Nikyatu Jusu
{{short description|American screenwriter}}{{Infobox director
| name = Nikyatu Jusu
| education = Duke University, New York University
| occupation = Filmmaker
| notable_works = Nanny
| awards = Sundance Grand Jury Prize - Dramatic (2022)
}}
Nikyatu Jusu ({{IPAc-en|n|ɪ|k|ˈ|j|ɑː|t|uː|_|ˈ|dʒ|uː|s|uː}}){{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7e_eoKROmjw&t=13s|title=Meet the Artist: Nikyatu Jusu on "Nanny"|publisher=Sundance Institute|date=December 22, 2021|access-date=March 17, 2022}} is an American independent writer, director, producer, editor and assistant professor in film and video at George Mason University. Jusu's works center on the complexities of Black female characters and in particular, displaced, immigrant women in the United States. Her work includes African Booty Scratcher (2007), Flowers (2015), Suicide By Sunlight (2019), and Nanny, which received the Grand Jury Prize at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival.{{Cite web|url=http://africanwomenincinema.blogspot.com/2011/04/conversation-with-nikyatu-jusu.html|title=AFRICAN WOMEN IN CINEMA BLOG: A Conversation with Nikyatu Jusu|last=Ellerson|first=Beti|date=2011-04-07|website=AFRICAN WOMEN IN CINEMA BLOG|access-date=2018-06-13}} She has endorsed the use of Generative artificial intelligence in filmmaking and uses the technology in her work.{{cite web |last1=Welk |first1=Brian |title=Tribeca to Screen AI-Generated Short Films Created by OpenAI's Sora |url=https://www.indiewire.com/news/festivals/tribeca-ai-generated-short-films-sora-shorts-1235010911/ |website=Indiewire.com |date=31 May 2024 |publisher=Indiewire |access-date=15 June 2024}}
Early life and education
Jusu was born in Atlanta, Georgia, to Sierra Leonean parents Hannah Khoury and Ronald Jusu.{{Cite web|url=https://www.africanfilmny.org/tag/nikyatu-jusu/|title=Nikyatu Jusu – African Film Festival, Inc.|website=www.africanfilmny.org|language=en-US|access-date=2018-06-12}} She attended Duke University in Durham, North Carolina with the intention to become a biomedical engineer. An unexpected meeting with a screenwriting professor introduced her to the world of filmmaking and she changed her focus. Jusu graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Film/Cinema/Video Studies in 2005.{{Cite web|url=http://calendar.duke.edu/show?fq=id:CAL-8a0870ef-44647b9d-0144-753901cf-0000387cdemobedework@mysite.edu|title=Duke Event Calendar|website=calendar.duke.edu|language=en|access-date=2018-06-12}} She later studied narrative filmmaking at New York University's Tisch graduate film school and received a Master of Fine Arts in Film/Cinema/Video Studies in 2011.{{Cite news|url=http://tisch.nyu.edu/tisch-research-news-events/news/highlights--fall-2017|title=Highlights: Fall 2017|access-date=2018-06-12|language=en}}
Career
= 2008 – 2018: Career beginnings =
In 2008, Jusu wrote and directed African Booty Scratcher for her second-year graduate film project at NYU Tisch. It is a semi-autobiographical film that tells the story of Isatu, a young Sierra Leonean American. The story highlights the conflict of differing cultures while Isatu contemplates which culture to please when picking a prom dress. She developed the film with a budget of $7,000.{{Cite web|url=https://pro.imdb.com/name/nm2762302?ref_=nm_ov_res|title=Nikyatu Jusu - IMDbPro|website=pro.imdb.com|language=en|access-date=2018-06-13}}{{Better source needed|date=July 2021}} African Booty Scratcher was eventually acquired by HBO.{{Cite news|url=http://www.okayafrica.com/trailer-short-film-flowers-rising-sierra-leonean-american-filmmaker-nikyatu-jusu-debuts/|title=Trailer for Short Film 'Flowers' By Rising Sierra Leonean-American Filmmaker Nikyatu Jusu Debuts|date=2016-07-15|work=OkayAfrica|access-date=2018-06-13|language=en}}
Jusu released Say Grace Before Drowning in 2010, again as writer and director. With a bigger budget of $35,000, Jusu created a film that explains the relationship between a young girl and her African refugee mother. This film was also acquired by HBO.
