Nnegest Likké
 |
Nnegest Likké | |
|---|---|
| Born | Oakland, California, United States |
| Nationality (legal) | American |
| Occupation | Filmmaker |
| Notable work | Phat Girlz |
Nnegest Likké is an American film director, screenwriter and producer. Her film awards include, Best Diaspora Film at the 2016 African Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) for " Ben and Ara " which she directed. Her 2019 international romantic drama, Everything But A Man won the Audience Choice Award at the Pan African Film Festival. Nnegest is one of the first women of color to write and direct a movie distributed by a major Hollywood studio.[1] Her directing credits include Fox Searchlight's romantic-comedy Phat Girlz, the multi award-winning indie love drama Ben & Ara, and Everything But A Man.
Early life and Education
Nnegest Likké was born in Oakland, California.[2] She is half African-American and half Ethiopian and grew up in the San Francisco - Oakland Bay Area.
During her childhood, Likké had the opportunity of traveling around the world, including throughout Europe and Africa[3] with her mother who Likké referred to as an active globetrotter and Civil Rights Activist. This traveling exposed her to various ways of life besides those known in America.[3]
Likké attended Skyline High School in Oakland. After graduating, she attended Clark Atlanta University (CAU), where she studied film and graduated with a BA in Mass Communications.[4]
Career
After college, Likké moved to Los Angeles to pursue screenwriting.[5] While honing her craft, Likké taught Drama, History and English at a high school in Los Angeles.[6] Today, she still mentors at-risk youth.
Films
Phat Girlz (2006) was Likké's first feature film, starring Academy Award Winner Mo’Nique.[7] This film is a romantic-comedy about two plus-size women who meet the men of their dreams in an unexpected way.[8] Her second film was Ben & Ara, followed by her most recent film Everything But a Man starring Monica Calhoun and Jimmy Jean-Louis (2019 ). Likké wrote, directed and produced Everything But a Man, about the challenges successful, career-driven women have finding love.[9] Likké is currently working on multiple projects for film and TV.[10]
Filmography
| Year | Title | Credited as | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Director | Writer | Producer | ||
| 2006 | Phat Girlz | Yes | Yes | No |
| 2015 | Ben & Ara | Yes | No | No |
| 2019 | Everything But a Man | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Awards, Nominations and Honours
- In 2015, Likké received an honorary mention for Best Feature Film at the All Lights India International Film Festival.[5]
- In 2016, Likké received the Best Female Protagonist award for her film Ben & Ara at the Nevada Women's Film Festival.[11]
- In 2016, Ben and Ara won the award for Best Diaspora film by the African Movie Academy Awards (AMAA).[12]
References
- ^ "How Nnegest Likké Is Helping To Make Film And TV More Representative Of The US Population - Thrive Global". thriveglobal.com. Retrieved 2019-11-06.
- ^ "BEN & ARA - Feature Film". Indiegogo. Retrieved 2019-10-31.
- ^ a b "BEN AND ARA". San Francisco Black Film Festival. 2016-05-04. Retrieved 2019-10-11.
- ^ "Alumni Profile: Nnegest Likké ('91) | UMC Giving". www.umcgiving.org. Retrieved 2019-11-06.
- ^ a b Mills, K. Nicole (2016-06-16). "Filmmaker Nngest Likké Discusses her Latest Film 'Everything But a Man'". Hollywood's Black Renaissance. Retrieved 2019-10-30.
- ^ "BEN AND ARA". San Francisco Black Film Festival. 2016-05-04. Retrieved 2019-10-11.
- ^ "Alumni Profile: Nnegest Likké ('91) | UMC Giving". www.umcgiving.org. Retrieved 2019-10-11.
- ^ "Phat Girlz". Fox Searchlight. Retrieved 2019-10-31.
- ^ Mills, K. Nicole (2016-06-16). "Filmmaker Nngest Likké Discusses her Latest Film 'Everything But a Man'". Hollywood's Black Renaissance. Retrieved 2019-10-30.
- ^ "Film Fatales | Nnegest Likké". www.filmfatales.org. Retrieved 2019-10-31.
- ^ "Award Winners 2016". Nevada Women's Film Festival. 2016-08-05. Retrieved 2019-10-30.
- ^ "Ben & Ara Independent Feature Film". benandara. Retrieved 2019-10-31.
External links
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
 | This article about a United States film director born in the 1970s is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
- 1970 births
- Film producers from California
- Clark Atlanta University alumni
- American people of Ethiopian descent
- American women film directors
- Writers from Oakland, California
- Living people
- Film directors from California
- American women film producers
- American film director, 1970s birth stubs
- American film directors