Portal:African cinema/Selected film/5
Mami Wata is a 2023 black-and-white fantasy thriller written and directed by C.J. “Fiery” Obasi. The film premiered at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival making it Obasi’s third film to screen at Sundance and where its cinematographer Lílis Soares won the Special Jury Prize in the World Dramatic Competition. In an interview with CNN, Obasi stated he "wanted to make a hyper-stylised film" with its style rooted in substance, taking inspiration from his favourite filmmakers such as Akira Kurosawa and David Lynch. The characters Prisca and Zinwe were inspired by Obasi's late sisters.
The film was listed as the Nigerian entry for Best Feature Film at the 96th Academy Awards and its accolades include nominations for Best International Film at the Independent Spirit Awards and Outstanding International Motion Picture at the NAACP Image Awards in addition to three wins at the 2023 FESPACO festival including for best cinematography and set design. Cast members include Evelyne Ily Juhen, Uzoamaka Aniunoh, Kelechi Udegbe and Emeka Amakeze. The film received praise for its cinematography, depth of narration and the infusion of folklore with socio-political commentary. It holds a perfect 100% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.