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Aisha Bolaji

BA [Hons] Film + Television Production

Aisha is a director, screenwriter, producer and film curator who creates fun and fantastical work exploring her dual identity. She was part of WEFT Studio and wrote for the Writers Guild's 'Writers Room'. Her screenplay 'Why the Sun and Moon Live in the Sky' was shortlisted in the Virgin Media Discovers Short Film Competition 2022 and received a Special Jury Mention at the Catalyst International Film Festival 2023, earning her a Writers Guild membership. Aisha is also involved in various Irish film festivals (DIFF, Catalyst etc.) and advocates for representation in media as the co-founder and creative director of The GALPAL Collective.

Director's Statement : ‘The End of the World Tour’ is a celebration of the messiness of being a teenage girl, to feel so deeply and passionately and just be figuring things out. Much of this film came from my own love for bands like One Direction and 5 Seconds of Summer as a teenager and how certain I was that those feelings would be forever. When Zayn left One Direction, it did feel like my world was ending and my mum even let me take the day off of school. There’s something fantastical, over dramatic and just outright funny about being a fangirl and I just wanted to capture all of that within this film. With this story I love that there are elements of my dual identity as an artist being both Nigerian and Irish, and how those cultures can come to a head or even mirror each other. I feel we’ve created a film that’s fun with a lot of heart and I’m so excited to share it with everyone. Read the Totally Dublin feature here (April 2023 Cover) : *totallydublin.ie/arts-culture/path-paving-aisha-bolaji/*

Producer's Statement : As one of two producers on Hereunder, the thing that struck me most about working with Greg was his distinct style and approach to worldbuilding. One of my favourite aspects of film is the derailment from reality and ‘Hereunder’ does so in such an interesting way. Drawing from tragicomedy films such as ‘The Favourite’, ‘In Bruges', ‘The Lobster' and ‘Being John Malkovich’, ‘Hereunder’ is set in a strange world, similar to our own but things are always slightly off, illogical and surreal. The film follows Robbie, a successful artist with a vitamin D deficiency and his older brother Ivan, a not so successful gallerist and businessman. They find themselves at odds when their attempts of insurance fraud is on the brink of ruining their lives. After staging the robbery of one of Robbie's most famous pieces, the two are faced with insurers in their closet asking about a ‘photo of a photo’ and a ‘geotag’. The brothers come to heed as they’re desperate to save their own skin.

Director's Statement : 'Honey' is a reflection of love from a distance, so the video became an ode to the teen rom-coms of the 90s and the early 2000s that I felt embodied that feeling. These were films that I loved and grew up with but didn't see myself actively represented in. Everything had to be an over exaggeration with a mix of reality and fantasy. I wanted to create something so unapologetically feminine with a focus on happiness and silliness. Read the GirlsinFilm feature here : https://www.girlsinfilm.net/videos/baby-bleu-honey | Watch Aisha talk about the project as part of Arnotts x Design.Opp Black Creative Stories https://www.instagram.com/reel/ClJwM7-AIbO/?utmsource=igwebcopylink*

Director's Statement : 'Faaji' is about the perils of growing up. Turning 21 is strange in Ireland, it's where adulthood is meant to begin, yet for a lot of 20-somethings they still find themselves in their childhood bedrooms. As well as that it explores elements of the dual heritage and how a birthday experience can be varied for those involved, particularly when it comes to a parent and their child. This piece was inspired by the work of Nigerian artist Chief Nike Davies-Okundaye and particularly her 'Heritage Revisited' piece.

Co-Director's Statement : Just Leave was a joint venture between myself and my co-director Mari Naughton. With Just Leave we were aiming for a fun lo-fi time with the aesthetics and visuals. As well as that we wanted to tell a fun story about how awkward and silly it can be trying to find love, as well as the boxes we put ourselves in to suit others.

*behind the scens of End of the World Tour*

Main Craft Graduate Project - The End of the World Tour - Director & Co-Writer

Get ready to fall head over heels for Kemi, the ultimate fangirl of the hottest boyband around - 'WHYNOT'! Her world is turned upside down when she receives devastating news - her beloved band is splitting up! Kemi's heartbroken, but she's not giving up on her dreams just yet. She's determined to meet the love of her life, the band's frontman COLE, one last time. Kemi's God-loving mother, Esther, may not understand her daughter's obsession, but that won't stop Kemi from pursuing her passion. Along the way, both mother and daughter discover that their idols aren't quite what they seem. As they clash over their pursuits, they come face to face with the harsh reality of their idols.

Download Aisha Bolaji's CV PDF

Thesis - Touki Bouki's Legacy: Magical Realism and Afrofuturism in Black & African Cinema

This thesis examines the impact of the Senegalese film ‘Touki Bouki’ on the development of magical realism and Afrofuturism in Black and African cinema. The first chapter establishes the theoretical framework of magical realism and its relevance in African literature and film, exploring how it intersects with African cultural values and beliefs. The second chapter provides historical and cultural context, detailing the film’s connections to the Negritude movement and post-independence Senegal, particularly its portrayal of youth culture. The third chapter analyses how the film uses magical realism to critique and subvert dominant cultural narratives and power structures, examining specific scenes and directorial choices. The fourth chapter explores the legacy of ‘Touki Bouki’ in contemporary Afrofuturist films and argues that it serves as a catalyst for the development of magical realism and Afrofuturism in Black and African cinema. This thesis highlights ‘Touki Bouki’ as not only a groundbreaking film but also a critical piece of cultural and artistic history that has paved the way for new and innovative storytelling in Black and African cinema.

Download Aisha Bolaji's CV PDF

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