Jeta Amata

Jeta Amata is a Nigerian filmmaker, born on August 21, 1974, to popular Nigerian actor Zack Amata. He comes from a family of veteran filmmakers including Ifoghale Amata, Zack Amata and Fred Amata. Growing up in the film industry, following his family’s passion for film, Jeta produced and directed his first film at the age of 21, making it no surprise when he began to rise in the world of film and entertainment.

Education

Jeta Amata studied Theater Arts at Benue State University in Makurdi, Nigeria.

Global production and acclaim

His work first went global when he produced a documentary film for the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) in 2003 using his film “Game of Life” as footage for the documentary. He holds 53 nominations and 10 wins for film awards in Africa, Europe and the United States, and is considered one of the most successful filmmakers to come out of West Africa.

Summary of works

Debut Film

Debuting his movie “Alexa Affair” at the 2004 Berlin Film Festival would establish him firmly in the minds of Nigerians, Africans, and the world as a renowned and respected Nigerian filmmaker and a true Nollywood success story who tells only stories that impact on people positively.

2006-2011

Jeta’s film “The Amazing Grace”, which won the Best West African Film Award in the 2006 Screen Nations Awards UK, holds the honor of being the first Nigerian film to be screened at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival. It is the only Nigerian Film that has had a western release and it can also be found in American stores and on websites such as Netflix.

Soon after, Jeta would be recognized for such movies as “Inale” and “Mary Slessor”.

2012-Present

Jeta’s latest film, Black November was premiered at the United Nations during the General Assembly in 2012 and was also screened at the Kennedy Center as well as the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. The film inspired sponsoring of a bi-partisan resolution on the Niger Delta of Nigeria members of the 112th United States Congress, H.CON.RES.121.

Amata had screenings of his documentary, Into the Delta on the situation of the Niger Delta in nine universities in the U.S., including, NYU, George Washington University, UCLA and Cornell.

Official appointments

Recently, the President of Haiti, Michel Joseph Martelly, made Jeta Amata a Goodwill Ambassador to Haiti.

Colleagues

Amata has worked with the likes of Academy Award winner Kim Basinger, Academy Award nominee Mickey Rourke, music superstars Akon and Wyclef Jean.

Family

In 2001 at an audition in Calabar he met Mbong Amata.[1] Two years later when she was 18 they began dating. They married in 2008 and their daughter Veno was born later that year. In 2013 they separated and in 2014 they divorced.[2]

Filmography

2013 Road to Redemption Director, Writer, Producer

2011 Black NOVEMBER Director, Writer, Producer

2010 Inale Director, Writer, Producer

2009 QUEEN AMINA Director, Writer, Producer

2008 MARY SLESSOR (TV series) Director, Writer, Producer

2007 GAME OF LIFE Director, Writer, Producer

2006 THE AMAZING GRACE Director, Writer, Producer

2005 LAST GAME Director, Writer, Producer

2005 ULTIMATE CRISIS Director, Writer, Producer

2005 WHEEL OF CHANGE Director, Writer, Producer

2004 THE ALEXA AFFAIR Director, Writer, Producer

2004 QUEEN 2 (video) Director, Writer, Producer

2004 QUEEN (video) Director, Writer, Producer

2003 DANGEROUS DESIRE (video) Director, Writer, Producer

2003 LOVE ENTAGLE (video) Director, Writer, Producer

2003 UNCONDITIONAL LOVE Director, Writer, Producer

2002 TEARS OF A WOMAN Director, Writer, Producer

2002 BLACK MAMBA (video) Director, Writer, Producer

2001 MUTANDA Director, Writer, Producer

Awards/Nominations

References

  1. ↑ http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2297741/
  2. ↑ http://www.punchng.com/entertainment/e-punch/marriage-not-my-priority-for-now-mbong-amata/#sthash.9UHFKppM.dpuf

External links