Nnegest Likké is an American film director, screenwriter and producer. She's a proud Bay Area native with a bi-cultural background and has a passion for telling funny, feel-good, thought-provoking stories that are socially and culturally impactful.[1] Her film awards include Best Diaspora Film at the 2016 African Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) for " Ben and Ara " which she directed. Her 2019 international romantic drama, Everything But A Man won the Audience Choice Award at the Pan African Film Festival. Nnegest is one of the first women of color to write and direct a movie distributed by a major Hollywood studio.[2] Her directing credits include Fox Searchlight's romantic-comedy Phat Girlz, the multi-award-winning indie love drama Ben & Ara, and Everything But A Man.
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Nnegest Likké | |
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Born | Oakland, California, United States |
Nationality | American |
Occupation | Filmmaker |
Notable work | Phat Girlz |
Nnegest Likké was born in Oakland, California.[3] She is half African-American and half Ethiopian and grew up in the San Francisco - Oakland Bay Area.
During her childhood, Likké had the opportunity of traveling around the world, including throughout Europe and Africa[4] with her mother who Likké referred to as an active globetrotter and Civil Rights Activist. This traveling exposed her to various ways of life besides those known in America.[4]
Likké attended Skyline High School in Oakland. After graduating, she attended Clark Atlanta University (CAU), where she studied film and graduated with a BA in Mass Communications.[5]
After college, Likké moved to Los Angeles to pursue screenwriting.[6] While honing her craft, Likké taught Drama, History and English at a high school in Los Angeles.[4] Today, she still mentors at-risk youth.
Phat Girlz (2006) was Likké's first feature film, starring Academy Award Winner Mo’Nique.[7] This film is a romantic-comedy about two plus-size women who meet the men of their dreams in an unexpected way.[8] Her second film was Ben & Ara, followed by her most recent film Everything But a Man starring Monica Calhoun and Jimmy Jean-Louis (2019 ). Likké wrote, directed and produced Everything But a Man, about the challenges successful, career-driven women have finding love.[6] Likké is currently working on multiple projects for film and TV.[1]
Year | Title | Credited as | ||
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Director | Writer | Producer | ||
2006 | Phat Girlz | Yes | Yes | No |
2015 | Ben & Ara | Yes | No | No |
2019 | Everything But a Man | Yes | Yes | Yes |
General | |
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National libraries |
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