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C H E T A C H U K W U

@directorcheta

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🎬 Filmmaker
🎞️ Dreamboat Pictures
📧 [email protected]

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Cheta Chukwu’s film project To Catch a Falling Sky has won two major awards at the 2025 Red Sea Souk Project Market in Saudi Arabia. The project stood out among many films from around the world and received strong support from the jury.

The film won a Jury Special Mention Award worth $15,000 and also received professional business and legal support valued at $5,000. This is a big step forward for the project, which was earlier known as Love is a Deeper Shade of Red.

Set in 1966 Nigeria during the civil war, the film tells a powerful story about marriage, sacrifice, and survival. This win shows how Nigerian stories continue to grow and gain respect on the global stage.

Discover what to watch next on @partyjolloftv

#partyjollofafrica #partyjolloftv by @directorcheta

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10 months ago

Thrilled to share that I’ve been accepted into Red Sea Labs’ The Lodge 2025 in Saudi Arabia!

Our war drama LOVE IS A DEEPER SHADE OF RED, written and directed by me, produced by @palmwinebaptism_01, and executive produced by @sheilanortley, is one of the 12 projects selected for the yearlong lab.

This marks an exciting next phase in the further development of the project. Immensely grateful to God for this incredible opportunity and excited to learn, grow and collaborate with some of the best filmmakers in the world!

#RedSeaLodge2025 #AfricanStories #LoveIsADeeperShadeOfRed by @directorcheta

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2 years ago

🎬 Big Win for Nollywood Storytelling!

We’re proud to celebrate Nigerian writer-director Cheta Chukwu (@directorcheta ), who has just been selected for the prestigious Red Sea Lodge 2025 by the Red Sea Labs and the Red Sea International Film Festival! 🌍🇸🇦

His war drama “LOVE IS A DEEPER SHADE OF RED” is one of only 12 projects selected globally for this yearlong development lab, which includes creative mentorship, industry access, and international exposure across virtual and in-person sessions.

Cheta continues to push boundaries in African cinema. From his breakout hit Payday to festival darling Strawberry Chinny (Essence Film Festival 2024), and his international comedy Adam Bol (shot in Kazakhstan & Nigeria) — his voice is bold, fresh, and needed.

This milestone comes after Cheta’s selection at TorinoFilmLab’s TFL Extended 2024 in the Netherlands — and now with Red Sea Lodge, the journey of LOVE IS A DEEPER SHADE OF RED is just beginning. 💥

🎉 Congratulations Cheta! Nollywood to the world, one powerful story at a time.

#PartyJollofAfrica #RedSeaLodge2025 #ChetaChukwu #AfricanCinema #NollywoodNextGen #WarDrama #StorytellingPower #NetflixAfrica #Supacell #StrawberryChinny #EssenceFilmFestival #RedSeaFilmFestival #PaydayTheMovie #NollywoodToTheWorld #AfricanVoicesMatter by @directorcheta

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a year ago

“To be an artist means never to avert one’s eyes.” - Akira Kurosawa

Thank you for all the birthday love. Your messages, calls, prayers, and kindness made the day even more special.

I don’t take any of it for granted. Here’s to another year of seeing clearly, loving deeply, and creating fearlessly. ❤️ by @directorcheta

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3 months ago

+1 🎂

Last night, on the eve of my birthday, I was out jogging with my brother. Chitchatting about nothing in particular. Just random jokes, old memories, and the kind of meaningless conversations that somehow mean everything.

At one point, I looked at him and smiled. It struck me how rare moments like this have become. Life pulls us away from the people we love. Time slips through our fingers, and before we know it, loved ones become voices on phone calls instead of companions on evening walks.

As I thought about it, I realized what a gift it is to simply be here. To have people to laugh with. Dreams worth chasing. And a God who keeps writing my story, even when I can’t see the next chapter.

As I step into another year, I don’t ask for an easy road. Just strength to keep becoming who I was created to be, wisdom to recognize what matters, and courage to chase purpose with all my heart.

Here’s to another year of living, loving, and never taking ordinary moments for granted.

Happy Birthday to me.

Lensed by the amazing @tistudios_ by @directorcheta

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3 months ago

Grateful to share that I’ve been selected as one of eight projects for the Project Market at FIFOI 2026 @fifoi.officiel with my short film The Child Will Carry You, currently in development.