In 2011, she wrote and directed the narrative film, Black Swan Theory, that was labeled as an experimental work. The plot of the film revolves around Sonya, a psychiatric casualty of war, who accepts a murder-for-hire assignment. Jusu's developed the film on a budget of $3,000.{{Cite news|url=https://afrofusionlounge.wordpress.com/2011/02/16/watch-nikyatu-jusus-black-swan-theory-online-now/|title=Watch Nikyatu Jusu's Black Swan Theory Online Now!|date=2011-02-17|work=Afrofusion Lounge|access-date=2018-06-13|language=en-US}}
Jusu began developing a feature film, FREE THE TOWN in 2013.{{Better source needed|date=July 2021}}{{Citation|last=NIKYATU|title=MICHAEL {{!}} FREE THE TOWN, a feature film|date=2013-09-24|url=https://vimeo.com/75335828|access-date=2018-06-13}} The film follows three people in Freetown, Sierra Leone and was selected for inclusion in Sundance Institute's inaugural Diverse Writers Workshop.{{Citation needed|date=July 2021}}
She co-wrote and co-directed Flowers in 2015 with Yvonne Michelle Shirley, a classmate from film school. The coming-of-age film tells the story of two Brooklyn teens looking to get revenge on their teacher until their plan backfires. Jusu explained that she wanted to draw attention to the struggles of black girls in school because she feels that only black boys are in the spotlight of struggle in the United States education system.{{Cite web|url=http://www.blackenterprise.com/how-two-filmmakers-are-taking-on-the-complexities-of-black-girlhood/|title=How Two Filmmakers Are Taking On The Complexity Of Black Girlhood|last=Wilder|first=Kali|date=2016-09-16|website=Black Enterprise|access-date=2018-06-13}} Flowers was shown at film festivals such as BlackStar Film Festival. It was acquired by HBO and received the HBO Short Film Award.{{Cite web|url=http://superselected.com/short-film-flowers-a-revenge-plot-spirals-out-of-control/|title=Short Film. 'Flowers.' A Revenge Plot Spirals Out of Control. {{!}} SUPERSELECTED - Black Fashion Magazine Black Models Black Contemporary Artists Art Black Musicians|website=superselected.com|date=14 December 2016 |language=en-US|access-date=2018-06-13}}
= 2017 – present: ''Suicide by Sunlight'' and ''Nanny'' =
In 2017, Jusu joined the faculty of George Mason University as an assistant professor in the film and video studies department.{{Cite web|last=Rizov|first=Vadim|date=2020-10-19|title=Nikyatu Jusu {{!}} Filmmaker Magazine|url=https://filmmakermagazine.com/people/nikyatu-jusu/|access-date=2021-07-18|website=Filmmaker Magazine|language=en-US}} That year she was selected as a recipient of Tribeca Film Institute and Chanel's Through Her Lens program to develop the short film Suicide by Sunlight, co-written with R. Shanea Williams.{{Cite web|title=This is the Future of Film: Here are the Recipients of Tribeca and CHANEL's Third Annual THROUGH HER LENS|url=https://www.tribecafilm.com/news/through-her-lens-recipients-2017-tribeca-chanel-women-filmmaker-program|access-date=2021-07-18|website=Tribeca|date=20 October 2017 }} Suicide by Sunlight centers a Black vampire protected from the sun because of her melanin.{{Cite news|url=http://hollywoodsblackrenaissance.com/suicide-by-sunlight-nikatu-suicide-by-sunlight/|title=Nikyatu Jusu's 'Suicide by Sunlight' Selected by Tribeca's Through Her Lens Program for Funding|date=2017-10-20|work=Hollywood's Black Renaissance|access-date=2018-06-13|language=en-US}} The film was executive produced by Terence Nance, directed by Jusu, and stars Natalie Paul.{{Cite news|url=http://www.headlands.org/artist/nikyatu-jusu/|title=Nikyatu Jusu - Headlands Center for the Arts|work=Headlands Center for the Arts|access-date=2018-06-13|language=en-US}} It debuted at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival on January 25, 2019.{{Cite web|url=https://shadowandact.com/nikyatu-jusu-on-her-evocative-black-vampire-film-suicide-by-sunlight-sundance-interview|title=Nikyatu Jusu On Her Evocative Black Vampire Film 'Suicide By Sunlight' [Sundance Interview]|website=shadowandact.com|language=en|access-date=2019-07-22}}
On April 13, 2021, it was announced that Jusu's debut feature film, Nanny, was being produced by Stay Gold Features and Topic Studios.{{Cite web|last=N'Duka|first=Amanda|date=2021-04-13|title=Stay Gold Features & Topic Studios Team On Horror Film 'Nanny' From Nikyatu Jusu|url=https://deadline.com/2021/04/stay-gold-features-topic-studios-nanny-nikyatu-jusu-1234733360/|access-date=2021-07-18|website=Deadline|language=en-US}} The horror film follows a west African undocumented nanny taking care of a privileged child on the Upper West Side and preparing for the arrival of her son. The script was selected for the 2020 Black List and the film debuted at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival on January 22, 2022.{{Cite web|last=Kroll|first=Justin|date=2022-02-01|title=Monkeypaw And Universal Land 'Nanny' Director Nikyatu Jusu's Next Movie|url=https://deadline.com/2022/02/monkeypaw-universal-nanny-director-nikyatu-jusus-horror-1234923682/|access-date=2022-02-02|website=Deadline|language=en-US}} Shortly after Nanny won the Grand Jury Prize in the U.S. Dramatic Competition, Blumhouse Productions and Amazon Studios acquired the film and released it theatrically on November 23, 2022 and then streaming on Amazon Prime Video on December 16, 2022. In February 2022, it was announced that Jusu's next horror film project was acquired by Monkeypaw Productions and Universal Pictures. In October 2022, it was announced that Jusu signed on to direct a sequel to Night of the Living Dead (1968).[https://bloody-disgusting.com/movie/3738229/night-of-the-living-dead-new-movie-project-surfaces-with-nikyatu-jusu-attached-to-direct/ 'Night of the Living Dead' – New Movie Project Surfaces With Nikyatu Jusu Attached to Direct] In November 2022, Jusu revealed that her untitled horror film with Monkeypaw would be a feature length adaptation of her short film Suicide by Sunlight.[https://deadline.com/2022/11/nikyatu-jusu-adapting-suicide-by-sunlight-for-monkeypaw-universal-1235177511/ Nikyatu Jusu Confirms Her Next Horror Film For Monkeypaw & Universal Is "Expansion" Of Black Vampire Short 'Suicide By Sunlight']
Accolades
- The Most Promising Filmmaker Award from Duke University.
