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{{AfC submission|t||ts=20210518114639|u=Ada Toch|ns=118|demo=}}<!-- Important, do not remove this line before article has been created. -->
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{{AFC comment|1=Entire sections are unsourced. [[User:Greenman|Greenman]] ([[User talk:Greenman|talk]]) 09:13, 20 November 2022 (UTC)}}


----


⚫
{{Short description|Nigerian director and producer}}

{{Draft topics|biography|western-africa}}

{{AfC topic|blp}}


⚫
== References ==
<!-- Inline citations added to your article will automatically display here. See en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WP:REFB for instructions on how to add citations. -->


{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}
⚫
{{short description|Nigeria director and producer}}
{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
| name = Ekene Som Mekwunye
| name = Ekene Som Mekwunye
| image = [[File:Ekene Som Mekwunye.png|thumb]]
| image =
[[File:Ekene Som Mekwunye, March 2022.jpg|thumb]]
| caption = Ekene Som Mekwunye at the home (2021)
| caption = (A photo of Ekene taken in March 2022)
| birth_name =
| birth_name = Ekene Som Mekwunye
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1978|04|22}}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1978|04|22}}
| birth_place = [[Suru-Lere]], [[Lagos]], [[Lagos State]], Nigeria
| birth_place = [[Suru-Lere]], [[Lagos State]], Nigeria
| occupation = [[Film director|Director]], [[Film producer|Producer]]
| occupation = [[Film director|Director]], [[Film producer|Producer]], [[screenwriter]], [[University Lecturer]], [[Public Speaker]]
| nationality = Nigerian
| nationality = Nigerian
| citizenship = Nigerian
| citizenship = Nigerian
Line 26: Line 28:
| partner =
| partner =
| children = 2
| children = 2
| parents = Ezekolie Peter Mekwunye (d. 2016), Lozie Grace Mekwunye
| parents = Ezekolie Peter Mekwunye (d. 2016), Lozie Grace Mekwunye<ref>{{cite web | url=https://punchng.com/nigerias-govt-hospitals-slaughter-slabs/ | title=Nigeria's govt hospitals are slaughter slabs | date=17 June 2016 }}</ref>
| relatives = [[Mr Awele]] (Brother)<br>[[Jennifer 'Omalicha' Mekwunye]] (Sister)<br>Kanayo Richard Mekwunye (brother)
| website = https://riversideproductions.net/
}}
}}
'''Ekene Som Mekwunye''' (Born Saturday, 22nd April 1978) is a [[Nigeria]]n [[film producer]] and [[film director|director]].
'''Ekene Som Mekwunye''' (Born Saturday, 22nd April 1978) is a [[Nigeria]]n [[film director|director]], [[film producer]], [[screenwriter]], [[university lecturer]] and a [[Public Speaker]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://bearing-witness.mit.edu/|title=Conference Details|website=Bearing Witness, Seeking Justice}}</ref>

⚫
==Early Life==
Ekene Som Mekwunye was born to Ezekolie Peter Mekwunye and Lozie Grace Mekwunye, who were both born and natives of Ubulu Okiti in Aniocha South Local Government of Delta state in Nigeria. Ekene was born on the 22nd of April in 1978 at Randle hospital in Suru-Lere, Lagos, Nigeria. His first name is actually Sosomawina, which was given to him by his father, and shortened to ‘Som’ and his other name is Ekenedilichukwu, which was given to him by his paternal grand father, is shortened to ‘Ekene’. He got his primary education at Fountain School in Suru-Lere from 1981 to 1989 after which he attended Government College, Eric Moore road, Suru-Lere where he got his secondary school education from 1990 to 1995. He went to attain a B.sc in Insurance from the University of Lagos in 2004 after his secondary school education.


