Julius Onah

Julius Onah’s story isn’t exactly your average filmmaker origin tale. Born in Makurdi, Nigeria, he basically grew up everywhere—Nigeria, the Philippines, Togo, the UK. Diplomat kid life, you know? Then, at some point, he lands in Arlington, Virginia, of all places. His dad, Adoga Onah, was always getting posted around, so Julius pretty much collected passport stamps like some people collect sneakers. Eventually, he finishes up at Washington-Lee High School (shout-out to Arlington), and then heads off to Wesleyan in Connecticut for a theater degree. Not content with just that, he dives headfirst into the NYU Tisch School of the Arts, chasing an MFA in film. Guy’s got drive, no doubt about it—he even snagged a Dean’s Fellowship while he was there. Oh, and don’t forget the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Scholarship. That’s one of those awards you hear about and think, “Dang, he must be legit.” Onah wears a bunch of hats—director, writer, sometimes steps in front of the camera too, just for kicks. With that wild global background and a solid wall of diplomas, it’s no wonder he brings such a unique perspective to the films he makes. The dude’s got stories for days and he’s clearly not afraid to tell them.