'Mami Wata' selected for La Biennale di Venezia

C.J 'Fiery' Obasi's forthcoming feature film 'Mami Wata' has hit a major milestone on its road to release.

The film has been selected for the Final Cut In Venice, a project organized by the La Biennale di Venezia to support films still in production to facilitate post-production and film market access.

See list of films selected:

FICTION

Under the Fig Trees by Erige Sehiri (Tunisia, Qatar, Switzerland, France)

Mami Wata by C.J. “Fiery” Obasi (Nigeria, France)

Hanging Gardens by Ahmed Yassin Al Daradji (Iraq, Palestine, United Kingdom)

DOCUMENTARY

The Mother of All Lies by Asmae El Moudir (Morocco, Germany, Qatar)

We, Students! by Rafiki Fariala (Central African Republic, France, Democratic Republic of Congo, Italy)

The Nights Still Smell of Gunpowder by Inadelso Cossa (Mozambique, Germany, France, Norway, The Netherlands, Portugal)

The ace screenwriter and director recently confirmed the selection via an Instagram post.

"It’s a BIG one! Our feature film @mamiwatamovie has been selected to participate in Final Cut in the 78th @labiennale Venice Film Festival," Obasi wrote.

"I wouldn’t, couldn’t have done it without the support of so many amazing people - a fantastic producer, co-producer, financiers, a leading cast and crew that I owe literally everything, women and men who literally gave me my dream in concrete. As always - Nigerian and Afrikan cinema is and can be anything we say it is! We’re going to Venice, Baby!"

ALSO READ: Watch the official teaser for 'Juju Stories' produced by Oge Obasi

Produced by Oge Obasi, 'Mami Wata' centers on Prisca and Zinwe, daughters of Mama Efe (an intermediary between the Mermaid goddess and the people of Iyi, a small fishing village in West Africa). Their destinies change when Jasper, an escaped mercenary takes over Iyi when their mother is murdered.

According to C.J. Obasi, the film had been in development since 2016. In January, he announced principal photography in Benin Republic.