Akin Omotoso (born 1974) is a Nigerian and South African film director, writer, and actor. He is best known for directing the 2022 film Rise. Both his father Kole Omotoso and his sister Yewande Omotoso are also writers.
Early life and education Omotoso was born in Nigeria, where he grew up in Ile Ife, Osun State. His family emigrated to South Africa in 1992 after his father, Kole Omotoso, took an academic appointment with the University of the Western Cape. Akin Omotoso studied at the University of Cape Town, obtaining a diploma in speech and drama. His mother died in 2003.
Career Omotoso ventured into entertainment while at the university. His acting debut was in Sunjata by Mark Fleishman. This also earned Omotoso a Fleur du Cap Award for Most Promising Student in 1995. He used the money from acting in the play to direct his first short films, The Kiss of Milk, The Nightwalkers, and The Caretaker. By 1999, he wrote his first full-length film, entitled God is African. The film was released in 2003. He started a production company along with Robbie Thorpe and Kgomotso Matsunyane called T.O.M. pictures in 2003.
Omotoso directed the television series Jacob's Cross on Africa Magic, M-Net and SABC between 2007 and 2013. In 2010, he began working on Tell Me Sweet Something; speaking about the script with Pulse Nigeria, he stated that Theodore Witchers' Love Jones (1997) was the influence behind the film. Omotoso also noted that he received a grant from the African Women's Development Fund. The film earned him the best director award at the 2016 Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards in Lagos State.
In an interview with Azania Mosaka, he described the South African film industry atmosphere as having an enabling environment for aspiring filmmakers. He particularly acknowledged funds from the Department of Trade and Industry and the National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) that prepares film stakeholders for the industry.
In 2022, Omotoso directed Giannis Antetokounmpo biopic Rise for Disney, which received generally positive reviews. Sourav Chakraborty of Sportskeeda found Rise to be an inspiring sports movie, stated Omotoso successfully provides an atmosphere of tension across his direction, and praised the performances of the cast members.
Filmography Year Title Role Notes1994 Soul City 1999 A Reasonable Man Photographer 2000 Operation Delta Force 5: Random Fire Vice Consul Williams 2003 God is African Former DJ Uncredited, director Generations Soap Opera 2004 Gums & Noses Furious Ad Man Lettre d'amour zoulou Songs of Solomon Voice2005 Lord of War General Solomon 2006 Blood Diamond Peacekeeper Gathering the Scattered Cousins Short, director A Place Called Home TV series, director2007 Shake Hands with the Devil Paul Kagame The Three Investigators and the Secret of Skeleton Island Gamba Soul Buddyz TV series, director2008 Jesus and the Giant TV series, director2009 Wole Soyinka: Child of the Forest Director, documentary2011 Man on Ground Director2013 End Game TV series, director2014 Hector and the Search for Happiness African Boss 2015 Tell Me Sweet Something Director2016 Wonder Boy for President Kalu Akinrinsa Queen of Katwe Rwabushenyi President Naked Reality Madiba Vaya Director2017 Catching Feelings Joel A Hotel Called MemoryDirector2019 The Ghost and the House of Truth Director2022 Rise Bamidele Director2026MarkedDirector
See also List of Nigerian actors List of Nigerian film directors
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