==Career==
==Career==
He started his career being a camera assistant at his church before getting a job at Africa Magic producing 53extra and Jara as well as all Channel O contents in Nigeria. He later went to New York film Academy in Los Angeles to study filmmaking. Shortly after his return, he moved to MTV shuga as the project coordinator where he organized for their hit TV series titled Shuga 3. He shot a short film, Oblivious and it won an AMVCA<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.premiumtimesng.com/entertainment/nollywood/178143-the-meeting-october-1-shine-at-amvca.html|title='The Meeting', 'October 1' shine at AMVCA &#124; Premium Times Nigeria|date=March 8, 2015}}</ref> (Africa Magic Viewers Choice Award) in 2015 for best short film.
Ekene never set out early in life to be a filmmaker. His interest in film production was sparked off in his final year in the university when he started volunteering to help a department in church and chose the TV production unit. He worked as a production assistant and continued till a year after he graduated from the university. He later started a creative agency with one of his friends but realized that whenever they created something that needed to be produced for TV, they would need to hire a director. So he decided to learn how about directing and TV production. He would later meet the late Amaka Igwe who organized a workshop for intending Film directors and Screenwriters and he was chosen to attend. Shortly after that, in 2011, he got a job at Mnet (Africa Magic) where he was involved in producing their prime TV shows Jara and 53extra (Studio 53). He was also in charge off all Channel O shoots in Nigeria where he worked with Derenle Edun as his producer. After 2 years, he went to New York film Academy in Los Angeles to study filmmaking. Shortly after his return, he moved to MTV shuga as the project coordinator where he organized for their hit TV series titled Shuga 3 which was the first time the show was going to be shot in Nigeria. He shot a short film just before then which he also wrote as well and it won an AMVCA (Africa Magic Viewers Choice Award) in 2015 for best short film. He started his Company, Riverside Productions after He left MTV Shuga and created a TV show called My Big Nigerian Wedding which went on to become a big wedding reality TV show in Africa. He later produced 3 short films titled The Encounter, A Simple Letter and Lasgidi Vice. The Encounter won an AMVCA for best Sound design in 2017 and Lasgidi Vice got to screen at the Cannes International Film Festival in 2018. He produced his first Feature film titled Sylvia, which was released in Nigerian cinemas in September 2018 and screened at different film festivals including Nollywood Week in Paris and BFI. He Directed his first feature film, which he also produced with Chidinma Uzodike titled Light In The Dark which was released in Nigerian and Ghanaian cinemas on the 25th Of January 2019. It went on to screen at film festivals in 5 different continents including, Nollywood Week in Paris, Silicon Valley African Film festival and Soo Film Festivals both in the United States, Brasilia International film festival in Brazil, Durban International Film festival in South Africa and other countries in India, Egypt, Tunisia, Nigeria and Australia. He won the Best Director award at the Kaduna International Film Festival in 2020 for the same film. He directed his second feature film, which he also produced titled ‘One Lagos Night’ that was acquired exclusively by Netflix and due for international release on their platform on the 29th of May 2021. He has also directed and coproduced 2 other feature films titled ‘Familia’ and ‘How To Love Me’ which were both shot in Abuja and are currently in post production. He is also an adjunct faculty at the School of Media and Communication, Pan Atlantic University where he teaches film Production and Techniques. He holds the rights for Nigeria of the biggest DJ competition in the world titled DMC world DJ Championship.


He started his Company, Riverside Productions after He left MTV Shuga and created a TV show called My Big Nigerian Wedding which went on to become a big wedding reality TV show in Africa. He later produced 3 short films titled The Encounter<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://xplorenollywood.com/ekene-som-mekwunye-releases-the-encounter/|title=Ekene Som Mekwunye Releases "The Encounter" &#124; Xplorenollywood|date=18 December 2015 }}</ref>, A Simple Letter and Lasgidi Vice. The Encounter won an AMVCA<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://punchng.com/amvca-2017-see-full-list-of-winners/|title=AMVCA 2017: See full list of winners|date=March 5, 2017}}</ref> for best Sound track/original score in 2017 and Lasgidi Vice got to screen at the Cannes International Film Festival<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.welt.de/print/die_welt/hamburg/article179527520/Leute-Nollywood-Germany-statt-Bollywood.html|title=Leute: Nollywood Germany statt Bollywood|date=July 18, 2018|via=www.welt.de}}</ref> in 2018. He produced his first Feature film titled Sylvia<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://sodasandpopcorn.ng/sylvia-review/|title=Sylvia Review - Directed by Daniel Oriahi and Produced by Ekene Mekwunye|first=Eddy|last=Mboho|date=October 3, 2018}}</ref>, which was released in Nigerian cinemas<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://m.guardian.ng/art/sylvia-the-art-of-exploring-spirit-husband-in-nollywood/|title=Sylvia… The 'art' of exploring 'spirit husband' in Nollywood|date=September 9, 2018}}</ref> in September 2018 and screened at different film festivals including Nollywood Week<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/05/sylvia-debuts-nollywood-week-paris/|title='Sylvia' debuts at Nollywood Week in Paris|date=May 4, 2018}}</ref> in Paris and BFI<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www2.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/5be62549c4f63|title=Sylvia (2018)|website=BFI}}</ref>.


