Jeta Amata Explained

Jeta Amata
Birth Date:21 August 1974
Nationality:Nigerian
Citizenship:Nigerian
Education:Theater Arts, Benue State University
Alma Mater:Benue State University
Occupation:Film Maker
Notable Works:Black November
Father:Zack Amata
Relatives:Fred Amata

Jeta Amata is a Nigerian filmmaker, born on August 21, 1974, to popular Nigerian actor Zack Amata. He comes from a family of veteran filmmakers including Ifoghale Amata, Zack Amata and Fred Amata.[1] Growing up in the film industry, following his family's passion for film, Jeta produced and directed his first film Glamour Boyz at the age of 21, making it no surprise when he began to rise in the world of film and entertainment.

Education

Amata studied Theater Arts at Benue State University in Makurdi, Nigeria.

Global production and acclaim

His work first went global when he produced a documentary film for the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) in 2003, using his film Game of Life as footage for the documentary. He holds 53 nominations and 10 wins for film awards in Africa, Europe and the United States, and is considered one of the most successful filmmakers to come out of West Africa.[2]

Summary of works

2004–11

Amata's short film The Alexa Affair premiered at the 2004 Berlin Film Festival.

Amata's film The Amazing Grace, which won the Best West African Film Award at the 2006 Screen Nations Awards UK, holds the honor of being the first Nigerian film to be screened at the Cannes Film Festival.

Soon after, Jeta would be recognized for such movies as Inale and Mary Slessor.

2012-present

Black November premiered at the United Nations during the General Assembly in 2012 and was also screened at the Kennedy Center as well as the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. The film inspired the sponsoring of a bi-partisan resolution on the Niger Delta of Nigeria members of the 112th United States Congress, H.CON.RES.121.

Amata had screenings of his documentary Into the Delta, on the situation of the Niger Delta, shown in nine universities in the U.S. including NYU, George Washington University, UCLA and Cornell.

Official appointments

The President of Haiti, Michel Joseph Martelly, made Jeta Amata a Goodwill Ambassador to Haiti.

Colleagues

Amata worked with Academy Award winner Kim Basinger, Academy Award nominee Mickey Rourke, and music superstars Akon and Wyclef Jean on the 2012 film Black November.

Family

In 2001 at an audition in Calabar he met Mbong Amata.[3] Two years later, when she was 18, they began dating. They married in 2008 and their daughter Veno was born later that year. In 2013 they separated and in 2014 they divorced.

Amata is currently in a partnership with Vanessa Teemsma, who has worked in production on his films, including Black November. Amata and Teemsma welcomed a son in 2019, named Kessiena Donald Amata, the middle name was after Teemsma's father.[4]

Filmography

YearTitleRoleNotes
1996Glamour BoysDirector, writer, producer
1997No More Food for the GodsDirector, writer, producer
2001MutandaDirector, writer, producer
2002Black Mamba (video)Director, writer, producer
Tears of a WomanDirector, writer, producer
2003Unconditional LoveDirector, writer, producer
Love Entangle (video)Director, writer, producerstarring: Kate Henshaw, Segun Arinze
Dangerous Desire (video)Director, writer, producer
2004Queen (video)Director, writer, producerstarring: Nkiru Sylvanus, Stella Damasus
Queen 2 (video)Director, writer, producer
The Alexa Affair (short)Director, writer, actor
2005Wheel of ChangeDirector, writer, producerstarring: Mbong Amata, Stella Damasus
Ultimate CrisisDirector, writer, producer
Last GameDirector, writer, producerstarring: Dakore Akande, Rita Dominic, Ini Edo, Enyinna Nwigwe
2006The Amazing GraceDirector, writer, producerstarring: Mbong Amata, Joke Silva
2007Game of LifeDirector, writer, producer
2008Mary Slessor (TV series)Director, writer, producerstarring: Mbong Amata, Enyinna Nwigwe
2009Queen AminaDirector, writer, producer
2010InaleDirector, writer, producerstarring: Mbong Amata, Caroline Chikezie, Ini Edo
2012Black NovemberDirector, writer, producerstarring: Mbong Amata, Enyinna Nwigwe
2013The American KingDirector, writer, producer
2016Road to RedemptionDirector, writer, producerstarring: Viva Bianca, Akon, Margaret Avery, Zack Amata

Awards and nominations

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Glo/CNN African Voices profile Nigerian film director, Jeta Amata - Vanguard News Nigeria. 2013-03-22. Vanguard News Nigeria. 2018-12-03. en-US.
  2. Web site: 10 Things You Didn't Know About Jeta Amata | ★Stars★™★ ₳₽₽★ . 26 May 2018 .
  3. Web site: Mbong Amata. IMDb. 2017-12-20.
  4. Web site: Marriage not my priority for now –Mbong Amata. www.punchng.com . https://web.archive.org/web/20150402121430/http://www.punchng.com/entertainment/e-punch/marriage-not-my-priority-for-now-mbong-amata/ . 2015-04-02.