Ekwa’s award-winning and critically acclaimed feature film Farewell Amor premiered in competition at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival, garnering 100% on Rottentomatoes, and was bought for distribution by IFC Films. Previous to that, she has written & directed several shorts, most recently award-winning comedy Soko Sonko (The Market King), and Farewell Meu Amor starring Tony Award nominee Sahr Ngauja, and actress Nana Mensah of the famed series An African City. For Farewell Amor Ekwa was awarded the Jerome Foundation Grant, Tribeca All Access Fellowship, Cine Qua Non Lab Fellowship, IFP/No Borders, and Sundance Feature Film Development Fellowship. Ekwa has also written & directed several drama series for mainstream broadcasters in Kenya and MNET South Africa, including The Agency, MNET’s first-ever original hour-long Kenyan drama series. In the past Ekwa has been adjunct faculty at Tisch School of the Arts, as well as a recurring mentor in Mira Nair’s East Africa based Maisha Screenwriting Labs. Currently, Ekwa is the resident educational instructor with the African Film Festival, and teaches Screenwriting at The New School and Feirstein Graduate School of Cinema, Brooklyn College. One of Ekwa’s key goals as an artist is to transform our society’s images and relationships with African cultures, and to empower African filmmakers in telling their stories.
Farewell Amor
Feature Film
2020
Writer/Director/Producer Ekwa Msangi DP: Bruce Francis Cole
After 17 years in exile, Walter finally reunites with his wife and daughter and they quickly discover how the years of separation have turned them into absolute strangers. As they attempt to overcome the personal and political hurdles amongst them, they rely on the muscle memory of dance to find their way back “home.”
Watch the Trailer
African CInema NOW!
Podcast
2017
Writer/Director/Producer Ekwa Msangi
Half hour episodes in conversation with African film artists discussing their work, inspiration, and everything between the pen and the screen.
Listen to us on Soundcloud
Farewell Meu Amor
Short Film
2016
- Writer/Director/Producer: Ekwa Msangi
- DP: Shawn Peters
On the morning of the long-awaited reunion with his exiled family, a man is faced with the heartbreak of a different type of parting – from his lover.
Soko Sonko (The Market King)
Short Film
2014
- Writer/Director/Producer: Ekwa Msangi
- DP: Andrew “Dru” Mungai
When her mother falls sick, Kibibi’s father, Ed, is tasked with taking her to the market to get her hair braided before school begins. Soko Sonko is a hilarious, fish‐out of‐water roller‐coaster of a journey, about a well‐intended dad who braves the fires and goes where no man has gone before…because only women have been there!
Farewell Amor (Working Title)
Read More
All My Friends Are Married
Read More
all my current projects
#TelltheTruthHollywood: An Open Letter to Hollywood in the Time of #BlackLivesMatter
Read More
Black Panther: Open Letter [in praise of] director Ryan Coogler
Read More
Self Care in a Time of Madness…
Read More
First there was Sarafina!, and now The Queen of Katwe
Read More
all my news & views
Craig Kestel (Agent)
William Morris Endeavor
ckestel@wmeentertainment.com
(310) 285-9000
Socials
FACEBOOK
Ekwapics
TWITTER
📹 Just loved this young Queen’s enthusiasm and excitement for our film. Thank you @tricia_theangel for the love, it means so much! Aluta Continua! PS. We’re on @netflixsa only in Africa, on @ifcfilms platforms in North America and @mubi... https://t.co/NoX1BWZZB4
Just posted a video @ Brooklyn, New York https://t.co/CvhopINq67
I simply adore John Akomfrah and it was truly an honor to have this chat with him about my first film. Onwards! https://t.co/Xzx92cRenj
Really fun interview! https://t.co/ZHKcu28fa6
In this first episode, we chat with Ekwa Msangi, writer and director of the award-winning and critically acclaimed feature film, Farewell Amor. https://t.co/Y8G8wtEDbx https://t.co/f5LMkKLEXf
📷 Today marks 18 years since my Baba transitioned. Its also the week that would’ve marked his 56th wedding anniversary! Its a time of big transitions in my world as well as the wide world and I always try to remember how much zest and... https://t.co/A6fHdLW4oO
Just posted a photo https://t.co/mX5ZvpBUL3
📹 Just loved this young Queen’s enthusiasm and excitement for our film. Thank you @tricia_theangel for the love, it means so much! Aluta Continua! PS. We’re on @netflixsa only in Africa, on @ifcfilms platforms in North America and @mubi... https://t.co/NoX1BWZZB4
Just posted a video @ Brooklyn, New York https://t.co/CvhopINq67
@TambayObenson We give thanks for you as well dear Tambay!!
I simply adore John Akomfrah and it was truly an honor to have this chat with him about my first film. Onwards! https://t.co/Xzx92cRenj
FAREWELL AMOR, a tender family drama from @ekwapics that delighted critics at @sundancefest, is #NowShowing https://t.co/r52szcBfk3