Nigerian film director, writer, and actor (born 1974)
Akin Omotoso
(
listen
ⓘ
)
(born 1974) is a Nigerian film director, writer, and actor. He is best known for directing the 2022 film
Rise
. Both his father
Kole Omotoso
and his sister
Yewande Omotoso
are also writers.
[1]
[2]
Early life and education
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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
. Akin Omotoso studied at the
University of Cape Town
, obtaining a diploma in speech and drama. His mother died in 2003.
[3]
Career
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Omotoso ventured into entertainment while at the university. His acting debut was in
Sunjata
by Mark Fleishman. This also earned Omotoso 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 the 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]
In 2022, Omotoso directed
Giannis Antetokounmpo
biopic
Rise
for
Disney
, which received generally positive reviews. Sourav Chakraborty of
Sportskeeda
found
Rise
to be an inspiring sports movie, stated Omotoso successfully provides an atmosphere of tension across his direction, and praised the performances of the cast members.
[6]
Filmography
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]
See also
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]
References
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]
External links
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]
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