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Tope Oshin

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Tope Oshin
Oshin in 2015
OccupationFilmmaker
Years active1996-present
Notable workShuga
Up North (film)[1]
The Wedding Party 2
Journey to Self
Tinsel (TV series)
Fifty
Spouses
  • Yinka Ogun
    ​
    ​
    (m. 2002; div. 2014)​
  • ​
    (m. 2023)​
Websitewww.topeoshin.com

Tope OshinListenⓘ is a Nigerian television and film director, producer and casting director, listed as one of the most influential Nigerians in film in 2019.[2] In 2015 Pulse magazine named her as one of "9 Nigerian female movie directors you should know" in the Nollywood film industry.[3] and in March 2018, in commemoration of the Women's History Month, Tope was celebrated by OkayAfrica as one of the Okay100 Women.[4] The interactive campaign celebrates extraordinary women from Africa and the diaspora making waves across a wide array of industries, while driving positive impact in their communities and the world at large.

Early life and education

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Tope hails from a devout Christian family. As a child, she engaged in drawing, singing, and dancing, and had aspirations to be a painter. She studied Economics at the University of Ilorin, Kwara State, and then Theatre Arts, TV & Film Production at Lagos State University.[5] She became more interested in filmmaking and later studied Film Production, and Cinematography at Colorado Film School of the Community College of Aurora, Denver,[6] and Met Film School, Ealing Studios, London respectively. Tope is also an alumnus of 'Talents Durban' [7] and Berlinale Talents,[8][9] a networking summit of select outstanding creatives from the world of film and drama series across the globe.

Career

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Tope, who was an actor for 12 years, featuring in films like Relentless (2010 film), before veering into directing, working as an associate producer and assistant director for The Apprentice Africa.[5] and has since become known for directing popular African TV dramas and soap operas such as Hush, Hotel Majestic, Tinsel (TV series) and MTV Shuga.[10] Though she has directed and produced several introspective short film projects such as The Young Smoker, Till Death Do Us Part, New Horizons and Ireti, she is known best for her highly successful 2018 feature film releases Up North (film),[11] and New Money.[12]

Oshin has produced some of the highest box office breaking movies in Nigeria, including the 2015 romantic film Fifty,[13] about four fifty-year-old female Lagos residents, which broke box office records upon release in December 2015, taking N20 million in the first weekend.[14] and The Wedding Party 2, as at 2018, the highest grossing Nigerian film.[15]

In 2016, she produced and directed the documentary, Amaka's Kin: The Women Of Nollywood, as a memorial to prominent filmmaker Amaka Igwe, who died in 2014. The documentary addresses issues facing Nigerian female directors, working in a male-dominated industry.[16]

As a follow-up to her documentary, in 2017, and as part of the BBC 100 Women season, Tope celebrated the new generation of women filmmakers reinventing Nollywood, by presenting the BBC documentary Nigeria-Shooting It Like A Woman.[17] Apart from the BBC World Service documentary, Tope's Amaka's Kin - The Women Of Nollywood also influenced a lot of other TV shows and literary works alike, including Niran Adedokun's book Ladies Calling the Shots.[18]

Oshin racked up some controversy in Nigeria,[19] when she co-wrote, directed and produced the Queer film We Don't Live Here Anymore (2018 film)[20] for human rights organization TIERs (The Initiative For Equal Rights) in 2018. The movie was not accepted for a cinema release and received only a limited online release[21] with FilmOne Distribution in 2018. We Don't Live Here Anymore however screened at Africa In Motion Film Festival[22] in Glasgow, and also racked up a lot of nominations and awards[23] surprisingly at 2018 Best Of Nollywood Awards in Nigeria. The film can be found currently on Amazon.

Tope also has a thriving career as a Casting director and has cast for several film and television projects including all 3 Nigerian seasons of the MTV Staying Alive Foundation drama series Shuga[24]

Tope, through her company Sunbow Productions [ng], was commissioned to produce[25] Season 8 of MTV Shuga (TV Series), dubbed MTV Shuga Naija 4, and is credited[26] as Head Director, Showrunner, Executive Producer and Producer, after directing and casting Season 6 of the show in 2017.

In 2015 Tope served as a juror for the International Emmy Award for the first time.[27]

Personal life

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Tope's 2002 marriage to screenwriter, Yinka Ogun, ended in 2014. The union produced four children.[28]

Filmography

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Feature films

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Year Title Role Ref
Director Producer
2012 Journey to Self Yes No [3]
2015 Fifty No Yes
2017 The Wedding Party 2 No Yes
In Line Yes No [29]
2018 New Money Yes No [30]
We Don't Live Here Anymore Yes Yes [31]
Up North Yes No [32]
2022 Here Love Lies Yes Yes [33]

Short films

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Year Title Role Ref
Director Producer Writer Editor
2011 The Young Smoker Yes Yes No No
2013 New Horizons Yes Yes No No
Till Death Do Us Part Yes Yes No No
2014 Crush Yes Yes Yes Yes
2015 Ireti Yes Yes Yes No [34]

