Hope
Ireti* is a powerful narrative based on a true story that follows Iyanu, a young woman in her twenties, as she faces a life-altering health battle. The film opens with Iyanu experiencing severe back pain, leading to a medical examination that uncovers a diagnosis of Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Though the news is crushing, Iyanu remains determined not to let the illness define her life.
Despite her deteriorating health, Iyanu is passionate about her creative work as a costume designer. She sets out to create an elaborate butterfly-eagle mashup costume, symbolizing her strength and resilience. The butterfly serves as a metaphor for transformation, as Iyanu faces the emotional and physical challenges of her illness. Her family, particularly Aunty Lola and Uncle Segun, express concern, urging her to take it easy, but Iyanu insists on continuing her work, finding solace and purpose in her artistic process.
Director Biography - Temi Ami-Williams
Temi is a multifaceted creative entrepreneur with a passion for culture, blending her talents as an actor, voice-over artist, costume designer, movement artist, and cultural heritage researcher. She gained recognition as Best Young Actor in West Africa at the 2021 FESPACO for her role in ‘Eyimofe: This is my Desire’ and was nominated for The Future Awards Africa in 2022. In September 2024 her latest feature film in which she played lead as Jawu premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF).
Temi serves as the CEO at her creative media company where she produces films at New Wine Studios, with works showcased internationally.
She is also the president of Phoenix Empowerment Foundation, focusing on child healthcare and education, and holds a Master's in Dance Knowledge, Practice, and Heritage. Currently, Temi explores ethnographic filmmaking, using technologies like motion capture and virtual reality to preserve African cultural heritage.