Northern Ireland Director Tolu Ogunware named as one of Broadcast’s 2023 Hot Shots
Date Posted: July 27, 2023
TV industry magazine, Broadcast has today revealed its list of Hot Shots for 2023. The emerging talent initiative seeks out the brightest and most promising individuals from across the UK television industry. Northern Ireland Screen is delighted to see local director Tolu Ogunware featured on the list.
Hot Shots seeks to celebrate people who are excelling early on in their professional lives, and those further along who have injected momentum into their careers with significant recent achievements.
Tolu is currently participating in the CINE (Creative Industries New Entrants) scheme. The scheme, funded by the Department for Communities, sees Northern Ireland Screen in partnership with BBC Northern Ireland, identify new talent. In line with UK-wide screen industry initiatives CINE prioritises applicants from underrepresented ethnic minority, socio-economic, and disabled communities, to expand our growing creative industries sector and create a more diverse generation of ‘New Entrants’ of all ages.
Twenty seven year old director and photographer Tolu started out on his career six years ago making music videos for local musicians. He also worked as a camera operator on the short documentary film Where You Really From?, which explores the experience of growing up mixed-race in Northern Ireland through the eyes of three ex-national youth team players.
Tolu’s own first documentary, Black, Northern Irish And Proud, aired on BBC Northern Ireland in September. The half-hour film explores what it means to be black in Northern Ireland. His next project No More Bricks in the Wall, produced in partnership with the charity Belfast Won’t Always Be This Way, will look at the legacy and impact of The Troubles and Belfast’s peace walls on the post-conflict generation. It will explore the mental, physical, geographical, visual and logistical impact of living with and among the separation walls that once proliferated across the city.
Tolu is committed to increasing diversity and representation in the television industry. He demonstrates his commitment to this goal by actively mentoring and collaborating with aspiring film-makers and photographers.
He also plans to launch his own production company, which he says will focus on telling important stories and collaborating with local artists from under-represented backgrounds.
Northern Ireland Screen Chief Content Officer Andrew Reid says: “We first met Tolu when he was selected for the Aim High boot camp for factual film-makers that we run with the BBC. Tolu was an outstanding candidate and was immediately selected for our CINE placement scheme.”
“As well as a talented documentarian, Tolu is a photographer who has had exhibitions in cities nationwide. He gives workshops and talks on film-making to youths from underrepresented communities and was recognised as a trailblazing film-maker and entrepreneur in the Belfast Telegraph’s 30 under 30.
“Tolu is smart, talented and an absolute pleasure to work with.”