- African Booty Scratcher: Directors Guild Honorable Mention, HBO Short Film Award and JT3 Artist Award.
- Say Grace Before Drowning: Spike Lee Fellowship Award, Directors Guild of America Jury Award, HBO Short Film Award, the Panavision Equipment Grant, Princess Grace Foundation Grant, and Puffin Foundation Grant.{{Citation|last=NIKYATU|title=SAY GRACE BEFORE DROWNING {{!}} short film {{!}} NIKYATU JUSU|date=2010-09-01|url=https://vimeo.com/14624401|access-date=2018-06-12}}
- Shadow and Act Filmmaker Challenge winner forBlack Swan Theory.{{Cite news|url=http://www.indiewire.com/2013/07/watch-teaser-for-nikyatu-jusus-upcoming-web-series-suicide-by-sunlight-166862/|title=Watch Teaser for Nikyatu Jusu's Upcoming Web Series 'Suicide by Sunlight'|last=Martinez|first=Vanessa|date=2013-07-09|work=IndieWire|access-date=2018-06-12|language=en-US}}
- Flowers: HBO short film award.{{Cite web|url=https://womenandhollywood.com/rachel-weisz-and-mira-nair-award-suicide-by-sunlight-at-through-her-lens-program-a8c2383e4cb2/|title=Rachel Weisz and Mira Nair Award "Suicide by Sunlight" at Through Her Lens Program - Women and Hollywood|website=womenandhollywood.com|access-date=2018-06-12}}
- Her screenplay Free The Town was selected for Africa's most prestigious Film Market, the 2013 Durban Film Mart, and one of 5 narrative films selected for Film Independent's Fast Track. It was one of 12 projects invited to participate in Sundance Institute's inaugural Diverse Writers Workshop. Free the Town was never shot because of the Ebola outbreak.{{Citation needed|date=January 2022}}
- Her narrative film Suicide by Sunlight was awarded a Rooftop Films/Adrienne Shelly Foundation Short Film Grant and was funded by the production grant Through Her Lens: The Tribeca Chanel Women's Filmmaker Program sponsored by the Tribeca Film Institute and Chanel. The film was one of the 5 to be nominated, and won the grand prize.{{Cite web|title=Nikyatu Jusu|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2762302/bio|access-date=2018-06-13|website=IMDb}}
Filmography
Short film
| class="wikitable"
! Year ! Title ! Director ! Writer ! Editor |
| 2007
| African Booty Scratcher | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} |
| rowspan="2" |2010
| Train | {{no}} | {{no}} | {{yes}} |
| Say Grace Before Drowning
| {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} |
| 2011
| Black Swan Theory | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} |
| 2015
| Flowers | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{no}} |
| 2019
| Suicide by Sunlight | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{no}} |
Feature film
| class="wikitable"
! Year ! Title ! Director ! Writer ! Producer |
| 2022
| Nanny | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{partial|Executive}} |
Television
| class="wikitable"
! Year ! Title ! Notes |
| 2019
| Episode: "Only Child" |
Awards and nominations
| class="wikitable sortable"
!Year !Award !Category !Nominated work !Result |
| 2016
|Flowers |{{won}} |
| 2020
|Suicide by Sunlight |{{nom}} |
| 2019
| rowspan="2" |Sundance Film Festival |Short Film Grand Jury Prize{{Cite web|title=suicide-by-sunlight|url=https://www.sundance.org/projects/suicide-by-sunlight|access-date=2022-02-02|website=www.sundance.org|language=English}} |Suicide by Sunlight|Suicide by Sunlight |{{nom}} |
| 2022
|U.S. Dramatic Competition Grand Jury Prize |{{won}} |
References
External links
- [https://www.nikyatu.com/ Official website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220122212906/https://www.nikyatu.com/ |date=2022-01-22 }}
- {{IMDb name|id=nm2762302}}
{{Black Reel Award for Outstanding Emerging Director}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Jusu, Nikyatu}}
Category:Filmmakers from Georgia (U.S. state)
Category:American people of Sierra Leonean descent
Category:American women film directors
Category:American women screenwriters
Category:African-American film directors
Category:Screenwriters from Georgia (U.S. state)
Category:Duke University alumni