FilmTT’s Landmark Achievement: Two Short Films to Shine at Toronto International Film Festival

FilmTT is on the brink of making history as it proudly announces the inclusion of two of its exceptional short films, ‘When the Monsters Come Out’ and ‘A Mother’s Revenge,’ in the esteemed lineup of the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF).

We are elated to unveil these two completed short films, which are the result of a remarkable collaboration with the internationally acclaimed Nigerian filmmaker, James Amuta.

The first of the duo, ‘When the Monsters Come Out,’ is a gripping 15-minute proof of concept that not only captivates audiences but also harbors the ambition of securing funding for its forthcoming full-length feature, set to be filmed against the breathtaking backdrop of Trinidad and Tobago. The second offering, the enthralling ‘A Mother’s Revenge,’ emerged from FilmTT’s 48hr Film Challenge in partnership with James Amuta, and is enriched by the creative prowess of local theatre icon Penelope Spencer.

A distinctive highlight of both films is the participation of a 100% local cast, a testament to the remarkable talent thriving within our region. Taking these remarkable proof-of-concept pieces to TIFF, in tandem with James Amuta, presents an extraordinary opportunity to pitch in real-time to potential investors. This invaluable platform is poised to secure commitments that could potentially shape the future of our burgeoning film industry.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the James Amuta Company and the revered filmmaker himself for his role in this exhilarating collaboration, which aims not only to enhance the local film landscape but also to set it on an even more remarkable trajectory.

James Amuta is an award-winning filmmaker, writer and cinematographer. His critically acclaimed documentary film, Nightfall in Lagos won the “Best Documentary by an African” award at TINFF, Toronto and was also nominated for “Best Documentary” at the 2018 Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards. His screenplay for the AFRIFF 2021 Closing Film, Collision Course, earned him an Africa Movie Academy Award for Prize for Achievement in Screenplay. The poet-turned-filmmaker is the author of Enigma: Beyond the Poet, a collection of 84 poems published in 2007, which included critically acclaimed poems which have featured in international poetry anthologies and publications in the USA and the United Kingdom.

Self-described as a guerrilla filmmaker, James Amuta has climbed almost 20,000 feet to reach the summit of Africa’s highest mountain, Mount Kilimanjaro, to produce, direct and photograph a documentary film to help draw attention to the plight of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), especially woman and children displaced by the activities of Boko Haram, in Nigeria.

As a writer, he’s served as writer and publicist for hit international TV shows including Dragons Den, Are You Smarter than a 10 Year Old, 100% Naja on Channel O, Koko Mansion, and The Apprentice Africa.

As a documentary filmmaker, he has written, produced, and directed infomercials and short documentaries like Project Hope and Comfort (for Cross River State Government); Enterprise Challenge 100 (for the centennial anniversary of IBM); Ofala (2019); and the European Brands Motor Show (for Porsche Center Lagos and Stallion Motors). No stranger to fictional drama, James Amuta served as producer on the critically acclaimed Netflix Original film, Oloture and the Netflix Film Elesin Oba: The King’s Horseman based on the play Death and the King’s Horseman by Wole Soyinka.

He also wrote and served as producer on the multiple AMAA award-winning film, Collision Course. He also wrote and directed the yet-to-be-released drama, BiCuriousity based on a screenplay that was an Official Selection at the Vail Screenplay Contest organized by the Colorado Film Institute. James Amuta is a consummate storyteller and adventurer, carving a niche for himself in the industry as bold, unapologetic voice dedicated to using film as a medium to address brave and daring subjects and social issues.