Femi Odugbemi

Born: 1963-05-24 (age 63)
Birthplace: Fadeyi, Mushin, Lagos, Nigeria
Occupation: Writer, Filmmaker, Television Producer, Radio Producer, Deputy Creative Director, President Of Itpan, Chair Of Lagos International Forum On Cinema, Motion Pictures And Video In Africa, Head Judge For Africa Magic Viewer's Choice Awards, Head Judge Of Uganda Film Festival Awards, Juror In Johannesburg International Film Festival, Juror And Mentor Of Netflix/unesco African Folktales Reimagined Project, Voting Member Of Academy Of Motion Picture Arts And Sciences, Voting Member Of International Academy Of Television Arts And Sciences, Co-founder Of Irepresent International Documentary Film Festival, Founder Of Dvwork Studios, Executive Producer And Ceo Of Zuri24 Media, Director Of Multichoice Talent Factory For West Africa
Active: 1985 - Present
Alma Mater: Montana State University

Biography

EARLY LIFE

Femi Odugbemi was born on 24 May 1963 in Fadeyi, Mushin, Lagos, Nigeria. He attended Government Demonstration School, Onitolo for his primary education and Apostolic Church Grammar School for his secondary education, both in Surulere. At 16, Odugbemi studied broadcast communication with specialization in film, radio, and television production at Montana State University (MSU) from 1979 to 1984. While in the US, he worked as a producer at KUSM Channel 9 in Bozeman, Montana. Odugbemi was posted to Kaduna for a Youth Service program to work at the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) Kaduna from 1985 to 1986.

CAREER

After graduating, Odugbemi returned to Nigeria and worked briefly at the Nigerian Television Authority before working as a radio and television producer at Lintas Advertising and deputy creative director at TBB-McCann, where he wrote plays, documentaries, and commercials. He was the president of the Independent Television Producers Association of Nigeria (ITPAN) and the chair of the Lagos International Forum on Cinema, Motion Pictures and Video in Africa from 2002 to 2006. He was also appointed to the Steering Committee of the Motion Picture Council of Nigeria (MOPICON). He is a member of the adversary board of the School of Media and Communications, Pan African University, a member of the board of Lufodo Academy of Performing Arts (LAPA), and an international advisor and consultant of the Orange Academy, Lagos. Odugbemi served as the head judge for the Africa Magic Viewer's Choice Awards for five years (2012 to 2014, 2019 and 2023), head judge of the Uganda Film Festival Awards for three years (2014 to 2016), and a juror in the Johannesburg International Film Festival and a juror and mentor of the Netflix/UNESCO African Folktales Reimagined project. He is an Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (Oscar Awards) and International Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (Emmy Awards) voting member. In March 2010, Odugemi co-founded the iRepresent International Documentary Film Festival. He is also the founder of Dvwork Studios and the executive producer and chief executive officer of Zuri24 Media. Odugbemi served as the pioneer director of the Multichoice Talent Factory for West Africa from 2018 to 2022. He has produced television series such as Tinsel (2008), Battleground (2017), Brethren (2019), Movement-Japa (2021), and Covenant (2022). He has also produced movies like Marako (2006), Abobaku (2008), Gidi Blues (2016), 4th Estate (2017), Code Wilo (2018), and The Eve (2018), and numerous documentaries including Life in Lagos (2003), Bariga Boys (2009), and Unmasked: Leadership, Trust and the COVID-19 (2021).