Obi Emelonye

Nollywood movie director

Last Flight to Abuja
Echoes of War
The Mirror Boy, and Last Flight to Abuja
Heart 2 hearth

Obi Emelonyelisten^ⓘ (born 24 March 1967) is a Nigerian film director.^[1] He is known for directing award-winning films such as Last Flight to Abuja (2012), The Mirror Boy (2011), and Onye Ozi (2013).^[2]^[3]

In 2020, during the coronavirus pandemic, which shut down businesses globally, Obi Emelonye became the first film director to make a movie via Zoom, by working remotely with cast members in London and Lagos. The movie, Heart 2 Heart, received critical acclaim from major media outlets all over the world.^{[citation needed]}

In December 2022, Obi Emelonye was presented with the British Urban Film Festival honorary award by producer/director Don Omope for a 20+ year outstanding contribution to cinema at a ceremony in London.

Education

Obi Emelonye, a former professional footballer and law professional, graduated from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) Enugu State, with BA (Hons) Theatre Arts degree (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 London Metropolitan University (2002) and practised Law for a few years before focusing on his first love, film. In 2019, Obi Emelonye acquired certifications to become a Chartered Management consultant. He is a member of the UK Directors Guild as well as the British Film Institute (BFI).^[4]

Filmography

Black Mail - 2022
Badamasi - 2021
Crazy Lovely, Cool - 2018
The Calabash (featuring Princess Halliday,^[5] Collete Nwadike, Alex Nwokedi, Bayray McNwizu, Lisa Omorodion, Enyinna Nwigwe, Uru Eke, Chris Okagbue) - 2015
Thy Will Be Done - 2015
Onye Ozi (The Messenger) - 2013
Oxford Gardens- 2013
Last Flight to Abuja - 2012
The Mirror Boy - 2011
The London Successor - 2006
Lucky Joe - 2006
Echoes of War - 2004
Money Miss Road

Awards and nominations

Year	Award	Category	Result	Ref
2021	Africa Movie Academy Awards	Best Film by an African Living Abroad	Won	^[6]
2023	Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards	Best Director	Nominated	^[7]^[8]

References

^ "I donated my kidney as reparation –Obi Emelonye". Nigerian Tribune. Archived from the original on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 2 October 2014.
^ Micheal Abimboye (27 May 2014). "Nigerian movie producer, Obi Emelonye, arrested, released by police". Premium Times. Retrieved 2 October 2014.
^ Benjamin Njoku (9 July 2011). "My Mirror Boy story, by Obi Emelonye". Vanguard Nigeria. Retrieved 2 October 2014.
^ "Obi Emelonye". University of Huddersfield Research Portal. Retrieved 14 November 2022.
^ "Princess Halliday empowers through new series". The Nation Newspaper. Lagos, Nigeria. 13 December 2014. Retrieved 27 August 2016.
^ Banjo, Noah (29 October 2021). "FULL LIST: Ayinla, Omo Ghetto: The Saga bag multiple nominations at AMAA 2021". Punch Newspapers. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
^ "Full List: Here are all our AMVCA 9 Nominees". AMVCA - Full List: Here are all our AMVCA 9 Nominees. Retrieved 23 April 2023.
^ "FULL LIST: Who won what at AMVCA 2023". Daily Trust. 21 May 2023. Retrieved 10 June 2023.