He Directed his first feature film, which he also produced with Chidinma Uzodike titled Light In The Dark, which was released in Nigerian and Ghanaian cinemas<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pulse.ng/entertainment/movies|title=Latest Nigerian Entertainment News & Updates|website=Pulse Nigeria}}</ref> on the 25th Of January 2019. It got 3 nominations at the AMVCA 2022 including the highly coveted Best Director<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.bbc.com/pidgin/tori-60818021 | title=AMVCA: 2022 Africa Magic Awards Nominees don land- See who dey list | newspaper=BBC News Pidgin }}</ref>. It went on to screen at film festivals in 5 different continents including, Nollywood Week in Paris<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nollywoodweek.com/en/team/light-in-the-dark/|title=Light in the Dark &#124; NollywoodWeek Film Festival}}</ref>, Silicon Valley African Film festival<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://issuu.com/svaff/docs/svaff2019_booklet|title=Silicon Valley African Film Festival 2019 Souvenir Booklet|website=Issuu|date=29 September 2019 }}</ref> and Soo Film Festivals both in the United States, Brasilia International film festival in Brazil, Durban International Film festival<ref>https://ccadiff.ukzn.ac.za/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/DIFF-Prog-2019.pdf</ref> in South Africa and other countries in India, Egypt, Tunisia, Nigeria and Australia. He won the Best Director award at the Kaduna International Film Festival<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://newnigeriannewspaper.com/2020/09/09/rita-dominic-joke-silver-win-big-at-kadiff-2020-awards/|title=Rita Dominic, Joke Silver Win Big At KADIFF 2020 Awards|date=September 9, 2020}}</ref> in 2020 for the same film. He directed his second feature film, which he also produced titled ‘One Lagos Night’<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://watch.eventive.org/nwff/play/607e385d78e7f4006057370d|title=One Lagos Night &#124; NollywoodWeek ONLINE 2021|website=watch.eventive.org}}</ref> that was acquired exclusively by Netflix<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bellanaija.com/2021/05/netflix-acquires-one-lagos-night/|title=Netflix acquires exclusive rights to Ekene Som Mekwunye's film "One Lagos Night"|date=May 11, 2021}}</ref> and the international release on their platform was on the 29th of May 2021. It was also the closing film at Nollywood week Film Festival, Paris<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nollywoodweek.com/en/|title=NollywoodWeek Film Festival &#124; Festival du cinéma nigérian}}</ref> which held online in 2021. It got 2 nominations at the AMVCA 2022<ref>https://www.vanguardngr.com/2022/05/amvca-2022-movies-actors-that-got-double-nominations/</ref>.
==Giving Back==
In 2018, Ekene started a free workshop called The Imagery Program where he holds intensive classes in Filmmaking, Screenwriting and Acting where he gets his friends who are amongst the best in the industry to also volunteer their time to come and teach in those areas. These workshops hold at least 14 classes and very intensive. He has held 2 editions and planning a third edition. He is also a mentorship volunteer at the Fate Foundation Mentorship Program in Lagos.

==Personal life==
He got married in April 2012 to Mutiat Omotosho in Lagos and they have 2 kids together.



