At the grand finale of the recently concluded Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF) 2024, one film stole the spotlight: “Phoenix Fury”. Sweeping two major awards, Best Director and Best Film, this cinematic delight had everyone talking. Ifeoma Nkiruka Chukwuogo, a writer, producer, director, and singer, is the creator behind this notable feat.
Growing up in a household that encouraged creativity, she spent her childhood putting on shows with her family, laying the foundation for her artistic journey. “My parents encouraged that sort of thing. We did musical shows, drama shows, and things like that,” she recalls fondly. Her flair for performance continued growing during secondary school, where she joined the music, drama, and artistic clubs.
Her passion for storytelling flourished at university, where she connected with like-minded theatre enthusiasts. After graduation, Ifeoma returned to Nigeria for her National Youth Service (NYSC), a time when she considered pursuing an MBA —a “low-hanging fruit,” as she puts it, offering versatility for various career paths.
However, a chance encounter with a vibrant collective of underground artists in Abuja changed everything. Immersed in their world of unfiltered creativity, she realised her true calling as she worked on her first project. “Making that short film with people from that band of artists was magical. I knew then this was my life’s calling,” she shared.
With her parents’ unwavering support, she went to film school, then made over four short films and directed projects like Showmax Original thriller “Diche,” and Ndani TV’s “Rumour Has It,” before making her award-winning debut feature – “Phoenix Fury.”
The road to “Phoenix Fury”
Moving from shorts to features wasn’t an overnight leap for the filmmaker. “I always knew that making a feature-length film would happen, but it took longer than expected,” she states. Between detours into other industries like advertising and agro-processing as well as funding challenges, her journey has been anything but linear.
Still, when the idea for “Phoenix Fury” came to her, she knew it was time. “I had a lot of stories floating in my subconscious, but this was the one that kept pushing the most. It was the loudest voice in my head,” she reveals.
The movie lived in her head for six months before she began writing. Once she started, it all came tumbling out. “It was so easy. The first draft of the script tumbled out in about three weeks. The way it tumbled out of me was another indicator that it was a story trying to get out now,” Ifeoma reminisces.
The script took nine months from conception to the final draft, and by August 2023, she was on set shooting her debut feature. For the filmmaker, the highlights include working with legendary actors like Richard Mofe-Damijo (RMD) and shooting at the luxurious Royal Senchi resort in Ghana.
However, the process wasn’t without challenges. A week-long delay due to border issues left the cast and crew stranded. “The equipment was stuck at the border and we had to wait around doing nothing for seven days. Money was going down the drain because we had to feed and accommodate the cast and crew. There were lots of tears, and prayers, but also lots of encouragement, especially from RMD and Ama K Abebrese. She carried the matter on her head for real,” she says.
A triumphant debut at AFRIFF
All her hard work paid off at AFRIFF, where “Phoenix Fury” took home two of the night’s biggest awards—Best Director and Best Film.
“I was holding my breath because we were nominated for Best Screenplay, Best Director, Best Film, and two acting awards,” Ifeoma shares. “When they called my name for Best Director, I was overjoyed. It was surreal when I heard my name again for Best Film. It was so affirming to feel that love and get such positive feedback from both the audience and my peers.”
Ifeoma’s dedication to women’s stories
From her first short film to her feature debut, the filmmaker has remained committed to telling women’s stories in all of its complexities. Her first short, “Nkoli,” tackled domestic violence. “My Lady’s Frustration,” one of the shorts she made in film school, boldly addressed the orgasm gap with raw candour, and her latest work, “Phoenix Fury,” is no different. The film chronicles the turbulent journey of Ifeatu and Ewura-Ama seeking revenge against the man who wronged them.
Ifeoma plans to keep telling women’s stories, even those others might deem shallow. “It’s about capturing the fullness of women’s experiences—our desires, frustrations, and joys,” she says.
The filmmaker is also driven by the desire to craft universal, authentic narratives. She believes that storytelling transcends borders.
“For me, it’s trying to find the common threads in our human experiences that form part of our collective unconscious. South Korean cinema, for instance, has done that flawlessly. At the core of it is finding common threads.. That’s what I want to be my stamp as a filmmaker. Yes, I’m telling Nigerian stories, but these stories are reaching across the world and touching people,” she shares.
What’s next?
As she celebrates her success, Ifeoma is far from resting on her laurels. Inspired by her early years as a performer, she’s eager to return to acting, her first love. “One of the most enthralling, ecstatic experiences I’ve had was when I was filming ‘Dynamite’. So, I am looking into doing more of it. I want to work with other directors. I want to do everything that feeds my soul,” she reveals.
With a series on the horizon and plans to continue acting, writing, directing, and producing, Ifeoma is not just telling stories—she’s living them. One thing is certain as her creative journey unfolds: the world has yet to see the full depth of her brilliance.
Here for her brilliance