in English and French across domestic and international cinemas, in-flight entertainment services and major streaming platforms including Netflix, Prime Video, Canal+, Kava, HBO Max and Circuit TV.