Nwani Orire

EARLY LIFE

Orire Nwani developed an early interest in storytelling and film. He attended secondary school alongside longtime collaborator Josh Olaoluwa (they also grew up in the same children’s church). He studied Computer Science at the University of Benin (UNIBEN), where he experimented with filmmaking techniques, including After Effects tutorials, while building practical skills. He began as a storyteller on radio around 2011, producing radio drama series focused on life lessons and student lifestyles for national stations. His first short film, Dark Room (2013), was shot on a mobile device with friends and addressed themes of rape and betrayal of trust; it screened on campus and created space for discussions around sexual assault.

CAREER

Nwani is recognized for visually compelling, socially conscious films that explore Nigerian experiences, often highlighting overlooked or “gray” areas of society. He is a fellow of the Multichoice Talent Factory (affiliated with the New York Film Academy). His work has appeared on platforms including CNN, Africa Magic/Showmax, MTV Base, Netflix, and Prime Video, and has screened at festivals and institutions such as the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art. Notable directed works include: Naked Woman (2022 short) – Best Director, New York Tri-State International Film Festival (2022); explores a mother-daughter confrontation involving pregnancy and past trauma; premiered at the Smithsonian and screened at AFRIFF. Grind (2023 TV series, Prime Video) – Directed episodes; strong audience reception. Love & Seclusion (feature) – Directed; received the 2023 New York City Women’s Fund (fiction feature category); international premiere in New York (2024); stars Efa Iwara and Tope Olowoniyan. Irora Iya and Kadara (MNET Original indigenous series). Hussaini (2026 short) – Screened at NollywoodWeek 2026; AMVCA nominee (short film category); follows an okada rider and his pregnant wife navigating precarious daily life. Other titles: T’egbon T’aburo (2024 short, AMVCA-nominated), The Wives (series), Sikiru, Ije, Roli and Zehra, Be My Valentine, Baptism (mystery thriller), Love Language, and more. He frequently collaborates with Josh Olaoluwa and Conceptified Media on projects that have collectively earned festival awards and critical recognition. He has also been selected for international development programs, including the Red Sea Series Lab (with Tomi Folowosele for the supernatural thriller series Till Death Do Us Part).

PERSONAL LIFE

Nwani Orire maintains a long-standing professional and personal collaboration with producer Josh Olaoluwa, with whom he co-founded Conceptified Media. The pair have described their partnership as rooted in friendship dating back to secondary school and church, emphasizing making films with people they trust and love.

Nwani is noted for a hands-on, authentic approach—often using pidgin for realism, deliberate camera and lighting choices to heighten emotion, and open-ended storytelling that invites audience interpretation. Industry profiles describe him as an emerging force reshaping African cinema and inspiring newer storytellers. He continues to balance short films, series, features, and development projects while prioritizing collaborative, purpose-driven work.