Nollywood, whether the ones you watch on Africa Magic Epic or the ones you watch on Iroko TV, or the ones you watch at the cinema are different branches of the same tree. Some would want to attribute inferiority to a branch but we are not going that way today. Today is about the contributions of the Southeast via the director’s box.
The Igbos had dominated Nollywood in the home-movie era but since the cinema became a big player, since cable TV and streaming sites began to do original movies and dramas, the Igbos have struggled to hold their own. The acting aspect hasn’t been much affected as they have made the transformation to drama and the cinema seamlessly. The filmmaking aspect, not so huge.
Which is what makes this post important, x-raying some of the most known names in the Nollywood director’s corner from the southeast. Let’s do it in no particular order.
David Njoku
David Njoku is one of the well-known Nigerian movie directors that are from the South East. He is from Nkelefi in Nkanu East of Enugu but was born in Abraka, Delta State.
His journey in the entertainment industry began right from the time he went for an audition in 2004 and was ridiculed by the supervisor of the audition. To prove his doubters wrong, David Njoku began writing movie scripts and was encouraged by people to try his stars with the movie and entertainment industry.
His rise in the movie industry hasn’t been an uneventful one as he took a four-year break from producing after one of his works, “Wicked Conscience”, which starred big Nollywood stars such as Uche Elendu, Chiwetalu Agu recorded no significant breakthrough.
Read this – Five rising Igbo actors to watch out for
After his return from break in 2012, he produced many movies but the most significant one was the one he coproduced in 2015 in a blockbuster Nollywood movie, “The Kidnap” which was a hit in cinemas across the South Eastern Part of the country.
Andy Chukwu
Andy Chukwu hails from Ishiagu town of Ivo Local Government Area which is in Ebonyi State. He started his career in the Nollywood movie industry as an actor when he starred in popular movies such as Issakaba and Karishika. He has also directed popular movies such as “Mr. Ibu” and “2 Rats” which starred Chinedu Ikedieze, Osita Iheme, John Okafor, and other star actors.
This might as well be the best movie that he has ever directed as the popularity of the movie waxed so strong in Nigeria that the lead actor, John Okafor, is best known by Mr. Ibu, a name that he took in the movie than by his usual name.
In 2013, during the tenure of former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, he was among the stakeholders of the Nollywood movie industry that was invited to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the release of the first homemade Nigerian movie.
Obi Emelonye
Obi Emelonye is one of the leading figures when it comes to directing in the Nollywood movie industry. His works such as The Last Flight To Abuja which was released in 2012, “The Mirror Boy” (2011) and “Onye Ozi” (2013) were all award-winning movies.
He is regarded as an internationally recognized director in the movie industry as he has worked with many known international directors and actors both within the shores of Nigeria and outside the shores of Nigeria.
The lockdown brought about by the pandemic in the year 2020 was a remarkable period for him as he made history as the first movie director to make a movie by connecting with casts in Lagos and London through zoom.
The movie birthed by this innovation, “Heart 2 Heart” was welcomed with numerous approvals and recognitions from media houses across the country and beyond.
Chinedum Iregbu
The award-winning director is one of the youngest creative minds in the Nigerian industry. The movies, “In Dele Giwa’s Shoes”, “Question Mark” and “Duds Culture” were selected for the 2008 Berlinale Talent Campus and won several awards.
Another of the works that gave him major acclaim was “Anfara”, which buttressed some of the causes of political unrest in target zones in the country. This movie won him several awards such as Best Videography, Best Edit, and Best Score at the TVC Legacy awards arranged by the Nigerian Television Authorities in 2011.
Read, also – Five rising female stars that would set Nollywood ablaze
The next year, 2012, the movie won him the award of Emerging Filmmaker Award during the Silicon Valley African Film Festival.
Chinedum Iregbu was among the talents charged with providing the documentaries of the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of Nigeria by Governors, His Excellencies Liyel Imoke and Emmanuel Uduaghan.
Izu Ojukwu
Born in Jos, Plateau Statem Izu Ojukwu is an Nnewi indigene. He is an award-winning director who is regarded as one of the best from the South East. And no, he doesn’t make Asaba movies. He makes cinema movies.
His work, “Sitanda” won him the award of Best Director at the occasion of the 3rd Africa Movie Academy Awards. The movie also raked in nine nominations, winning five of which the award for Best Nigerian Movie and Best Pictures was among.
He was also the director of the award-winning movie “76” starring Ramsey Nouah, Chidi Mokeme, and Rita Dominic.
Connect with us on Facebook
Written by Prince Chime, Nsukka
Post Disclaimer
The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author and forum participants on this website do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of Anaedo Online or official policies of the Anaedo Online.