Crocodile

Forum 2026

In Nigeria, a group of teenagers have founded the collective: The Critics. With the most basic resources but an abundance of cinephile passion, they conjure handmade sci-fi spectacles: their own village becomes the set, the green screen is sewn together by hand, and the cast is recruited from neighbourhood children. Their films transform everyday life into wild dreamscapes – both an escape and a refuge. Creating images is, above all, play and pleasure for them, a window to the outside world and, at the same time, a door that genuinely opens outwards. In Crocodile, The Critics appear both in front of and behind the camera, while Pietra Brettkelly edits their words and images into their stories: their political engagement, heated debates, moments of doubt and despair, rifts and resistance, and the gradual professionalisation of their craft. Their energy, vitality and determined will to invent and self-invent – a coming-of-age carried by the magic of the audiovisual medium – ultimately leave everyone smiling.

by The Critics (Director), Pietra Brettkelly (Director, Screenplay)
with Raymond J. Yusuff, Godwin Josiah, Ronald Yusuff, Victor Josiah, Richard Yusuff, Rachael Yusuff, Rachel Ken, Rejoice Josiah, Raphael (Bobo) Ken New Zealand / Nigeria 2026 English, Yoruba, Hausa 100' Colour World premiere | Documentary form Rating R 12

With

Raymond J. Yusuff
Godwin Josiah
Ronald Yusuff
Victor Josiah
Richard Yusuff
Rachael Yusuff
Rachel Ken
Rejoice Josiah
Raphael (Bobo) Ken

Crew

Directors	The Critics, Pietra Brettkelly
Screenplay	Pietra Brettkelly
Cinematography	The Critics, Rachael Yusuff, Basile Carre-Agostini, David Wills Augustin
Editing	Cushla Dillon, Chia Chi Hsu, Nicolas Chaudeurge
Sound Design	Tom Scott-Toft
Producers	Pietra Brettkelly, The Critics
Executive Producers	Sir Idris Elba, Fran Wyborn, Chelsea Winstanley, Diene Petterle, Cushla Dillon, Kath Jones, Dave Long

Produced by

Pietra Brettkelly Films

Auckland, New Zealand

Clan Yujo

Kaduna, Nigeria

World Sales

Mediawan

Paris, France

Photos

The Critics

The Critics are a group of five – Raymond, Ronald and Richard Yusuff, Godwin and Victor Josiah. With no formal film education and since being young children, The Critics have developed a cinematic language rooted in imagination, experimentation, and community. They have made 54 short films from sci-fi to drama.

Filmography (selection)

2022 Ogun Ola: War is Coming 2023 One Can Only Hope and Wonder 2026 Crocodile; documentary, co-directed by Pietra Brettkelly

Bio- & filmography as of Berlinale 2026

Pietra Brettkelly

Pietra Brettkelly is a three times Oscar-selected, Sundance award-winning filmmaker, a member of AMPAS and an Arts Laureate of New Zealand. Pietra’s film premieres include Venice, Toronto and Tribeca.

Filmography

2003 Beauty Will Save the World; documentary 2008 The Art Star and the Sudanese Twins; documentary 2012 Māori Boy Genius; documentary, Berlinale Generation 2012 2015 A Flickering Truth; documentary 2018 Yellow is Forbidden; documentary 2026 Crocodile; documentary, co-directed by The Critics