In 2022, he made the movie titled 'Honey Money' starring [[Nancy Isime]], [[Timini Egbuson]], [[Iyabo Ojo]], [[Femi Branch]], [[Babarex]], [[Uzee Usman]], [[Sandra Okunzuwa]], [[Junior Pope]] etc. He was the Director, Co-Producer and also an Executive Producer.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://shockng.com/vsl-media-taps-ekene-som-mekwunye-to-direct-new-star-studded-feature/|title=VSL MEDIA Taps Ekene Som Mekwunye to Direct New Star Studded Feature|date=August 26, 2022}}</ref> The movie was released in cinemas In April 2023. Amazon Prime released<ref>https://www.vanguardngr.com/2024/04/ekene-som-mekwunyes-tw-prime-directed-films-kali-ambivalent-hit-amazon-prime/</ref> 2 of his films exclusive to their platform Prime video in April 2024 titled AMBIVALENT and KALI <ref>{{cite web | url=https://punchng.com/ekene-mekwunye-premieres-new-films-on-amazon-prime/ | title=Ekene Mekwunye premieres new films on Amazon Prime | date=5 April 2024 }}</ref>. He is also an adjunct faculty<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://elearning.pau.edu.ng/course/index.php?categoryid=154|title=LMS: All courses|website=elearning.pau.edu.ng}}</ref> at the School of Media and Communication, Pan Atlantic University where he teaches final year students film Production and Techniques. He also organises free workshops for young filmmakers called The Imagery Program where he teaches Screenwriting, Filmmaking and acting for screen. It has held twice. He was one of the speakers invited by Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) to speak at a conference titled 'Videography In The Hands Of The People' which held at the school campus in October 2022 in Boston.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2022/10/nigerian-film-maker-ekene-mekwunye-invited-to-speak-at-mits-conference/|title=Nigerian film-maker, Ekene Mekwunye invited to speak at MIT's conference|date=October 2, 2022|website=Vanguard News}}</ref>
⚫
==Personal Life==
He got married in April 2012 to Muti Mekwunye, (née Omotosho) in Lagos and they have 2 kids together.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.bellanaija.com/2015/02/ekene-mekwunye-memoirs-of-a-father/ | title=Ekene Mekwunye: Memoirs of a Father | date=10 February 2015 }}</ref>


==Filmography==
==Filmography==
Line 52: Line 48:


