Robiat Oladele
There is something about campus stories that just hits close to home. They carry a kind of familiarity, packed with emotions, drama, and everyday experiences students go through. Campus Hearts is one of those stories. It is a short-form campus series that digs into friendship, love, betrayal, and that thin, fragile line between loyalty and desire.
The series is produced by Confy Space Productions, a youth-led creative outfit that is passionate about telling stories that actually mean something. Campus Hearts follows two close friends whose bond starts to fall apart when they both catch feelings for the same girl. Set in the University of Ibadan, the story draws from situations many students have either lived through or watched play out around them. Emotional conflict, rivalry, tough personal choices, and the consequences that come with them all find their way into the narrative. Confy Space Productions focuses on campus and youth-centred narratives, with the goal of creating content that goes beyond entertainment. They want their audience thinking and reflecting long after the credits roll.
Recently, the series hit a significant milestone when Campus Hearts was officially selected by the Lift-Off Global Network, a United States-based international platform that supports independent filmmakers by giving their work global visibility through curated film festivals and online screenings. Lift-Off is known for shining a light on emerging creatives and helping grassroots projects reach audiences far beyond their local communities.
Following this achievement, History Press had interview with the founder and producer of Confy Space Productions, Mr. Confidence Ovie, a 400-level student of the Department of History, University of Ibadan, to discuss the inspiration behind Campus Hearts, the hurdles they faced during production, and what this kind of global recognition means for the road ahead.
History Press Reporter: Congratulations on the official selection of Campus Hearts by Lift-Off Global Network. How did you feel when you got the news, and how did the team celebrate?
Confidence Ovie: I was really excited at first. Honestly, being selected for something like this, especially by a U.S.-based organisation, proved to me that there is so much more I can put out there together with my teammates. Personally, I did not think it would be accepted, considering it is a short-form film. But when I got the email on the 17th of January, it completely made my day.We were still on holiday at the time, so we celebrated online. There were emojis flying everywhere and congratulatory messages flooding the group chat. The energy was just great. We also shared the news publicly so our fans could celebrate with us.
History Press Reporter: Can you walk us through the story of Campus Hearts? What inspired it, and how does it reflect real university experiences in Nigeria?
Confidence Ovie: Campus Hearts tells the story of two guys who were once best friends until a love interest caused a serious crack in their friendship.The inspiration actually came from the real-life experience of a friend of mine. I would not want to disclose who the person is. He did not tell me directly to use the story. It was something I observed over time. He and his friend were really tight, always doing everything together, until feelings for the same girl came into the picture.Now imagine knowing that your friend liked a girl first, and then you suddenly start catching feelings for her and going behind his back. That is an outright betrayal. In my friend’s case, he was actually the one who betrayed his guy. I had to twist the story a little for the series though.It really does reflect campus experiences in Nigeria. We have all heard stories of cult clashes, violence, and even deaths sparked by rivalry over a girl. Sometimes even academic failure ties back to situations like this, where students focus more on winning a girl over than on their studies.The series shows how far people can go when love is involved, especially when best friends are in love with the same person. It also pushes the message that only a genuine renewal of the mind can truly change situations like that.
History Press Reporter: Will there be a proper celebration with the cast and crew when school resumes?
Confidence Ovie: I would not want to spill anything just yet, but you will definitely know if we decide to celebrate it properly.
History Press Reporter: What were some of the biggest challenges you faced while making Campus Hearts in terms of budget, casting, or shooting on campus?
Confidence Ovie: One major challenge was getting the right people on the team. Confy Space Productions is not the kind of outfit that shoots one project and disappears. It is a family. We have long-term plans and several projects lined up.Finding people who actually understood the vision, the mission, and the core values of what we are building was not easy at all. It took time, but I am glad we pulled it off and successfully premiered our first project on November 7th, 2025.Funding was another big one. The whole production was bootstrapped from the very start. We literally began with next to nothing. I had to go out looking for sponsorship, and the little I managed to get went straight into buying our first gadget. From there, we just kept progressing. You really just have to believe in the vision and trust God.Then there were location challenges too. At some point, we wanted to shoot at the Faculty of Nursing, but we were told we would need official permission and letters before we could film there. So we had to switch locations entirely just to keep things moving.
