Obi Emelonye
Obi Emelonye (born March 24, 1967[1]) is a Nigerian film director.[2][3] He is known for directing award winning films like Last Flight to Abuja, The Mirror Boy and Onye Ozi.[4][5]
Education
Obi Emelonye, a former professional footballer and law professional graduated from The University of Nigeria Nsukka with BA (Hons) Theatre Arts. (1990) He went on to study for an LLB Law degree from the University of Wolverhampton. (1998) He completed a Post Graduate Degree in Legal Practice from the London Metropolitan University (2002) and practiced Law for a few years before focusing on his first love: films.
Industry Impact
Although mostly known for his work in cinema, his working experience includes many years as head of production at BEN TV, the UK's first African Caribbean satellite TV channel, where he led the production dept. to many award winning projects. His TV production work encompassed cutting edge magazine shows, current affairs and continuous drama shows.
It was during his time at BEN TV that Obi established his production company The Nollywood Factory, a full service international entertainment production company with offices in the UK and Nigeria. In the last decade The Nollywood Factory has built up extensive experience in Film, Television, Music Promo and even Stage productions and includes business promotion and marketing services like Commercials and Corporate productions amongst its portfolio of work.
His eclectic client base has included top Nigerian musicians, major international corporates like MTN, Zinox Computers, and Nigerian government departments such as Independent National Electoral Commission and the Central Bank of Nigeria.
Obi has also been an integral part of the Nollywood phenomenon for more than a decade as he has built his company The Nollywood Factory. During that time he has written, directed and produced 5 feature length digital films, all receiving consistently positive critical review and with a number winning awards.
Uniquely it was The Nollywood Factory that first released a Nollywood film theatrically on UK screens in 2004. That film, Echoes of War was the touch paper that launched the now common notion of premiering Nollywood films at UK cinemas.
He has secured international distribution for most of his films and set himself apart as a truly international commercial filmmaker. He has been profiled by CNN as 'the future of Nollywood' in a series of interviews including the iconic African Voices programme in Sept 2012
In 2015, A TV series set in the Nigerian banking industry written by talented Ukamaka Olisakwe, Co produced by Obi and Amasike Emelonye and directed by Obi Emelonye, titled Calabash which he featured Collete Nwadike and other talented actors and actress.[6]
Filmography
- The Calabash (Featuring Princess Halliday,[7] Collete Nwadike, Alex Nwokedi, Bayray McNwizu, Lisa Omorodion, Enyinna Nwigwe, Uru Eke, Chris Okagbue) - 2015
- Onye Ozi (The Messenger)- 2013
- Last Flight to Abuja - 2012
- The Mirror Boy - 2011
- The London Successor - 2006
- Lucky Joe - 2006
- Echoes of War - 2004
References
- ↑ "Mercy Johnson, Ramsey Noah Celebrate Obi Emelonye's Birthday On Location". Information Nigeria. Retrieved 2 October 2014.
- ↑ "I donated my kidney as reparation –Obi Emelonye". Nigerian Tribune. Retrieved 2 October 2014.
- ↑ "Obi Emelonye Apologizes To Genevieve & Omotola For Misquoted "They Are Jobless" Interview". informationng.com. Retrieved 2 October 2014.
- ↑ "Nigerian movie producer, Obi Emelonye, arrested, released by police". Premium Times. Retrieved 2 October 2014.
- ↑ "My Mirror Boy story, by Obi Emelonye". Vanguard Nigeria. Retrieved 2 October 2014.
- ↑ "5 things to know about Obi Emelonye's 1st TV series". The Nation Newspaper. Lagos, Nigeria. 7 June 2015. Retrieved 27 August 2016.
- ↑ "Princess Halliday empowers through new series". The Nation Newspaper. Lagos, Nigeria. 14 December 2014. Retrieved 27 August 2016.