EXCLUSIVE: Gotham Group has signed Nigerian filmmaker CJ Obasi, whose latest film Mami Wata is Nigeria’s entry for the Oscar for Best International Feature Film at the 96th Academy Awards.
Mama Wata It had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival in the “World Cinema – Dramatic” section, where it won the Cinematography Award.
Award-winning filmmaker Obasi’s previous credits include: Ojuju (2014) and O town (2015), screened at various festivals including Gothenburg and Fantasia.
His short film, Hello, rain (2018) premiered in Oberhausen and at over 40 festivals, won a jury prize at Fantasia and was nominated for the BFI Short Film Prize. Juju stories (2021), an anthology film by the Surreal1 Collective, won the Boccalino D’oro Award for Best Film in Locarno.
Located in a remote West African village. Mama Wata follows the villagers who worship the mermaid god Mami Wata and ask for help from their healer Mama Efe (Rita Edochie), her daughter Zinwe (Uzoamaka Aniunoh) and her protégé Prisca (Evelyne Ily Juhen).
When a small boy falls victim to a virus, the villagers’ faith in Efe’s powers as an intermediary between them and Mami Wata is shaken. The sudden arrival of a mysterious rebellious deserter named Jasper (Emeka Amakeze) adds even more tension.
Mama Wata was nominated for 12 African Film Academy Awards, including Best Director and Best Film.
Dekanalog acquired the North American rights to the film in May, which were also acquired for Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Alief takes care of the international distribution rights.
Hollywood-based management and production company The Gotham Group recently produced Wendell & Wild on Netflix in association with Jordan Peele’s Monkeypaw Productions and director Henry Selick, with Key & Peele’s voice actor Lyric Ross (it’s us) and Angela Bassett.
Recent television productions include Washington BlackThe film is based on the award-winning novel by Esi Edugyan. The film stars Selwyn Hinds and Sterling K. Brown as producer and star for Hulu.
Obasi is already represented by CAA.
Source: Deadline
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