{{short description|Nollywood movie director}} {{Use Nigerian English|date=August 2022}} {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2022}} {{Infobox person | image = Obi Emelonye.png | caption = | name = Obi Emelonye | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=y|1967|03|24}} | birth_place = Port Harcourt, Nigeria | networth = | education = PhD | alma_mater = Eastern Mediterranean University<br>University of Nigeria, Nsukka <br>University of Wolverhampton | years_active = 2000–present | occupation = film maker <br>producer <br> director | credits = {{unbulleted list |''Last Flight to Abuja'' |''Echoes of War'' |''The Mirror Boy, and Last Flight to Abuja'' |''Heart 2 hearth'' }} | spouse = | relatives = | children = | awards = See below | website = }}
'''Obi Emelonye'''{{Audio|Ig-Obi Emelonye.ogg|listen|help=no}} (born 24 March 1967) is a Nigerian film director.<ref>{{cite news | url= http://www.tribune.com.ng/entertainment/item/3574-i-donated-my-kidney-as-reparation-obi-emelonye/3574-i-donated-my-kidney-as-reparation-obi-emelonye | title=I donated my kidney as reparation –Obi Emelonye | newspaper=Nigerian Tribune | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006172525/http://www.tribune.com.ng/entertainment/item/3574-i-donated-my-kidney-as-reparation-obi-emelonye/3574-i-donated-my-kidney-as-reparation-obi-emelonye | access-date=2 October 2014| archive-date=6 October 2014 }}</ref> He is known for directing award-winning films such as ''Last Flight to Abuja'' (2012), ''The Mirror Boy'' (2011), and ''Onye Ozi'' (2013).<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.premiumtimesng.com/arts-entertainment/161508-nigerian-movie-producer-obi-emelonye-arrested-released-police-michael-abimboye.html | title=Nigerian movie producer, Obi Emelonye, arrested, released by police |author=Micheal Abimboye| newspaper=Premium Times|date=27 May 2014| access-date=2 October 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/07/my-mirror-boy-story-by-obi-emelonye/ |location=Lagos, Nigeria| title=My Mirror Boy story, by Obi Emelonye | newspaper=Vanguard|author=Benjamin Njoku|date=9 July 2011| access-date=2 October 2014}}</ref>
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.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2020-05-05 |title=Obi Emelonye to premiere 'Heart 2 Heart' directed remotely using Zoom |url=https://www.pulse.ng/story/obi-emelonye-to-premiere-heart-2-heart-directed-remotely-using-zoom-2024081704043484715 |access-date=2025-12-13 |newspaper=Pulse Nigeria|language=en}}</ref> The movie, Heart 2 Heart, received critical acclaim from major media outlets all over the world.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Okang |first=Naa Atswei Deisa |date=2020-08-29 |title=Heart2Heart: Love in the time of Corona |url=https://humansofafrica.net/heart2heart-love-in-the-time-of-corona/ |access-date=2025-12-13 |website=Humans of Africa |language=en}}</ref>
In December 2022, Obi Emelonye was presented with the British Urban Film Festival honorary award by producer/director Don Omope<ref>{{Cite web |title=Don Omope {{!}} Producer, Director, Writer |url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm7475895/ |access-date=2025-12-13 |website=IMDb |language=en-US}}</ref> for a 20+ year outstanding contribution to cinema at a ceremony in London.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Obi Emelonye given Lifetime Achievement award by Black Urban Film Festival for Nollywood movies |url=https://www.hud.ac.uk/news/2022/december/obi-emelonye-buff-awards-lifetime-achievement/ |access-date=2025-12-13 |website=University of Huddersfield |language=en}}</ref>