Documentaries

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Year Title Role Ref
Director Producer Writer Presenter
2016 Amaka’s Kin: The Women of Nollywood. Yes Yes Yes No [35]
2017 Nigeria: Shooting It Like A Woman No No No Yes [17]

Television

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Year Title Role Ref
Director Producer Writer Casting
director 		Other
2008 Maltina Dance All No No No No Presenter [36]
2009 Moments With Mo No Yes No No
2009 -

2013

Tinsel (TV series) Yes No No No Box/Content producer
2012 Bridges Yes No No No
2013 Conversations At Dinner Yes Yes No Yes
Love and War Yes Yes No Yes
2014 Walk The Talk Yes Yes No No
2015 Hotel Majestic Yes No No No
2016 GidiUp 3 (Unaired) Yes No No No
EvoL Yes Yes Yes Yes
Hush Yes No No No
2017 BattleGround Yes No No No Consultant
Ever After (TV Feature) Yes Yes Yes Yes
2018 MTV Shuga Season 6 Yes No No Yes [10]
2019 MTV Shuga Naija Season 4 Yes Yes No Yes Executive producer [37]

Awards and nominations

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Year Award Category Film Result Ref
2011 In-short film festival Audience Prize The Young Smoker Won
Special Jury Mention Won
Best Director Nominated
Best Film Nominated
TAVA (The Audio Visual Awards) Best Directing Tinsel Won
2012 Abuja International Film Festival Best Short Film Till Death Do Us Part Won
In-short film festival Best Film Won
Best Director  Won
TAVA (The Audio Visual Awards) Most Outstanding Short Film Nominated
The Young Smoker Nominated
Africa Movie Academy Awards Best Short Film Nominated
Abuja International Film Festival Outstanding Film in Directing Till Death Do Us Part Nominated
Best Short Film The Young Smoker Nominated
2013 Slum Film Festival Best Narrative Film Won
Best of Nollywood Awards Best Movie With A Social Message Journey To Self Won
Zulu African Film Academy Awards Best Director Nominated
Nollywood Movies Awards Nominated
Best Movie Nominated
Best Short Film Till Death Do Us Part Nominated
2014 Teens Favorite Awards Teens Favorite TV & Film Producer — Won
Africa Movie Academy Awards Special Jury Award New Horizons Won
Nigerian Broadcast & Media Awards Best Program Director Tinsel Nominated
Best TV Drama New Horizons Nominated
Nigerian Entertainment Awards Best Director Journey To Self Nominated
Best of Nollywood Awards Best Short Film New Horizons Nominated
2015 Golden Movie Awards Golden Short Award Won
2016 Lagos Entertainment Awards Director Of The Year — Nominated
Exquisite Lady Of The Year Awards Best Producer of The Year  Fifty Nominated
Nigerian Creatives Award Creative Personae of the year — Nominated
Divas Awards Filmmaker of the year Nominated
Abuja International Film Festival, Nigeria Best Short Film Ireti Nominated
Africa Movie Academy Awards Nominated
Golden Movie Awards Golden Short Award Nominated
Nigerian Broadcast & Media Awards Best TV Program Director Tinsel Won
Womens Only Entertainment Film Festival Best International Short Film Ireti Won
Best International Female Director Won
Best of Nollywood Awards Best Documentary Amaka’s Kin: The Women of Nollywood Won
2017 Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards Nominated
Best Short Film Ireti Nominated
City People Entertainment Awards Best Director Of The Year — Won
Ebonylife TV Sisterhood Awards Director Of The Year  — Nominated
2018 Best of Nollywood Awards Best Director of The Year We Don’t Live Here Anymore Won [38]
Best Movie of The Year Won
Best Editing Won
Best Screenplay of The Year Nominated
RealTime Film Festival Best Movie By A Female African Filmmaker In Line Won [39]
2019 Africa Movie Academy Awards Best Nigerian Film Up North Nominated
2021 7th Annual Hollywood Weekly Magazine Film Festival & Awards Best Director In Line Won [40]
2021 ReFrame The ReFrame Stamp Award Here Love Lies Won [41]

