Wale Muraina on collaborating with Omilan on UK Film “between us”

Nigerian film producer Wale Muraina is expanding his professional footprint beyond Nigeria through an international collaboration with Omilan Productions Ltd, an Edinburgh-based film production company, on its upcoming feature film Between Us, which is set to commence principal photography in the United Kingdom.

Between Us is a film by Omilan Productions Ltd and is produced and directed by Oluyinka Omilani, the company’s Creative Director. The project features a strong international cast including Gemma Dawson (UK), Olarotim Fakunle (Nigeria), Ian Bjorn (UK), alongside other supporting actors from the United Kingdom.

For Wale Muraina, the project represents an important career milestone as it is his first time producing on a fully UK-set film. He previously collaborated with Omilan Productions Ltd on Eegunleti, a production shot across both Nigeria and the UK. That experience provided early exposure to international filmmaking, but Between Us marks a deeper engagement with the UK production system.

Speaking on the experience, Muraina highlights the clear differences between producing films in Nigeria and the United Kingdom, particularly in the area of crew engagement and budgeting. In the UK, film production operates within a highly structured framework, with defined crew roles, union guidelines, and standardized rates. This system requires detailed budgeting, strict scheduling, and full compliance with industry regulations.

“Being part of a UK-based production has provided valuable exposure to a different working environment,” Muraina says. “The experience has expanded my perspective on large-scale coordination, crew management, and on-set workflow within an international production setting.

”The project provides Muraina with an opportunity to gain international production exposure as he broadens his experience as a film producer beyond the Nigerian industry.

Muraina believes that greater participation of African producers in international productions must be matched with stronger distribution pathways to ensure African stories reach global audiences, noting that access to international distribution remains key despite Nigeria’s abundance of creative talent.

According to Muraina, Nigeria has the talent, creativity, and storytelling depth required to compete on the international stage. What is increasingly needed is strategic positioning through international collaborations, film markets, and distribution networks that allow African-made stories to travel beyond local borders.He adds that engaging with international production environments helps African filmmakers better understand how films are packaged, positioned, and distributed for global audiences. This knowledge, he says, is vital for ensuring that African stories are not only produced but also properly represented and seen worldwide.

As Between Us moves toward principal photography, Muraina views the project as a meaningful step in his professional development and part of a broader effort to see African talent and stories gain stronger visibility through international platforms and distribution channels.