ACP-EU cooperation support programme for the ACP cinema and audiovisual sectors (ACP FILMS)
OMELIHU NWANGUMA - Director
ACP LOCATION: United Kingdom
Bio: Born in London, 1977 to Nigerian parents, Nwanguma spent his early years growing up in Lagos (1978-1980), then Owerri in Eastern Nigeria (1980-1989). Although the family moved back to the UK in 1990 where he continued his further education, Nwanguma was very grateful to have grown up as ‘a Nigerian’ learning the different cultures.
Nwanguma graduated from Buckinghamshire University with 2nd class honours in Graphic Design and Advertising, but after a stint working as a creative, he realised that his passion lay elsewhere. That passion was for film but more importantly, that passion was to make films that would inspire Africans to realise their potential.
Nwanguma gained valuable experience working in various roles in film and TV including production, location, casting, camera and in notable films such as Batman Returns (Christopher Nolan) and The Da Vinci Code where he worked as an assistant to legendary Hollywood film director Ron Howard.
In 2005, Nwanguma received funding from the UK Film Council to make his second short film –SEEKER, the story of a Nigerian immigrant struggling to come to terms with life in London. SEEKER proved to be a success in the festival circuit, winning the team a host of awards including RUNNER-UP at the American Black Film Festival (Miami), BEST INTERNATIONAL SHORT at the HD FEST (Los Angeles), BEST FILM at the Kino Short Film Festival (Manchester) and BEST ACTOR at the BFM Film Festival (London). The film also won a distribution deal with HBO.
In November 2007, Nwanguma ‘returned home’ to embark upon the next stage of his career: ‘to tell stories about Africa and the ethnic minority experience in the West’. The resulting film called AREA BOYS (25 Mins) is an adrenalin fuelled ride through the gang-populated streets of Lagos. Although entirely self funded and low budget, AREA BOYS has gained recognition in the festival circuit by being invited to the 2008 London Film Festival. AREA BOYS has also attracted interest from producer Kisha Imani Cameron’s Completion Films who is interested in developing it as part of their slate deal with Focus Features. .
ACP LOCATION: United Kingdom
Bio: Born in London, 1977 to Nigerian parents, Nwanguma spent his early years growing up in Lagos (1978-1980), then Owerri in Eastern Nigeria (1980-1989). Although the family moved back to the UK in 1990 where he continued his further education, Nwanguma was very grateful to have grown up as ‘a Nigerian’ learning the different cultures.
Nwanguma graduated from Buckinghamshire University with 2nd class honours in Graphic Design and Advertising, but after a stint working as a creative, he realised that his passion lay elsewhere. That passion was for film but more importantly, that passion was to make films that would inspire Africans to realise their potential.
Nwanguma gained valuable experience working in various roles in film and TV including production, location, casting, camera and in notable films such as Batman Returns (Christopher Nolan) and The Da Vinci Code where he worked as an assistant to legendary Hollywood film director Ron Howard.
In 2005, Nwanguma received funding from the UK Film Council to make his second short film –SEEKER, the story of a Nigerian immigrant struggling to come to terms with life in London. SEEKER proved to be a success in the festival circuit, winning the team a host of awards including RUNNER-UP at the American Black Film Festival (Miami), BEST INTERNATIONAL SHORT at the HD FEST (Los Angeles), BEST FILM at the Kino Short Film Festival (Manchester) and BEST ACTOR at the BFM Film Festival (London). The film also won a distribution deal with HBO.
In November 2007, Nwanguma ‘returned home’ to embark upon the next stage of his career: ‘to tell stories about Africa and the ethnic minority experience in the West’. The resulting film called AREA BOYS (25 Mins) is an adrenalin fuelled ride through the gang-populated streets of Lagos. Although entirely self funded and low budget, AREA BOYS has gained recognition in the festival circuit by being invited to the 2008 London Film Festival. AREA BOYS has also attracted interest from producer Kisha Imani Cameron’s Completion Films who is interested in developing it as part of their slate deal with Focus Features. .