Honors

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  • OkayAfrica Okay100 Women 2017 Honoree[42]
  • Excellence in The Creative Industries Award - Sisi Oge Awards 2018[43]
  • Distinguished Alumni Medal of Honor 2016 - In-short film festival[44]
  • African Woman In Film Award 2015 by African Women Development Fund[45]
  • Special Award For Outstanding Contribution To Film & TV In Nigeria - Eko Star Film & TV Awards by Lagos State Govt./Nigerian Film & TV Summit/Ebonylife Media 2021[46]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Online, Tribune (14 December 2018). "Tope Oshin sets the pace for female directors as she goes 'Up North'". Tribune Online.
  2. ^ "YNaija presents: The 100 most influential Nigerians in Film in 2019 » YNaija". November 2019.
  3. ^ a b "9 Nigerian female movie directors you should know". Pulse. 5 October 2015. Retrieved 20 September 2016.
  4. ^ "TOPE OSHIN-OkayAfrica's 100 Women". OkayAfrica. Retrieved 1 March 2018.
  5. ^ a b "Amaka Igwe encouraged me to go into directing —Nollywood star Tope Oshin Ogun". The Nation. 30 August 2014. Retrieved 20 September 2016.
  6. ^ "Hooray for Nollywood: how women are taking on the world's third largest film industry". The Irish Times. 16 November 2016. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
  7. ^ "Tope Oshin - The Rise Of A Female Filmmaker". Omenka Online. 13 October 2016. Retrieved 13 October 2016.
  8. ^ "Tope Oshin - Berlinale Talents".
  9. ^ "Four For Berlinale Talents". ThisDay. Retrieved 22 February 2015.
  10. ^ a b "MTV Shuga Season 6 launches in Africa". The Net NG. 23 February 2018. Retrieved 23 February 2018.
  11. ^ "Tope Oshin's up North is Coming to Netflix this October". 4 October 2019.
  12. ^ "New Money (2018)". IMDB.
  13. ^ ""Fifty" producer shares the key to becoming a successful filmmaker". Pulse. 23 February 2016. Retrieved 20 September 2016.
  14. ^ "Nigerian movie breaks box office record, makes N20m in holiday weekend". Pulse. 30 December 2015. Retrieved 20 September 2016.
  15. ^ "The Wedding Party 2 - Sequel becomes Highest Grossing Nollywood Movie Of all Time". Pulse. 23 January 2018. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
  16. ^ "Tope Oshin to debut documentary on women of Nollywood". Pulse. 27 June 2016. Retrieved 20 September 2016.
  17. ^ a b "BBC World Service - The Documentary, Nigeria: Shooting It Like A Woman". BBC World Service.
  18. ^ "Ladies Calling The Shots - Book on Female Directors For Launch in Lagos". 17 July 2015. Retrieved 17 July 2015.
  19. ^ "Tope Oshin's 'We Don't Live Here Anymore' Rattles Nollywood". THISDAYLIVE. 27 October 2018. Retrieved 3 January 2022.
  20. ^ "Watch trailer for new Nigerian gay-themed movie". 8 May 2018.
  21. ^ "Tenaa.TV".
  22. ^ "We Don't Live Here Anymore".
  23. ^ "BON Awards 2018: Tope Oshin's 'We Don't Live Here Anymore' wins Best Movie of the Year » YNaija". 10 December 2018.
  24. ^ "Shuga(TV Series) - Full Cast & Crew". IMDb.
  25. ^ "Tope Oshin to Produce New MTV Shuga Series". 29 March 2019.
  26. ^ "Shuga (TV Series 2009– ) - IMDb". IMDb.
  27. ^ "EbonyLife hosts Emmy Awards Judging Event". 17 July 2015. Retrieved 17 July 2015.
  28. ^ The360reporters (19 April 2020). "Tope Oshin Biography, Movies, Marriage And Net Worth". Latest News and Entertainment Updates. Retrieved 29 May 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  29. ^ "InLine-Tope Oshin's Amazing Film". TNS Nigeria.
  30. ^ "New Money (2018)". IMDB.
  31. ^ "Tope Oshin's New Film - We Don't Live Here Anymore". YNaija. 12 May 2018.
  32. ^ "Banky W to lead cast for Tope Oshin's Up North". XploreNollywood.
  33. ^ "Tope Oshin is back! Watch new teaser for feature film 'Here Love Lies' [Pulse Exclusive]". 6 August 2021.
  34. ^ "BFI Press release - Beyond Nollywood showcases New Nigerian Cinema 2016" (PDF).
  35. ^ "BFI Press release - Beyond Nollywood showcases New Nigerian Cinema 2016" (PDF).
  36. ^ "Before stardom with...Tope Oshin". Punch Newspapers. 12 November 2021. Retrieved 3 January 2022.
  37. ^ "Shuga (TV Series 2009– ) - IMDb". IMDb.
  38. ^ "'We Don't Live Here Anymore' bags 5 awards at the Best of Nollywood Awards 2018". 10 December 2018.
  39. ^ user (22 November 2021). "Tope Oshin Scoops Best Director Award At Hollywood Weekly Magazine Film Festival | Nolly Silver Screen". Retrieved 3 January 2022. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  40. ^ Nwogu, Precious 'Mamazeus' (22 November 2021). "Tope Oshin's 'In Line' movie scoops new award 4 years post release". Pulse Nigeria. Retrieved 3 January 2022.
  41. ^ "Feature Film". ReFrame. Retrieved 3 January 2022.
  42. ^ "Tope Oshin".
  43. ^ "And the Winner is… 19-Year-Old Udeh Precious emerges Winner of the 2018 Sisi Oge Cultural Pageant". 20 April 2018.
  44. ^ "We got awarded a Medal of Honor at In-Short Film Festival 2016". December 2016.
  45. ^ "Nigerian Tope Ogun Wins AWDF Women in Film Award". 30 June 2015.
  46. ^ NIFSummit. "Tope Oshin - Nigerian International Film & TV Summit". nifsummit.com. Retrieved 3 January 2022.
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