{{DEFAULTSORT:Ekene Som Mekwunye}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ekene Som Mekwunye}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[:Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Nigerian film directors]]
[[:Category:Nigerian film directors]]
[[Category:1978 births]]
[[:Category:1978 births]]
[[Category:Igbo filmmakers]]
[[:Category:Igbo filmmakers]]
[[Category:University of Lagos alumni]]
[[:Category:University of Lagos alumni]]
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|-
! Year !! Title !! Major Cast !! Role !! Notes
! Year !! Title !! Major Cast !! Role !! Notes
|-
| 2011-2013 ||''Jara''||[[Helen Paul]], [[Uti Nwachukwu]], || Producer || TV Show
|-
| 2011-2013 ||''53extra''||[[Eku Edewor]], [[Dolapo Oni]], || Producer || TV Show
|-
| 2011-2013 ||''Channel O''||[[Denrele Edun]], || Producer, Director || TV Show
|-
| 2013 ||MTV Shuga 3||[[Nick Mutuma]], [[Timini Egbuson]], [[Emmanuel Ikubese]], [[Tiwa Savage]], [[Chris Attoh]] || Project Coordinator || TV Series
|-
|-
| 2013 ||''My Big Nigerian Wedding''||[[Sisi Yemmie]], [[Bobo Yomi]], || Director, Producer, Executive Producer || TV Show
| 2013 ||''My Big Nigerian Wedding''||[[Sisi Yemmie]], [[Bobo Yomi]], || Director, Producer, Executive Producer || TV Show
|-
|-
| 2013 ||''Oblivious''||[[Deyemi Okanlawon]], [[Kiki Omeili]], [[Uzor Osimkpa]] || Producer, Executive Producer || Short Film winner for the [[2015 Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards]] for ''Best short film''
| 2013 ||''Oblivious''||[[Deyemi Okanlawon]], [[Kiki Omeili]], [[Uzor Osimkpa]] || Screenwriter, Producer, Executive Producer || Short Film, winner for the [[2015 Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards]] for ''Best short film''
|-
|-
| 2015 ||''[[The Encounter]]''||[[Gregory Ojefua]], [[Amarachi Onoh]], [[Stan Nze]], || Producer || Short Film winner for the [[2017 Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards]] for ''Best Sound Design''
| 2015 ||''[[The Encounter]]''||[[Gregory Ojefua]], [[Amarachi Onoh]], [[Stan Nze]], || Producer || Short Film, winner for the [[2017 Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards]] for ''Best Sound Design''
|-
|-
| 2015 ||''[[A Simple Letter]]''||[[Nancy Isisme]], [[Paul Utomi]] || Producer || Short Film
| 2015 ||''[[A Simple Letter]]''||[[Nancy Isime]], [[Paul Utomi]] || Producer || Short Film
|-
|-
| 2016 ||''Lasgidi Vice''||[[Theresa Edem]], [[Bucci Franklin]], [[Hauwa Allahbura]], [[Tunji Ogunkeye]] || Producer || Short film
| 2016 ||''Lasgidi Vice''||[[Theresa Edem]], [[Bucci Franklin]], [[Hauwa Allahbura]], [[Tunji Ogunkeye]] || Producer || Short film
|-
|-
| 2018 ||''[[Sylvia]]''||[[Zainab Balogun]], [[Chris Attoh]], [[Ini Dima-Okojie]] and [[Udoka Oyeka]]|| Producer || Feature Film, available on [[Netflix]]
| 2018 ||''[[Sylvia]]''||[[Zainab Balogun]], [[Chris Attoh]], [[Ini Dima-Okojie]] and [[Udoka Oyeka]]|| Producer || Feature Film, available on [[Prime Video]]
|-
|-
| 2019 ||''[[Light In The Dark]]''||[[Rita Dominic]], [[Joke Silva]], [[Kalu Ikeagwu]], [[Kiki Omeili]], [[Bimbo Ademoye]], [[Ngozi Nwosu]], [[Saidi Balogun]]|| Director, Producer, Executive Producer || Feature Film, available on [[Netflix]]
| 2019 ||''[[Light In The Dark]]''||[[Rita Dominic]], [[Joke Silva]], [[Kalu Ikeagwu]], [[Kiki Omeili]], [[Bimbo Ademoye]], [[Ngozi Nwosu]], [[Saidi Balogun]]|| Story Writer, Director, Producer, Executive Producer || Feature Film, available on [[Netflix]]
|-
|-
| 2021 ||''[[One Lagos Night]]''||[[Frank Donga]], [[Gold Ikponmwosa]], [[Eniola Badmus]], [[Genoveva Umeh]] and [[Ali Nuhu]]|| Director, Producer, Executive Producer || Feature film, available on [[Netflix]]
| 2021 ||''[[One Lagos Night]]''||[[Frank Donga]], [[Gold Ikponmwosa]], [[Eniola Badmus]], [[Genoveva Umeh]] and [[Ali Nuhu]]|| Director, Producer, Executive Producer || Feature film, available on [[Netflix]]
|-
|-
| Unreleased ||''[[Familia]]''||[[Yvonne Jegede]], [[IK Ogbonna]], || Director, Producer, Executive Producer || Feature Film
| 2023 ||''[[How To Love Me]]''||[[Yvonne Jegede]], [[IK Ogbonna]], || Director, Producer, Executive Producer || Feature Film, available on [[Prime Video]]
|-
|-
| Unreleased ||''[[How To Love Me]]''||[[Yvonne Jegede]], [[IK Ogbonna]], || Director, Producer, Executive Producer || Feature Film
| 2023 ||''[[Honey Money]]''||[[Nancy Isime]], [[Timini Egbuson]], [[Iyabo Ojo]], [[Femi Branch]], || Director, Producer, Executive Producer || Feature Film
|-
| 2024 ||''[[Ambivalent]]''||[[Gabriel Afolayan]], [[Derby Frankson]], [[Aereis Umusu]], [[Anita.O James]], || Writer, Director, Producer, Executive Producer || Feature Film, available on [[Prime Video]]
|-
| 2024 ||''[[Kali]]''||[[Lota Chukwu]], [[Bimbo Manuel]], [[Preach Bassey]], [[Nedine Love]], [[Blessing Martyn]], [[Doddy Abili]], [[Christle Lotanna Chris-Okafor]], || Writer, Director, Producer, Executive Producer || Feature Film, available on [[Prime Video]]
|-
|-
|}
|}


