Momo Spaine is a Nigerian filmmaker, producer and director whose career spans television and feature-film production. She gained wider recognition in 2025 when she made her directorial debut with After 30, the feature-film sequel to the popular television series Before 30.
Before stepping into the director’s chair, Spaine spent several years working in film production. She helped develop and produce Before 30, gaining practical experience in managing productions and building stories for television audiences.
Her journey also includes film studies in Canada and the establishment of Blush & Slate Films, her independent production company. Her work increasingly focuses on stories about women, relationships and personal growth.
Momo Spaine’s Early Life and Education
Momo Spaine, whose full name is Omorinsojo Spaine, is Nigerian. She developed an interest in filmmaking while attending university in South Africa.
During that period, she assisted on music video productions whenever Nigerian rapper Sasha P visited the country. The experience introduced her to the practical side of filmmaking and encouraged her to explore the industry further.
After returning to Nigeria, Spaine joined Nemsia Studios. She initially worked on commercials, photography projects and live events. Her responsibilities gave her an opportunity to understand production planning and creative coordination.
She later studied Film Production at Toronto Film School in Canada. She enrolled in 2018 and graduated in 2019. The programme expanded her understanding of filmmaking and helped her discover a stronger interest in directing.
How Momo Spaine Started Her Film Production Career
Spaine began her professional filmmaking journey through production work at Nemsia Studios. She initially joined the company as an intern and gradually took on greater responsibilities.
One of her early opportunities came when she received a script for a television pilot. She helped produce the pilot, and the experience led to an opportunity to manage production for an eight-episode season.
That project became Before 30, a television series that followed four women navigating relationships, careers and the pressure to marry before turning 30.
Spaine worked with Nemsia for several years during the development and production of the series. Her involvement helped her understand the demands of producing a television project, from coordinating production activities to supporting the development of its story and characters.
The experience also established her as a producer within Nollywood. She later described spending about seven years working in production before deciding to pursue directing more seriously.
Momo Spaine and Before 30
Before 30 became one of the defining projects of Spaine’s early career. The series explored the experiences of four Nigerian women dealing with love, friendship, career decisions and social expectations.
Its central characters included Temi, Nkem, Ama and Aisha. Each woman approached relationships and adulthood differently, giving the series several perspectives on the pressures facing young Nigerian women.
The show attracted an audience through its relatable characters and willingness to explore subjects that were not always common in mainstream Nigerian television.
Its popularity continued after its original release. Netflix later made the series available to a wider audience, helping it reach viewers beyond its initial television audience.
For Spaine, the project provided more than a production credit. It gave her years of practical experience and a close understanding of the characters she would eventually revisit in After 30.
Momo Spaine’s Move from Producing to Directing
Although Spaine developed a strong career in production, she gradually realised that directing offered the creative expression she wanted.
She has explained that she spent several years producing because she understood the work and knew she could handle its responsibilities. However, her studies at Toronto Film School changed how she viewed her creative abilities.
The training helped her recognise her interest in directing and gave her greater confidence to take on a project of that scale.
Spaine has described directing as the part of filmmaking that makes her happiest. It allows her to shape performances, guide creative departments and make decisions about how audiences experience a story.
Her transition did not happen overnight. Years of production experience gave her a practical understanding of how films and television projects come together. Her formal training then helped her approach directing with a stronger creative foundation.
Momo Spaine and After 30
After 30 marked Spaine’s directorial debut. The 2025 feature film continues the story of the four women introduced in Before 30, revisiting their lives several years after the original series.
The film follows Temi, Nkem, Ama and Aisha as they navigate life in their thirties. Their experiences involve changing relationships, career challenges, friendship conflicts, personal healing and new ideas about success.
The main cast includes Damilola Adegbite, Beverly Naya, Meg Otanwa and Anee Icha. The returning actresses bring their characters into a different stage of adulthood, allowing the story to examine how their priorities and relationships have changed.
Spaine approached the project with a personal connection to its characters. She has explained that her own experiences helped shape the way she understood their growth and conflicts.
Her directing approach also involved close attention to visual details. She worked with the cinematography, makeup, costume and other creative departments to establish the film’s look and atmosphere.
The production was handled by Nemsia Studios, while Spaine directed the film. She also contributed to its screenplay alongside Bibi Ukpo and Bb Sasore.
After 30 premiered globally on Prime Video on May 9, 2025. Its release brought Spaine’s directorial debut to an international streaming audience.
Momo Spaine’s Production Company, Blush & Slate Films
Beyond her work with Nemsia Studios, Spaine established Blush & Slate Films as her own production company.
The company reflects her interest in developing stories about women and experiences that she believes deserve greater attention. She has spoken about wanting to build a creative platform around these stories.
Spaine has also clarified that After 30 was entirely a Nemsia Studios production. Her independent company was not involved in making the film.
This distinction highlights the different parts of her career. She continues to collaborate with established production companies while developing an independent creative identity through Blush & Slate.
Momo Spaine’s Filmmaking Style and Career Direction
Spaine’s work often centres on women, relationships, identity and personal development. She is particularly interested in characters whose decisions and experiences reflect the pressures of modern Nigerian life.
Her approach to Before 30 and After 30 shows an interest in character-driven storytelling. Rather than presenting women through a single experience, the projects explore different personalities, ambitions and relationships.
She also values the visual presentation of a film. Her attention to colour, costumes, makeup and cinematography formed an important part of her work on After 30.
As she continues developing Blush & Slate Films, Spaine aims to create more stories centred on women. Her move into directing has also opened another phase of her career, allowing her to take a more direct role in shaping the films she wants to make.
Conclusion
Momo Spaine has built her filmmaking career through years of production experience, formal film training and a growing interest in directing. Her work on Before 30 established her production background, while After 30 gave her the opportunity to make her directorial debut.
Her journey from producing television projects to directing a feature film reflects a gradual shift in her creative ambitions. Through Blush & Slate Films, she is also developing a platform for stories about women and their experiences.
