Nicolette Ndigwe-Kalu is a young female producer, director, and writer, who made her foray into the world of professional filmmaking at age 16, writing and acting in the 2011 blockbuster, ‘Damage.’
At 22, she had written over 40 film scripts and won several awards including the Best Of Nollywood Award for her work in Uche Jombo’s ‘Damage.’
Her first short film, ‘Anave,’ an advocacy short film fully funded by Sterling Bank, fought against maternal and child mortality attributable to malaria.
Her first feature, ‘Before Valentines’ became Netflix’s second most watched Nigerian film for H1-2023 and garnered several international nods including Best film at The Gold film awards in Milan, Italy. The film also got selected for several festivals including The Black film summit in Illinois, USA. This was the start of her converting her written scripts into screen gems.
Unknown to many, Nicole also directs, and has acted in many productions – reinforcing her personality as one of Nollywood’s most bankable talents.
Nicolette, the on-screen film success, has transcended the acting and writing booth to make her works gradually become the viewer’s choice.
Investigation revealed that her creative dexterity is said to emanate from her politician parents who lived in four different states across Nigeria, and which helped give her insights at a very young age of eight (8) into the socio-cultural dynamics of Nigerians of various tribes, religion and ethnicity.
These experiences and knowledge gained, helped shape her perspective and thought pattern and further exposed her to script writing and set her interest in filmmaking wheels in motion.
This graduate of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mass Communication.
Currently married to phenomenal actor and producer, Ifeanyi Kalu, Ndigwe-Kalu is blessed with a baby boy.
Nicolette is currently breaking boundaries on different grounds with her new venture which has seen her become the producer and co-writer of Nigeria’s first Nollywood-Bollywood with a global cast.
Her recent venture, ‘On Different Grounds,’ Nicolette is walking her way to earn a seat in the league of producers with globally successful productions.
Read Also: Adekunle Gold, Ayra Starr to star in Jade Osiberu’s “Christmas in Lagos”
The story, Ndigwe-Kalu stated had been written almost 20 years ago in addition to 39 other yet to be produced scripts, boasts of an array of both Veteran and young actors from Nigeria, USA/Ghana, and India.
Directed by the indefatigable Mildred Okwo, and co written by writers ink and Joy Oyediya, the family dramedy stars Ms. Earth USA 2020, Abena Akuaba, Bollywood superstar Vineet Raina and Nimesh Diliprai, Nollywood stars Ifeanyi Kalu, Uche Montana, Nkem Owo, Jennifer Eliogu and more, will also mark the return of Nollywood heavyweight Bob-Manuel Udokwu to the big screen.
Ndigwe-Kalu, has gradually become an exceptional fast rising producer in the Nigerian movie industry. The award winning young female actor, writer and producer from South Eastern, Nigeria, is considered to be one of Africa’s young female producers making international strides.
Since the success of her first feature, ‘Before Valentines,’ which spent 43 days on the Netflix top 10 list, Ndigwe-Kalu, through her production company, ‘Half a buck & a quarter Impressions’ (HB&Q Impressions Studios) is said to be working on a slate of four international films between 2023 and 2025, some of which have been fully funded.
In a chat, Nicolette said that her new feature is her way of fostering cultural cohesion through art and letting the world know that every individual is all more alike than we are different.
“This movie is going to be one that every age and every culture will enjoy as well as showcase the beauty of a proper Nigerian wedding,” said Ndigwe-Kalu.
On her choice of Okwo to direct the film, Ndigwe-Kalu said, “there aren’t many directors like her who would understand the nitty-gritty of the kind of story I wanted to tell and bring the nuanced traditional African heart of it to life.”
Nicolette is no stranger to setting remarkable records, she is also the founder of MACMME, a humanitarian organization, that uses storytelling to draw attention to critical societal issues and demand actions from the government, the state, and the people.
Nicolette Ndigwe-Kalu has recently secured funding for her next blockbuster set to be shot in Nigeria and the UK. She is said to be in conversation with the British Deputy High Commission to solidify plans for this. She is focused on strengthening and amplifying awareness around her unique brand and movies.Cibes, oc, quiu