Nollywood actress and filmmaker Ini Edo has appealed to regulators and the public as the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) considers withdrawing her film, A Very Dirty Christmas, from cinemas over concerns about its title.
In a video shared on Instagram, Edo urged critics to judge the film by its content, insisting it does not ridicule Christianity.
“Please don’t pull my film. Let people watch it first. If it dishonours God or Christians in any way, I will personally withdraw it,” she said.
Edo said the title was never intended to offend the Christian faith, describing the movie as a family drama centred on conflict, secrets and reconciliation. She also warned that pulling the film would have serious financial implications, noting it is currently screening in over 70 cinemas nationwide.
The actress confirmed that the NFVCB had requested a modification of the title and said she was willing to comply, while appealing for time to implement the change without disrupting its cinema run.
“I am a Christian and I do not want a problem with my faith. I am ready to change the title. All I’m asking is for time—please don’t pull the film,” she said.
The controversy followed objections by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), which described the title as offensive and called for regulatory review.
Responding, the NFVCB said it had acted in line with its mandate, emphasising that public perception is a key component of film regulation. The board cited Section 39(1) of the NFVCB Act, which empowers the Film Censorship Committee to withdraw a film from exhibition for further review if deemed necessary in the public interest.
While reiterating her apology to anyone offended, Edo maintained that the film itself does not disparage Christianity and appealed for regulatory restraint pending further engagement.
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