Izu Ojukwu

Izu Ojukwu is a Nigerian film director (born, 1970s). In 2007, he won Best Director for Sitanda at the 3rd Africa Movie Academy Awards, which received nine nominations and won five awards at the event, including Best Picture and Best Nigerian Film.

Quotes

• 1988 was the National Sports Festival in Jos and I was there for the games then I saw a camera man from a local television station (PRTV) and became his errand boy as I wanted to look into his lens all the time. So, before he would ask for anything I would reach out for it and figured out where to charge his batteries.
  • [1]
• As a film maker, I have a burden in my heart to address social issues as I have found my voice through my lenses. It is good to aspire for awards but when that becomes the motivating factor, there is the tendency that the film would miss the fair balance between art and commerce and may also not pick up any award. When a film maker is sincere with the interpretation of the story before him or her, awards will become inevitable.
  • [2]
• Most times as Africans, we are conditioned to think that we are second class and cannot take initiatives unless it is handed down to us, but our history suggest otherwise
  • [3]
• You must look for cast that fit the character you want to bring to life. By looking for characters, you are also mindful of actors with potential and at the same time commercial value because you want to remain in business and be able to make films that would attract audiences.
  • [4]
• There is a responsibility as a filmmaker in telling this story”. Nobody can justify a coup and I also wouldn’t justify execution, but that’s the way it goes, when you kill, you get killed
  • [5]
• In the sense of the story, I hope people will see a story about taking responsibility. Even if you face, you have still made a choice. For the international audiences, I just hope will be made aware of what a country like Nigeria have been through. Just to get a glimpse of what we have gone through. Somehow, you’ll be able to appreciate the people more, if you know what they have struggled with over time. We weren’t always a democracy, so we are playing catchup now.
  • [6]