Ifeoma N. Chukwuogo has opened up about her journey directing ‘Phoenix Fury’ and the personal significance of winning Best Director at the 2024 Africa Film Festival.
Winning at AFRIFF isn’t just about accolades; it’s a milestone that represents a filmmaker’s hardwork. For Ifeoma Chukwuogo, this award marks a significant chapter in her career.
Phoenix Fury which blends past and present elements together took the audience on a journey to different periods through seamless transition and it stood out for its powerful narrative, visual artistry, and clear intention to spark conversations on issues close to home.
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Pulse Nigeria caught up with Ifeoma N. Chukwuogo whose vision, dedication, and storytelling prowess earned her the award. In our conversation, she opened up about her directorial journey, the themes that drive her work, and what this recognition means for her as a filmmaker. She also offered a glimpse into the creative process; from overcoming logistical and financial hurdles to working with a dedicated team that shared her vision.
This interview has been edited for clarity and length.
How does it feel to have won Best Film at AFRIFF?
It feels wonderful. It feels affirming to be validated by your colleagues in the industry, by the AFRIFF audience, and by film lovers. I feel affirmed by the veterans and the accomplished jury that considered us the best. It’s an amazing feeling.
What does this recognition mean to you and your team?
It means that our hard work paid off, It means that we are getting something right; a lot of things right.
What was the inspiration behind this film?
Just wanting to tell a story about the different aspects of the human condition and how we are and can be intertwined. How our actions lead to certain consequences and leave imprints in our lives. I wanted to tell a story set across different periods. I love period pieces. I love to show different times and periods in film. That is something I was intentional about while telling the story.
What were the biggest challenges you faced in bringing this story to life, and how did you overcome them?
Funding; which we eventually sorted out. We tried to do something ambitious and that cost a bit of funding. Logistics. We filmed in two locations; Nigeria and Ghana. There was a logistic nightmare with that because what we thought was going to be easy, became difficult. We had issues at the border. We got to Ghana and our equipment was at the border for a week. It ended up being detrimental to our budget. I guess we just eventually overcame it. It was a learning period for all of us.
What message or emotion were you hoping to leave with audiences, and do you think it resonated as intended?
I’d say more message than emotions. I’m not trying to dictate how they feel. The message I’m hoping to pass is that at the end of the day, we’re all intertwined. Life can be interesting in that way. Things resonate. Whether that’s action from before or people from before. We’re affected by our choices and the consequences of our actions. At the end of the day, love and friendship are healing and have the potential to save us from our own issues, problems and despair. There is a healing element in love and friendship.
How did you approach directing this story, especially considering its unique themes, style and characters?
Most of it was studying films that were similar to the film I was creating; to see what I liked, resonated with me and what I didn’t. I was trying to make sure I had a script that was ready to go into production. As the writer and director, the script went into several rewrites and I felt it was ready to go. I did a lot of research, especially considering the period to make me get all of these things right. Also getting people on board, hiring people that understood where I was going with the kind of story I was trying to tell, people who shared a similar vision synergized with me. I created an environment where it was safe, especially for the actors.
What do you hope audiences will take away from this film’s narrative?
Just like a feeling of having been put through a journey of someone’s life or a number of people’s lives, just being able to have a new perspective about some of the things we go through as humans; whether that’s love, pain, grief, betrayal, the need for revenge or anger, joy or healing. To be able to ponder and think about those things that are universal. And of course a deep satisfaction of the story that they just watched.