Akin Omotoso

Akin Omotoso (born 1974) is a Nigerian film director, writer, and actor. Both his father Kole Omotoso and his sister Yewande Omotoso are also writers.[1][2]

Akin Omotoso
Born1974
Maiduguri, Nigeria
OccupationFilmmaker
Known forBlood Diamond
Man on Ground
Tell Me Sweet Something
Catching Feelings

Early life and education

Omotoso was born in Nigeria where he grew up in Ile Ife, Osun State. His family emigrated to South Africa in 1992 after his father, Kole Omotoso, took an academic appointment with the University of the Western Cape. This prompted Akin Omotoso to study at the same university, obtaining a diploma in speech and drama. His mother died in 2003.[3]

Career

Omotoso ventured into entertainment while at the university. His acting debut was in Sunjata by Mark Fleishman. This also earned him a Fleur du Cap Award for Most Promising Student in 1995. He used the money from acting in the play to direct his first short films, The Kiss of Milk, The Nightwalkers and The Caretaker. By 1999, he wrote his first full-length film, entitled God is African. The film was released in 2003. He started a production company along with Robbie Thorpe and Kgomotso Matsunyane called T.O.M pictures in 2003.

Omotoso directed the television series Jacob's Cross on Africa Magic, M-Net and SABC between 2007 and 2013. In 2010, he began working on Tell Me Sweet Something; speaking about the script with Pulse Nigeria, he stated that Theodore Witchers′ Love Jones (1997) was the influence behind the film. Omotoso also noted that he received a grant from the African Women's Development Fund. The film earned him a best director award at the 2016 Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards in Lagos State.[4]

In an interview with Azania Mosaka, he described the South African film industry atmosphere as having an enabling environment for aspiring filmmakers. He particularly acknowledged funds from the Department of Trade and Industry and the National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) that prepares film stakeholders for the industry.[5]

Filmography
Year Title Role Notes
1994Soul City
1999A Reasonable ManPhotographer
2000Operation Delta Force 5: Random FireVice Consul Williams
2003God is AfricanFormer DJUncredited, Director
2004Gums & NosesFurious Ad Man
2004Lettre d'amour zoulouSongs of SolomonVoice
2005Lord of WarGeneral Solomon
2006Blood DiamondPeacekeeper
2006Gathering the Scattered CousinsShort, Director
2006A Place Called HomeTV Series, Director
2007Shake Hands with the DevilPaul Kagame
2007The Three Investigators and the Secret of Skeleton IslandGamba
2007Soul BuddyzTV Series, Director
2008Jesus and the GiantTV Series, Director
2009Wole Soyinka: Child of the ForestDirector, Documentary
2011Man on GroundDirector
2013End GameTV Series, Director
2014Hector and the Search for HappinessAfrican Boss
2015Tell Me Sweet SomethingDirector
2016Wonder Boy for PresidentKalu Akinrinsa
2016Queen of KatweRwabushenyi President
2016Naked RealityMadiba
2016VayaDirector
2017Catching FeelingsJoel
2019The Ghost and the House of TruthDirector

References
  1. Raghav Mukerji, "Tell Me Sweet Something – Q&A with Director Akin Omotoso", Borrowing Tape, 28 February 2016.
  2. Shanaaz Prince, "Akin Omotoso: From actor to filmmaker", PressReader, 23 February 2017.
  3. Africa Film Festival. "Akin Omotoso bio". New York. Archived from the original on 2017-04-05. Retrieved 2017-04-05.
  4. Chidumga, Izuzu (14 March 2016). "Filmmaker talks "Tell me Sweet Something," importance of musical score, what makes a film great". Pulse. Nigeria.
  5. Azania, Mosaka (30 September 2016). "SA's future of film is positive, says award-winning director Akin Omotoso". Radio 702.
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