⚫
== References==
{{reflist}}




== References==
{{Reflist}}{{Ekene Som Mekwunye}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Authority control}}


[[:Category:Living people]]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mekwunye, Som, Ekene}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[:Category:Igbo filmmakers]]
[[Category:Igbo filmmakers]]
[[:Category:New York Film Academy alumni]]
[[Category:New York Film Academy alumni]]
[[:Category:Male directors from Lagos]]
[[Category:Male directors from Lagos]]
[[:Category:Nigerian film directors]]
[[Category:Nigerian film directors]]
[[:Category:Nigerian male film actors]]
[[Category:Nigerian male film actors]]
[[:Category:Igbo male filmmakers]]
[[Category:Igbo male filmmakers]]
[[:Category:21st-century Nigerian male actors]]
[[Category:21st-century Nigerian male actors]]
[[:Category:1978 births]]
[[Category:1978 births]]
[[:Category:Male filmmakers in African cinema]]
[[Category:Male filmmakers in African cinema]]
[[:Category:Yoruba-language film directors]]
[[Category:Yoruba-language film directors]]
[[:Category:English-language film directors from Nigeria]]
[[Category:English-language film directors from Nigeria]]
[[:Category:Mekwunye family|Ekene]]
[[Category:Mekwunye family|Ekene]]
[[:Category:Filmmakers from Delta state]]
[[Category:Filmmakers from Delta state
[[:Category:Filmmakers in Lagos state]]

]]

Latest revision as of 07:34, 3 June 2024

  • Comment: Entire sections are unsourced. Greenman (talk) 09:13, 20 November 2022 (UTC)
Ekene Som Mekwunye
(A photo of Ekene taken in March 2022)
Born
Ekene Som Mekwunye

(1978-04-22) 22 April 1978 (age 46)
Suru-Lere, Lagos State, Nigeria
NationalityNigerian
CitizenshipNigerian
Occupation(s)Director, Producer, screenwriter, University Lecturer, Public Speaker
SpouseMutiat Mekwunye
Children2
Parent(s)Ezekolie Peter Mekwunye (d. 2016), Lozie Grace Mekwunye[1]

Ekene Som Mekwunye (Born Saturday, 22nd April 1978) is a Nigerian director, film producer, screenwriter, university lecturer and a Public Speaker.[2]

Career[edit]

He started his career being a camera assistant at his church before getting a job at Africa Magic producing 53extra and Jara as well as all Channel O contents in Nigeria. He later went to New York film Academy in Los Angeles to study filmmaking. Shortly after his return, he moved to MTV shuga as the project coordinator where he organized for their hit TV series titled Shuga 3. He shot a short film, Oblivious and it won an AMVCA[3] (Africa Magic Viewers Choice Award) in 2015 for best short film.

He started his Company, Riverside Productions after He left MTV Shuga and created a TV show called My Big Nigerian Wedding which went on to become a big wedding reality TV show in Africa. He later produced 3 short films titled The Encounter[4], A Simple Letter and Lasgidi Vice. The Encounter won an AMVCA[5] for best Sound track/original score in 2017 and Lasgidi Vice got to screen at the Cannes International Film Festival[6] in 2018. He produced his first Feature film titled Sylvia[7], which was released in Nigerian cinemas[8] in September 2018 and screened at different film festivals including Nollywood Week[9] in Paris and BFI[10].

