Abbesi Akhamie is a Nigerian-American writer, director, and producer centering African experiences across the continent and its diaspora. Her work brings cultural specificity, emotional precision, and cinematic ambition to stories that belong on the global stage.♥︎

Born in Heidelberg, Germany, Abbesi received an MFA in Film from New York University and is a Berlinale Talents alum. Her films have screened at major festivals internationally, and her recent short film The Incredible Sensational Fiancée of Sèyí Àjàyí has received critical recognition while serving as the proof of concept for a feature adaptation.

Her body of work spans stylized speculative worlds and grounded contemporary realism. From visually distinctive narratives set in imagined Pan-African societies to intimate stories rooted in present-day Nigeria, Abbesi moves fluidly between tone and genre while maintaining a clear thematic throughline: African lives are complex, layered, and worthy of global attention.

In addition to her filmmaking, Abbesi is a dedicated educator and mentor. She has taught film production, producing, and career strategy at institutions including Barnard College and EbonyLife Creative Academy, supporting emerging filmmakers across the U.S. and West Africa. Committed to expanding global awareness of African film, she also created Love African Cinema, a free curated syllabus. Her teaching and mentorship reflect her broader mission — not only to create impactful films, but to contribute to a sustainable ecosystem for African storytelling.

Currently, she is developing multiple film and television projects. Across all her work, Abbesi remains committed to ensuring that African stories are not treated as peripheral, but as central to contemporary cinema. ♥︎

The Incredible Sensational Fiancée of Sèyí Àjàyí

*Feature in Development*

In the stylized African nation of Alkebulan, a brilliant scholar discovers her fiancé’s secret engagement and takes spectacular revenge, earning the recognition she always deserved in an unexpected way.

Amazon D’Or, Festival International des Films de Femmes de Cotonou

Best Film, Women of Lens Film Festival

Best Film, Silicon Valley African Film Festival

Best Film, San Antonio Black Film Festival

Best Film, Best Production Design, Best Costume, FAME Week Africa

Honorable Mention, SeriesFest

Screenings: New Orleans FF, Hamptons FF, Mill Valley FF, Hollyshorts, Martha's Vineyard African-American FF, Maryland FF, New York African FF,

  • The Couple Next Door

    Amidst the arrival of a West African couple in her building, a 41-year-old single woman grapples with her desires and ethics when the husband's attentions turn towards her.

    Available on the Criterion Collection.

  • Still Water Runs Deep

    It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more.

    Available on Vimeo on-demand.

Abbesi has been graciously supported by the following institutions: Black Rock Senegal, Princess Grace Foundation, Berlinale Talents, CHANEL Writer’s Network, TIFF Writer’s Studio, TIFF Director’s Lab, New York Foundation of the Arts, New York State Council of the Arts, Southern Documentary Fund.