Nnegest Likké
Nnegest Likké is a film director, screenwriter and producer in the United States. She is a proud native of the Bay Area and has African American and Ethiopian heritage. She is passionate about telling amusing, heartwarming, and thought-provoking stories that have an impact on society and culture.[1] Her film awards include Best Diaspora Film at the 2016 Africa 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.[2] 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.
Nnegest Likké | |
---|---|
Born | Oakland, California, United States |
Nationality | American |
Occupation | Filmmaker |
Notable work | Phat Girlz |
Early life and education
Nnegest Likké was born in Oakland, California.[3] 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[4] 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.[4]
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.[5]
Career
After college, Likké moved to Los Angeles to pursue screenwriting.[6] While honing her craft, Likké taught Drama, History and English at a high school in Los Angeles.[4] 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.[6] Likké is currently working on multiple projects for film and TV.[1]
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 |
2023 | A Sunday Affair | No | Yes | No |
Awards, nominations and honours
- In 2015, Likké received an honorary mention for Best Feature Film at the All Lights India International Film Festival.[6]
- In 2016, Likké received the Best Female Protagonist award for her film Ben & Ara at the Nevada Women's Film Festival.[9]
- In 2016, Ben and Ara won the award for Best Diaspora film by the Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA).[10]
References
- "Film Fatales | Nnegest Likké". www.filmfatales.org. Retrieved 2019-10-31.
- "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.
- "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.
- 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.
- "Alumni Profile: Nnegest Likké ('91) | UMC Giving". www.umcgiving.org. Retrieved 2019-10-11.
- "Phat Girlz". Fox Searchlight. 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.