Óménàlà
Atlanta, Georgia | Film Short
Drama, Foreign Film
Nnamdi, Adanna, and their mother return to Nigeria after 10 years in the U.S. for Chief Ozor’s burial. Overwhelmed by both his emotions and this newfound responsibility, Nnamdi tries to avoid confronting his feelings about his distant father’s death and his new obligations.
Óménàlà
Atlanta, Georgia | Film Short
Drama, Foreign Film
1 Campaigns | Georgia, United States
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Nnamdi, Adanna, and their mother return to Nigeria after 10 years in the U.S. for Chief Ozor’s burial. Overwhelmed by both his emotions and this newfound responsibility, Nnamdi tries to avoid confronting his feelings about his distant father’s death and his new obligations.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Omenala tells the story of Nnamdi, a young man who returns to Nigeria with his mother and sister after many years in the U.S. due to the sudden death of his father. This devastating news pushes Nnamdi into a new role as the protector of the family and forces him to reconnect with the culture he’s been distanced from. At the same time, he must confront his emotions during this incredibly trying period.
Our project explores Igbo traditions, particularly how grief is processed and differs depending on a family member’s role in Igbo land. Nnamdi must make tough decisions as he is the first-born son. The goal is to shed light on Nigerian voices, such as our director’s, as stories such as these have been left in the dark. The Nigerian-American experience is unique and deserves to be told authentically by someone who has ties to both countries.
Omenala is currently in pre-production with plans to shoot in Nigeria early to mid-December. This crowdfunding campaign will help us raise the funds needed to make this production possible.
Since we’re filming in December, during our winter break, we have plans to start post-production earlier than most student films in our year. This means we can get a jumpstart on editing in January and explore the opportunity to develop an original score. Our film will be picture-locked by Spring 2025 and submitted to film festivals around the world!
Please join us by making a pledge and sharing this campaign with your friends and family. With your help, we can take our script and turn it into a full production! We need to collect at least 80% of our goal to keep our funds. No amount is too small, every dollar counts! *Note for our Nigerian friends: Donating as little as 1000 Naira can be extremely helpful! This would be ~ 0.61 USD.
We have a flex goal of $13,000. Any amount raised over our $10,000 budget will go toward post-production. This includes hiring a colorist, sound designer, and composer. Once those bases are covered, the rest will cover film festival application fees!
Follow us on social media @omenalafilm (Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Twitter, etc.) to stay updated on this adventure.
Hi everyone! My name is Stephanie Byron-Ene, and I am the writer and director of Omenala (Oh-May-Nah-lah), which translates to "As it is in the land." I’m Nigerian, from the Igbo tribe, and grew up in Lagos State before coming to the U.S. to study film.
My passion for filmmaking started early. At just 10 years old, I would join my father on Nollywood sets at 4 a.m.— often just to hold the actor’s purse — but those experiences deeply shaped my love for storytelling. After coming to the US, I realized that growing up in Nigeria was such a unique experience. I got the chance to learn the culture by going to the village when we could. I was surrounded by culture and practices that I grew to learn the significance of. Being around the incredible determination of Nigerian filmmakers—people who told Nigerian stories for the world to see—inspired me to share parts of our culture with others through the lens of unique characters. Now, in my final year of film school, it feels only right to honor those who influenced me.
For this film, inspiration is taken from Nigerian films that highlight the spirit and culture of the Igbo people with films like Afamefuna (2023) and Rattlesnake (1995) which was made by a renowned filmmaker who is dear to me, Amaka Igwe (May her soul rest in peace).
As the eldest daughter in my family, this story is deeply personal to me. I relate to Nnamdi’s journey of navigating the weight of expectation, where people assume you know what to do simply because you're the oldest. But beyond its cultural specificities, this is a universal story about taking on responsibility when life throws the unexpected at you, and ultimately, how loss can mark the beginning of personal growth.
I’m excited to share this story with you and would love for you to be part of this journey!
My Family
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Equipment
Costs $1,150
Having an international production means we will be renting equipment. We will not be able to use our school's resources!
Production
Costs $5,000
Making sure our crew is paid and well-fed on set. This cost includes catering & crafty, miscellaneous supplies, location fees, etc.
Post-Production
Costs $1,000
Drives for media storage, sound mixing, colorist & composer costs, etc.
Share this update!
About This Team
Stephanie Byron-Ene
Stephanie Byron-Ene is a Nigerian native studying Film/Television at the Savannah College of Art and Design. As a new director, she enjoys exploring various styles and mediums. Still, she prioritizes using the camera to drive the narrative, treats production design as essential, and writes realistic dialogue, all while staying open to learning. Stephanie wants to celebrate her roots by telling authentic Igbo stories.
Sydney Brooks
Sydney Brooks is a senior at Savannah College of Art and Design majoring in Film/Television. Last year, she worked as a story producer for the pilot episode of Chef ATL, a series created by SCAD and run by students. As a producer, Sydney wants to highlight diverse stories by uplifting voices that are not normally heard. She believes that everybody deserves to see themselves represented on the big screen.