He Directed his first feature film, which he also produced with Chidinma Uzodike titled Light In The Dark, which was released in Nigerian and Ghanaian cinemas[11] on the 25th Of January 2019. It got 3 nominations at the AMVCA 2022 including the highly coveted Best Director[12]. It went on to screen at film festivals in 5 different continents including, Nollywood Week in Paris[13], Silicon Valley African Film festival[14] and Soo Film Festivals both in the United States, Brasilia International film festival in Brazil, Durban International Film festival[15] in South Africa and other countries in India, Egypt, Tunisia, Nigeria and Australia. He won the Best Director award at the Kaduna International Film Festival[16] in 2020 for the same film. He directed his second feature film, which he also produced titled ‘One Lagos Night’[17] that was acquired exclusively by Netflix[18] and the international release on their platform was on the 29th of May 2021. It was also the closing film at Nollywood week Film Festival, Paris[19] which held online in 2021. It got 2 nominations at the AMVCA 2022[20].

In 2022, he made the movie titled 'Honey Money' starring Nancy Isime, Timini Egbuson, Iyabo Ojo, Femi Branch, Babarex, Uzee Usman, Sandra Okunzuwa, Junior Pope etc. He was the Director, Co-Producer and also an Executive Producer.[21] The movie was released in cinemas In April 2023. Amazon Prime released[22] 2 of his films exclusive to their platform Prime video in April 2024 titled AMBIVALENT and KALI [23]. He is also an adjunct faculty[24] at the School of Media and Communication, Pan Atlantic University where he teaches final year students film Production and Techniques. He also organises free workshops for young filmmakers called The Imagery Program where he teaches Screenwriting, Filmmaking and acting for screen. It has held twice. He was one of the speakers invited by Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) to speak at a conference titled 'Videography In The Hands Of The People' which held at the school campus in October 2022 in Boston.[25]

Personal Life[edit]

He got married in April 2012 to Muti Mekwunye, (née Omotosho) in Lagos and they have 2 kids together.[26]

Filmography[edit]

Selected Filmography


Category:Living people Category:Nigerian film directors Category:1978 births Category:Igbo filmmakers Category:University of Lagos alumni

Year Title Major Cast Role Notes
2011-2013 Jara Helen Paul, Uti Nwachukwu, Producer TV Show
2011-2013 53extra Eku Edewor, Dolapo Oni, Producer TV Show
2011-2013 Channel O Denrele Edun, Producer, Director TV Show
2013 MTV Shuga 3 Nick Mutuma, Timini Egbuson, Emmanuel Ikubese, Tiwa Savage, Chris Attoh Project Coordinator TV Series
2013 My Big Nigerian Wedding Sisi Yemmie, Bobo Yomi, Director, Producer, Executive Producer TV Show
2013 Oblivious Deyemi Okanlawon, Kiki Omeili, Uzor Osimkpa Screenwriter, Producer, Executive Producer Short Film, winner for the 2015 Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards for Best short film
2015 The Encounter Gregory Ojefua, Amarachi Onoh, Stan Nze, Producer Short Film, winner for the 2017 Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards for Best Sound Design
2015 A Simple Letter Nancy Isime, Paul Utomi Producer Short Film
2016 Lasgidi Vice Theresa Edem, Bucci Franklin, Hauwa Allahbura, Tunji Ogunkeye Producer Short film
2018 Sylvia Zainab Balogun, Chris Attoh, Ini Dima-Okojie and Udoka Oyeka Producer Feature Film, available on Prime Video
2019 Light In The Dark Rita Dominic, Joke Silva, Kalu Ikeagwu, Kiki Omeili, Bimbo Ademoye, Ngozi Nwosu, Saidi Balogun Story Writer, Director, Producer, Executive Producer Feature Film, available on Netflix
2021 One Lagos Night Frank Donga, Gold Ikponmwosa, Eniola Badmus, Genoveva Umeh and Ali Nuhu Director, Producer, Executive Producer Feature film, available on Netflix
2023 How To Love Me Yvonne Jegede, IK Ogbonna, Director, Producer, Executive Producer Feature Film, available on Prime Video
2023 Honey Money Nancy Isime, Timini Egbuson, Iyabo Ojo, Femi Branch, Director, Producer, Executive Producer Feature Film
2024 Ambivalent Gabriel Afolayan, Derby Frankson, Aereis Umusu, Anita.O James, Writer, Director, Producer, Executive Producer Feature Film, available on Prime Video
2024 Kali Lota Chukwu, Bimbo Manuel, Preach Bassey, Nedine Love, Blessing Martyn, Doddy Abili, Christle Lotanna Chris-Okafor, Writer, Director, Producer, Executive Producer Feature Film, available on Prime Video