==Education== He is a member of the UK Directors Guild as well as the British Film Institute (BFI).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Obi Emelonye |url=https://pure.hud.ac.uk/en/persons/obi-emelonye |access-date=2022-11-14 |website=University of Huddersfield Research Portal |language=en |archive-date=14 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221114060819/https://pure.hud.ac.uk/en/persons/obi-emelonye |url-status=dead }}</ref>
==Filmography== * ''Black Mail'' - 2022<ref>{{Cite news |date=2021-09-24 |title=Obi Emelonye's new film 'Blackmail' scoops first award |url=https://www.pulse.ng/story/obi-emelonyes-new-film-blackmail-scoops-first-award-2024081822565498948 |access-date=2025-12-13 |newspaper=Pulse Nigeria|language=en}}</ref> * ''Badamasi'' - 2021 *''Crazy Lovely, Cool'' - 2018 * ''The Calabash'' (featuring Princess Halliday,<ref name="nation">{{cite news|url=http://thenationonlineng.net/princess-halliday-empowers-new-series/|title=Princess Halliday empowers through new series|date=13 December 2014|access-date=27 August 2016|location=Lagos, Nigeria|newspaper=The Nation}}</ref> Collete Nwadike, Alex Nwokedi, Bayray McNwizu, Lisa Omorodion, Enyinna Nwigwe, Uru Eke, Chris Okagbue) - 2015<ref>{{Cite news |date=2015-05-07 |title=5 things to know about Obi Emelonye's 1st TV series |url=https://www.pulse.ng/story/the-calabash-5-things-to-know-about-obi-emelonyes-1st-tv-series-2024080913541375862 |access-date=2025-12-13 |newspaper=Pulse Nigeria|language=en}}</ref> * ''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<ref>{{Citation |title=Echoes of War |date=2004-04-25 |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0472265/ |access-date=2025-12-13 |publisher=Montrose Films}}</ref> * ''Money Miss Road''
== Awards and nominations == {| class="wikitable" !Year !Award !Category !Result !Ref |- |2021 |Africa Movie Academy Awards |Best Film by an African Living Abroad |{{won}} |<ref name=":02">{{Cite news|last=Banjo|first=Noah|date=2021-10-29|title=FULL LIST: Ayinla, Omo Ghetto: The Saga bag multiple nominations at AMAA 2021|url=https://punchng.com/full-list-ayinla-omo-ghetto-the-saga-bag-multiple-nominations-at-amaa-2021/|access-date=2021-10-30|newspaper=The Punch|language=en-US}}</ref> |- |2021 |Changing Face International Festival |Best Trailer Award |{{won}} |<ref>{{Cite news |date=2021-09-24 |title=Obi Emelonye's new film 'Blackmail' scoops first award |url=https://www.pulse.ng/story/obi-emelonyes-new-film-blackmail-scoops-first-award-2024081822565498948 |access-date=2025-12-13 |newspaper=Pulse Nigeria|language=en}}</ref> |- |2023 |Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards |Best Director |{{Nom}} |<ref>{{Cite web |title=Full List: Here are all our AMVCA 9 Nominees |url=https://dstv-fe-africamagic-prod.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/africamagic/en-ng/show/amvca/season/9/news/full-list-here-are-all-our-amvca-9-nominees/news |access-date=2023-04-23 |website=AMVCA - Full List: Here are all our AMVCA 9 Nominees |language=en }}{{Dead link|date=July 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref name="Daily Trust 2023">{{Cite news | title=FULL LIST: Who won what at AMVCA 2023 |newspaper=Daily Trust| date=2023-05-21 | url=https://dailytrust.com/full-list-who-won-what-at-amvca-2023/ | access-date=2023-06-10}}</ref> |}
== References == {{reflist|30em}}
==External links== *{{IMDb name|1994773}} {{Obi Emelonye|state=expanded}}{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Emelonye, Obi}} Category:Nigerian film directors Category:1967 births Category:Films directed by Obi Emelonye Category:Living people Category:University of Nigeria alumni Category:Alumni of London Metropolitan University Category:Alumni of the University of Wolverhampton Category:Eastern Mediterranean University alumni
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