C.J. Obasi has been named the inaugural fellow of a new African–Korean filmmaker residency programme launched by Seoul-based production company Flix Oven.
The initiative was announced at the Cannes Film Market in partnership with Continental Entertainment, an African-focused production company founded by Ozi Menakaya. It is designed to bring African filmmakers to South Korea for intensive script development.
Obasi, known for Mami Wata, Nigeria’s 2024 Oscar submission and Sundance award-winning film, will undertake a month-long residency in Seoul. During the programme, he will develop a new feature film exploring cultural intersections between Africa and Korea, with a planned theatrical release.
The project has also attracted executive production interest from Morgan Freeman and Lori McCreary through their Revelations Entertainment banner.
The residency marks an expansion of Flix Oven’s international co-production strategy. The company, led by producers Thomas Maitland and Lee Hyojin, has recently expanded partnerships across Europe and India following the success of its Netflix title Made in Korea.
By hosting Obasi, Flix Oven continues its push into cross-cultural collaboration between African and Asian creators, with a focus on development-driven storytelling.