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Nigeria's govt hospitals are slaughter slabs". 17 June 2016.
  2. ^ "Conference Details". Bearing Witness, Seeking Justice.
  3. ^ "'The Meeting', 'October 1' shine at AMVCA | Premium Times Nigeria". March 8, 2015.
  4. ^ "Ekene Som Mekwunye Releases "The Encounter" | Xplorenollywood". 18 December 2015.
  5. ^ "AMVCA 2017: See full list of winners". March 5, 2017.
  6. ^ "Leute: Nollywood Germany statt Bollywood". July 18, 2018 – via www.welt.de.
  7. ^ Mboho, Eddy (October 3, 2018). "Sylvia Review - Directed by Daniel Oriahi and Produced by Ekene Mekwunye".
  8. ^ "Sylvia… The 'art' of exploring 'spirit husband' in Nollywood". September 9, 2018.
  9. ^ "'Sylvia' debuts at Nollywood Week in Paris". May 4, 2018.
  10. ^ "Sylvia (2018)". BFI.
  11. ^ "Latest Nigerian Entertainment News & Updates". Pulse Nigeria.
  12. ^ "AMVCA: 2022 Africa Magic Awards Nominees don land- See who dey list". BBC News Pidgin.
  13. ^ "Light in the Dark | NollywoodWeek Film Festival".
  14. ^ "Silicon Valley African Film Festival 2019 Souvenir Booklet". Issuu. 29 September 2019.
  15. ^ https://ccadiff.ukzn.ac.za/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/DIFF-Prog-2019.pdf
  16. ^ "Rita Dominic, Joke Silver Win Big At KADIFF 2020 Awards". September 9, 2020.
  17. ^ "One Lagos Night | NollywoodWeek ONLINE 2021". watch.eventive.org.
  18. ^ "Netflix acquires exclusive rights to Ekene Som Mekwunye's film "One Lagos Night"". May 11, 2021.
  19. ^ "NollywoodWeek Film Festival | Festival du cinéma nigérian".
  20. ^ https://www.vanguardngr.com/2022/05/amvca-2022-movies-actors-that-got-double-nominations/
  21. ^ "VSL MEDIA Taps Ekene Som Mekwunye to Direct New Star Studded Feature". August 26, 2022.
  22. ^ https://www.vanguardngr.com/2024/04/ekene-som-mekwunyes-tw-prime-directed-films-kali-ambivalent-hit-amazon-prime/
  23. ^ "Ekene Mekwunye premieres new films on Amazon Prime". 5 April 2024.
  24. ^ "LMS: All courses". elearning.pau.edu.ng.
  25. ^ "Nigerian film-maker, Ekene Mekwunye invited to speak at MIT's conference". Vanguard News. October 2, 2022.
  26. ^ "Ekene Mekwunye: Memoirs of a Father". 10 February 2015.


Category:Living people Category:Igbo filmmakers Category:New York Film Academy alumni Category:Male directors from Lagos Category:Nigerian film directors Category:Nigerian male film actors Category:Igbo male filmmakers Category:21st-century Nigerian male actors Category:1978 births Category:Male filmmakers in African cinema Category:Yoruba-language film directors Category:English-language film directors from Nigeria Ekene Category:Filmmakers from Delta state Category:Filmmakers in Lagos state

source: https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Draft:Ekene_Som_Mekwunye&diff=1227031576&oldid=1023797048

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