Adeyemi Matthew

Acclaimed film director and producer Bolanle Austen-Peters has announced the launch of her expansive 10,000-acre BAP film village located in Epe, Lagos State.

The 55-year-old filmmaker, who serves as the founder and artistic director of BAP Productions, shared this exciting news in a recent update on her verified X account.

Austen-Peters mentioned that her newest Netflix project, House of GA’A, was filmed at this newly established film village. With House of Ga’a, Austen-Peters further establishes her status as a prominent force in Nollywood, merging her theatrical skills with cinematic narrative to create impactful masterpieces.

She explained that the site originally featured vast stretches of greenery and dense forests, which have been transformed into its current form within a matter of months.

Additionally, she noted that the film village is available for commercial activities, including recreation and film production.

She wrote, “So many have asked where we shot House of GA’A. This is it! BAP Productions Film Village in Epe. Over 10,000 acres of land, rolling hills, huts, and other facilities. Open for biz to film makers and excursions.

This what we started with, greenery, dense forestation, when we went the first time. Everything was just this large expanse of land and then I called Bisola. I wanted to give woman a chance. She had never done anything like this before. But I saw the fire in her eyes.

“She moved in, cleared the place, and started construction. Before we knew it, in a couple of months, we have all the buildings that you see now in place. And this is where took all these beautiful shots that you see in the movie. This is the BAP film village.”

Her remarkable body of work is a testament to her robust theatre background, which she seamlessly integrates into her film endeavors, making them truly distinctive. Earlier this year, her biographical film, Funmilayo Ransom Kuti, achieved the status of the highest-grossing biopic in West Africa.

The Netflix original film, House of Ga’a, secured a place in the streamer's Top 10 global chart for non-English films.

Set against the backdrop of the 18th century Oyo Empire, House of Ga’a narrates the intense story of Ga’a, a politically ambitious figure who orchestrates a brutal betrayal of several kings. The merciless prime minister, driven by a thirst for vengeance, ascends to power with relentless determination, aiming to surpass the very kings he is meant to serve.

Prominent filmmakers Kunle Afolayan and Ibrahim Chatta have established their own film villages in Nigeria. In 2022, Kunle Afolayan launched the Kunle Afolayan Productions (KAP) Film Village and Resort in Igbojaye, Oke Ogun, Oyo State. Similarly, Ibrahim Chatta introduced the Africhatta Film Village in Oyo town in 2023.

Bolanle Austen-Peters has gained acclaim for her exceptional direction in both theatre and film. Her notable works encompass Bling Lagosians and Collision Course. In the realm of theatre, she has directed productions such as Saro, the Musical, Fela and the Kalakuta Queens, and Wole Soyinka's Death and the King's Horseman.