Nigerian cinema has secured another international nod after Heaven Must Wait was officially selected for screening at the Toronto Nollywood International Film Festival (TINFF) in Canada.

The announcement was made on Saturday by actor and producer Frederick Leonard, who described the selection as a powerful moment for the cast, crew and supporters of the film.

Leonard said the project, which first found its audience online, had grown beyond expectations, moving "from YouTube screens to the international festival stage." 

He credited viewers and supporters for helping the film cross borders, saying that the story, centred on passion, pain, love and faith, resonated far beyond its original audience.

"What started as a story told with passion, pain, love, and faith… has now crossed borders and touched the world. This moment belongs to EVERYONE who watched, shared, cried, laughed, reposted, and believed in this film," he said.

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According to him, the festival selection mirrored not only the strength of the film but the growing global appetite for Nigerian and African stories. 

He added that the moment belonged to everyone who watched, shared and believed in the project from its early days.

TINFF is known for showcasing African and diaspora films, providing a platform for emerging and established filmmakers to reach wider international audiences.

Checks revealed the 10th edition of TINFF will take place from September 4 to 12, 2026, hosted across the cities of Toronto and Brampton, Canada.