The International Indian Ocean Film Festival takes place in Réunion Island, France, bringing together filmmakers and industry voices from across Africa, Asia, and beyond.

The project is produced by the amazing Ivy Kiru @ivykiru and Orwi Manny Ameh @palmwinebaptism_01

Grateful for the opportunity to keep building this story and to be in conversation with such a diverse group of filmmakers. by @directorcheta

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6 months ago

One of my standout moments at RSFF was meeting THE Genevieve Nnaji @genevievennaji.

It was cool, yes, but more than that, it was deeply moving.

Photos don’t come close to capturing what a gorgeous, gorgeous beauty she is. She’s stunning, undeniably, but it’s her spirit that truly stays with you.

As I spoke, she held my gaze the entire time, patient and present, allowing me to say everything I needed to say, listening with a quiet, generous smile. When she finally spoke, it was with a softness and calm that felt earned. She spoke about the industry, about perseverance, and about Jesus.

As she stood to leave, she smiled and said, “You know, Cheta is one of my favorite names.” Then, almost as an aside, she added, “I’m sure we’ll meet again.”

What a woman.

The other slides are me with my misfits — surrounded by love, laughter, and people I’ll cherish for a lifetime. by @directorcheta

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10 months ago

Our film, TO CATCH A FALLING SKY, just received two incredible recognitions at the Red Sea Souk, and my heart is full.

We were honored with:

• Red Sea Souk Jury Special Mention Award

• Freshly Ground Stories & Fineprint In-Kind Award — Business & Legal Support

This recognition means so much, not just for me, but for my fearless producers, Orwi Manny Ameh @palmwinebaptism_01 and Sheila Nortley @sheilanortley, who have carried this project for so long and poured their hearts, clarity, and vision into shaping it.

To stand in a room surrounded by filmmakers I deeply admire and hear our project called was surreal. It felt like a quiet confirmation of the journey we’ve been on. Developing this film has been a path of faith, dedication, and community. Watching it rise like this, step by step, piece by piece, feels incredibly affirming.

My deepest gratitude goes to the Red Sea Souk Jury and to Freshly Ground Stories @freshlygroundstories & Fineprint for believing in the world we’re building. A special thank you to the Red Sea Film Festival team @redseafilm for creating a space where filmmakers can build boldly, meet collaborators, and feel genuinely supported.

And to the mentors, fellows, and every soul who sat with me, exchanged ideas, challenged the work, or simply shared a moment during the Red Sea Feature Film Lab and Souk, your love and support are pushing this film forward in ways you may never know.

Onward.
TO CATCH A FALLING SKY continues.

#tocatchafallingsky #redseafilmfestival #souk# #jeddah by @directorcheta

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10 months ago

Stepped into the lights for the RSFF Opening Ceremony 2025. @redseafilm

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Photography: @helmy_alsagaff & @mr_robban by @directorcheta

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10 months ago

Working on a new project I’m incredibly excited about, and getting to build it with some really cool people I truly care about is such a blessing.

I talked to GQ about our process in creating To Catch A Falling Sky, and what this journey has meant to me.

Read the full interview through the link in my bio.

Photographs by the soft-spoken and incredibly talented @thefolajimy.

#ToCatchAFallingSky #GQFeature #FilmmakerLife #AfricanCinema #CreativeProcess #NigerianFilm by @directorcheta

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10 months ago

What a beautiful day to wake up to this news. I’m humbled to be spotlighted by GQ and filled with an overwhelming sense of gratitude.

This @GQSouthAfrica feature traces my journey through stories and my new project, “To Catch A Falling Sky,” which I’m thrilled to share with the world.

I’m thankful to walk this beautiful but unpredictable life, doing something that fills me with purpose and wonder. To my family, and to every mentor and friend who has supported me, you are the reason I understand that stories are, at their core, deeply human.

This moment is a profound affirmation and an incredible honor I’m still processing. It strengthens my resolve to continue my work, weaving African soul into the heart of global cinema.

Thank you @gqsouthafrica for this incredible recognition. Read the full interview at the link in my bio.

Photography: @thefolajimy

#GQ #Storyteller #ToCatchAFallingSky #NigerianCinema #AfricanVoices by @directorcheta

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10 months ago

Saudi sunsets, circa ’25 by @directorcheta

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a year ago