Lara Unlimited premiers on YouTube to showcase complexities of womanhood

In a bold leap forward for African filmmaking, Lara Unlimited, a digital-first film produced by celebrated writer and filmmaker Arese Ugwu, premiered in late May on YouTube to wide anticipation. What makes this release truly historic? The entire production from sweeping visuals to intimate emotional close-ups was shot entirely on the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra.

The film, a powerful story of ambition, reinvention, and the complexities of modern womanhood, is the result of a groundbreaking collaboration between Samsung Nigeria and Arese Ugwu, best known for The Smart Money Woman franchise.

Lara Unlimited is not just a film, it’s a statement about the future of African storytelling and the tools that will shape it. Leveraging the Galaxy S25 Ultra’s pro-grade video capabilities, cinematic stabilisation, and low-light clarity, Arese Ugwu and her team have created a visually rich narrative without a single traditional camera.

Lara Unlimited is about what’s possible when women bet on themselves so it only made sense to create it using a device built to empower creators on their own terms,” said Arese. “The Galaxy S25 lets bus capture pivotal emotional arcs and dynamic scenes with incredible detail. It redefined how we think about independent film production in Africa.”

Set in Lagos, the film follows Lara, a young woman navigating the highs and lows of entrepreneurship in the digital age. As she reinvents her identity and career after a public failure, her story becomes a mirror for the limitless potential of African women, especially when equipped with the right tools.

In a hybrid event co-hosted by Ugwu and Pernord Ricard, the premiere merged the elegance of a private dinner with cast and crew, and the energy of a live digital audience. Fegho John Umunubo, SA to the president on digital and creative economy, was in attendance. The evening also marked the launch of the Women Unlimited podcast and community platform, an initiative designed to spotlight untold stories of women creating boldly across Africa.

Samsung Nigeria’s Oge Maduagwu, head of marketing, emphasised the strategic importance of the partnership. “With Lara Unlimited, we’re not just showcasing the Galaxy S25’s capabilities we’re spotlighting a new era of content creation. This film is proof that boundary pushing stories can be told powerfully, without barriers.”

As more creators explore mobile filmmaking, Lara Unlimited sets a new benchmark not just for technical execution, but for what it represents: democratised storytelling, female-led innovation, and the undeniable rise of African creative voices.

Lara Unlimited is now streaming on YouTube.