Harry Phan
Harry Phan is a Vietnamese cinematographer studying at the Savannah College of Art and Design. Being raised in a diverse environment has deeply impacted how he approaches storytelling. His passion lies in the exploration of human emotion and connection through the camera lens. Harry’s goal is to continue to create authentic and visually engaging stories that have a positive and lasting impact.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Omenala tells the story of Nnamdi, a young man who returns to Nigeria with his mother and sister after many years in the U.S. due to the sudden death of his father. This devastating news pushes Nnamdi into a new role as the protector of the family and forces him to reconnect with the culture he’s been distanced from. At the same time, he must confront his emotions during this incredibly trying period.
Our project explores Igbo traditions, particularly how grief is processed and differs depending on a family member’s role in Igbo land. Nnamdi must make tough decisions as he is the first-born son. The goal is to shed light on Nigerian voices, such as our director’s, as stories such as these have been left in the dark. The Nigerian-American experience is unique and deserves to be told authentically by someone who has ties to both countries.
Omenala is currently in pre-production with plans to shoot in Nigeria early to mid-December. This crowdfunding campaign will help us raise the funds needed to make this production possible.
Since we’re filming in December, during our winter break, we have plans to start post-production earlier than most student films in our year. This means we can get a jumpstart on editing in January and explore the opportunity to develop an original score. Our film will be picture-locked by Spring 2025 and submitted to film festivals around the world!
Please join us by making a pledge and sharing this campaign with your friends and family. With your help, we can take our script and turn it into a full production! We need to collect at least 80% of our goal to keep our funds. No amount is too small, every dollar counts! *Note for our Nigerian friends: Donating as little as 1000 Naira can be extremely helpful! This would be ~ 0.61 USD.
We have a flex goal of $13,000. Any amount raised over our $10,000 budget will go toward post-production. This includes hiring a colorist, sound designer, and composer. Once those bases are covered, the rest will cover film festival application fees!
Follow us on social media @omenalafilm (Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Twitter, etc.) to stay updated on this adventure.
Hi everyone! My name is Stephanie Byron-Ene, and I am the writer and director of Omenala (Oh-May-Nah-lah), which translates to "As it is in the land." I’m Nigerian, from the Igbo tribe, and grew up in Lagos State before coming to the U.S. to study film.
My passion for filmmaking started early. At just 10 years old, I would join my father on Nollywood sets at 4 a.m.— often just to hold the actor’s purse — but those experiences deeply shaped my love for storytelling. After coming to the US, I realized that growing up in Nigeria was such a unique experience. I got the chance to learn the culture by going to the village when we could. I was surrounded by culture and practices that I grew to learn the significance of. Being around the incredible determination of Nigerian filmmakers—people who told Nigerian stories for the world to see—inspired me to share parts of our culture with others through the lens of unique characters. Now, in my final year of film school, it feels only right to honor those who influenced me.
For this film, inspiration is taken from Nigerian films that highlight the spirit and culture of the Igbo people with films like Afamefuna (2023) and Rattlesnake (1995) which was made by a renowned filmmaker who is dear to me, Amaka Igwe (May her soul rest in peace).
As the eldest daughter in my family, this story is deeply personal to me. I relate to Nnamdi’s journey of navigating the weight of expectation, where people assume you know what to do simply because you're the oldest. But beyond its cultural specificities, this is a universal story about taking on responsibility when life throws the unexpected at you, and ultimately, how loss can mark the beginning of personal growth.
I’m excited to share this story with you and would love for you to be part of this journey!
My Family
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Equipment
Costs $1,150
Having an international production means we will be renting equipment. We will not be able to use our school's resources!
Production
Costs $5,000
Making sure our crew is paid and well-fed on set. This cost includes catering & crafty, miscellaneous supplies, location fees, etc.
Post-Production
Costs $1,000
Drives for media storage, sound mixing, colorist & composer costs, etc.
Share this update!
About This Team
Stephanie Byron-Ene
Stephanie Byron-Ene is a Nigerian native studying Film/Television at the Savannah College of Art and Design. As a new director, she enjoys exploring various styles and mediums. Still, she prioritizes using the camera to drive the narrative, treats production design as essential, and writes realistic dialogue, all while staying open to learning. Stephanie wants to celebrate her roots by telling authentic Igbo stories.
Sydney Brooks
Sydney Brooks is a senior at Savannah College of Art and Design majoring in Film/Television. Last year, she worked as a story producer for the pilot episode of Chef ATL, a series created by SCAD and run by students. As a producer, Sydney wants to highlight diverse stories by uplifting voices that are not normally heard. She believes that everybody deserves to see themselves represented on the big screen.
Harry Phan
Harry Phan is a Vietnamese cinematographer studying at the Savannah College of Art and Design. Being raised in a diverse environment has deeply impacted how he approaches storytelling. His passion lies in the exploration of human emotion and connection through the camera lens. Harry’s goal is to continue to create authentic and visually engaging stories that have a positive and lasting impact.