C.J. Obasi
Writer / Director
Nigeria
C.J. Obasi directed OJUJU & O-TOWN, which has screened in many festivals, including the Pan African Film Festival in Los Angeles, Shockproof Film Festival in Prague, New Voices in Black Film Festival in New York, Gothenburg Film Festival and Fantasia Film Festival in Montreal, cumulating acclaim from the likes of Screen Anarchy, IndieWire & The Hollywood Reporter. He has won many awards and nominations including Best Nigerian Film (OJUJU), the African Movie Academy Awards (African Oscars), and the Trailblazer Award at the Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards (AMVCA).
His short film HELLO, RAIN premiered in the International Competition of the Internationale Short Film Oberhausen, and in over 25 festivals like Fantasia Film Festival, where it received the Special Mention for the Jury prize, and the BFI London Film Festival where it was nominated for the Short Film Award.
He participated in LIM | Less is More development lab with his feature project MAMI WATA.
Project
Mami Wata
In Iyi village, villagers worship the mermaid deity MAMI WATA and turn to their healer MAMA EFE, the intermediary between them and Mami Wata, as well as Mama Efe’s daughter, ZINWE, and her protégé, PRISCA. When their children begin to die and disappear, JABI, a local resident, casts doubt on the population, while Zinwe flees, driven by her own anguish. Soon, the arrival of a rebellious warlord, JASPER, tips the scales in Jabi’s favor, and with the village under new control, Prisca and Zinwe must plot to save their people and restore Mami Wata’s glory to Iyi.
Participation with the support of the French Embassy in Nigeria
