Baff Akoto
Directing
Biography
Raised in London and Accra, Baff Akoto is an artist working across multiple mediums. A self-taught filmmaker, Baff is interested in the fluidity of visual grammar and characters who wrestle with notions of identity and self-perceptions. His practice has been shaped by mentors including the acclaimed artist John Akomfrah and the Oscar-winning Asif Kapadia. In 2018, Screen International tipped Baff as a 'Star of Tomorrow'.
Known For
Brainy scientist Sarah, a doctoral student at Columbia University, is weeks away from following her very married boyfriend to Ohio when her mother dies suddenly, leaving Sarah the owner of a small but beloved Christian bookstore in the Bronx. Tasked with planning a culturally respectful funeral befitting the family matriarch, Sarah must juggle the expectations of her loving yet demanding family while navigating the reappearance of her estranged father all while grappling with what to do with the bookstore. Aided by an only-in-New York ensemble of Eastern European neighbors, feisty African aunties and a no-nonsense ex-con co-worker, Sarah faces her new responsibilities while figuring out how to remain true to herself.
Queen of Glory
Short by Baff Akoto.
She Decided to Stop Being a Woman
A deep and rich exploration of the complex ancestries of African diasporic cultural expression, inspired by post-colonial African spirituality and artistic practices from West Africa to the Caribbean and Europe. It mixes subtle and exquisite film with live choreography to create a visual poem of dynamic interactions between image, dance, ritual and music.