Nigerian filmmaker David Ikeata is redefining what it means to tell bold, authentic African stories on a global stage.
From queer love to ancient Igbo horror, his creative vision is as daring as it is deeply personal.
“Storytelling became the space where I could process the love and frustration I feel about Nigeria,” he says.
After more than a decade in the film industry, David’s work has crossed continents — from The Last Rabbi (Egypt) to Adam Bol (Kazakhstan-Nigeria). Now, he’s developing new projects like Moondust, Hibiscus by the River, and a 1600s Igbo horror epic that draws from ancient mythology and explores how faith, fear, and family collide.
This year, he made history as the first Nigerian accepted into the Zurich Film Festival Academy, an experience he describes as more about “connection than competition.”]
“Horror is a great way to explore society’s fears,” David says. “Just like Get Out tackled racism, our film uses Igbo beliefs to explore tradition, control, and human nature.”
His upcoming Hibiscus by the River takes on themes of love and identity, following a young Nigerian whose life transforms after being outed. Though he admits the film may never screen publicly in Nigeria, David hopes it sparks global curiosity and meaningful dialogue.
For him, filmmaking isn’t about fame — it’s about reflection.
“The goal isn’t recognition,” he says. “It’s creating films that speak, even in the silence they leave behind.”