History Press Reporter: Most of the cast are fresh faces. How did you find and work with these emerging actors?
Confidence Ovie: Finding them was not too difficult, honestly. During my time as the Public Relations Officer of the History Department, University of Ibadan, for the 2024/2025 session, I started a content creation initiative.While working with the team, I began to notice that some of them had really strong acting skills, and I saw that as an opportunity for the production. I also brought in some Theatre Arts students because that is their field after all.From our very first rehearsals, I just knew they were the right people. With the director, Akintunde Naomi, and our cinematographer, Olumese Omatsola Precious, who also steps in as acting director when needed, the characters were brought to life through multiple takes and proper guidance.
History Press Reporter: What drew you to submit Campus Hearts to Lift-Off Global Network, and how will this selection help the series reach a wider audience?
Confidence Ovie: What drew me to Lift-Off Global was what they stand for, which is helping independent filmmakers gain visibility. Confy Space Productions has always had a global vision, and submitting Campus Hearts was really the first step toward that.Through Lift-Off Global, the film will be screened during their festival alongside other selected films. Thousands, if not millions, of people will get to watch it, both in person and online.The festival runs from January 26th to early February. During that window, judges will review all the selected films and decide which ones advance to the next stage. If Campus Hearts makes it through, that would mean even greater global exposure for us.
History Press Reporter: Is there a particular scene or episode you are most proud of?
Confidence Ovie: Yes, Episode 3, especially the closing scene.It shows Jide teaching Kemi the Pythagoras theorem when Tayo walks in and sees them together. Even though Jide could have just walked away, his willingness to stay and talk to Tayo shows how deep their friendship really runs.That moment also captures real heartbreak. Tayo feels betrayed because Jide had been there for him earlier, especially after Kemi slapped him back in Episode 1. That scene creates this boiling tension that drives everything else in the story. It sets the stage for all that follows, and that is exactly why it remains my proudest moment in the series.
History Press Reporter: How important is it for Confy Space Productions to tell authentic Nigerian stories?
Confidence Ovie: Our production stands firmly on our motto: “Inspiring stories that change lives.” It is very important to us that young people experience a renewal of mind after watching our stories. We are not just about entertainment. We want transformation. When our audience feels genuinely inspired and their mindset shifts for the better, that gives us real value and strengthens trust in our brand.
History Press Reporter: What advice would you give to aspiring filmmakers who are hoping for international recognition?
Confidence Ovie: Keep going. If you do not have the funds yet, gather a team and just start something. You may not have everything figured out, but with the right people around you, you will get there.Even if it is just a five-minute film, do not downgrade yourself. Submit it to festivals. If it does not get selected, do not quit. Press on. The dream is always bigger than any setback.
History Press Reporter: Finally, what feeling do you want viewers to walk away with after watching Campus Hearts?
Confidence Ovie: I want them to feel a sense of fulfillment. Beyond just being entertained, they should walk away reflecting on friendship, betrayal, reconciliation, and personal growth.Would you keep fighting your best friend over a woman? Or would you choose renewal of mind and peace? However the story ends, I want it to spark something real in the viewer. I want it to push change.
History Press Reporter: Is there anything else you would like to share?
Confidence Ovie: Nothing much, really. Just a big shout-out to everyone who has been watching Campus Hearts and everyone who believes in Confy Space Productions. We love you all. I personally love you all. And trust me, we cannot wait to feed you massively with what we have been cooking.Stay locked on our YouTube channel @Confy Space Productions. Do not forget to subscribe, comment, like, and share. Spread the word. Your favourite movie production is cooking!
History Press Reporter: Thank you very much, Mr. Confidence.
Confidence Ovie: You are welcome, miss. And thank you for this interview.
