NIGEL KARIKARI
Screenwriter & Filmmaker
I'm a screenwriter and filmmaker based in Melbourne Australia, producing, writing and directing short and long form narrative and documentary and projects for film TV and online.
British by birth, Ghanaian by heritage and Australian by adoption it's a heartening to be working at a time when stories with multicultural casts and diverse story lines have a chance to really shine. It’s great to be in a position to add my voice to the cinematic mix and tell stories from all perspectives, black white, brown or blue..
I originally studied Architecture but after my degree and post-grad I struck out to pursue my passion for filmmaking. Whilst working part time behind the bar at the Almeida Theatre in London, I got my start on set, running on music videos for companies such as Wicked Films and Oil Factory. I then headed into post-production working at renowned editing company The Film Editors where I became assistant editor to Pamela Power, Ridley and Tony Scott’s commercials editor.
After becoming an editor in my own right and cutting TVC campaigns for brands ranging from Coca- Cola to Adidas I moved into directing music videos on the side as well as starting to write short films. My first completed short screenplay won the BAFTA Focus On Talent Screenwriting award. Following this I was asked to write a radio play for BBC Radio 4. Shortly after, I met my wife and moved to Australia where I edited TV commercials at a leading Melbourne post-production company before starting my own little production company.
Since arriving in Australia I’ve been busy. I've won an AWGIE (Australian Writers Guild Award) for my short screenplay LOVE HURTS, and my first completed feature script IN THE BLOOD was green-lit for production by Screen Australia. Whilst also co-producing two incredible daughters I’ve also produced and directed a few short films which have screened at film festivals, on TV, in Australian showcases overseas and even on Qantas!
I produce, write and direct through Thirdrow Films the production company I run with my wife and fellow filmmaker Olivia Peniston-Bird. In 2015 we produced our first feature length documentary GRACEFUL GIRLS directed by Olivia and edited and co-produced by myself. The film won the people's award for Best Documentary at the Melbourne International Film Festival. On the corporate and commercials side I’ve won two Gold awards for an online campaign for Alfred Health that I wrote, directed and edited and I’m also in the Guinness Book of Records, but that’s another story. No really...it is.
WRITER
GENRE SCREENPLAYS
"Your mind is the lock. Genre is the key".
This is a collection of completed genre screenplays. Grounded and distinctive, low to mid-budget cross-genre thrillers set in both the Sci-fi and Horror spaces. The stories focus on strong dramatic themes around family and redemption mostly with distinctive central female characters, as well as visceral and meaningful action sequences.
IN THE BLOOD
Across a remote landscape cut by lonely highways, mountainous backroads and abandoned buildings Selina, a lethal but sickly vampire, arrives at a remote farm to abduct the only person whose blood can save her, someone she abandoned there fifteen years ago as a baby, her human son.
(Horror thriller)
(Previously production financed & green-lit by Screen Australia)
CONTROL-Z
At a lab in the remote highlands married research scientists Dr Hal Kirkland And Dr Bailey Adoh stumble across the secret to time travel, attracting the interest of a local cult, and triggering a dangerous web of connections that extend deep into the past.
(Sci-fi thriller)
THE LAST HORIZON
A terminally ill woman returns to a barren wasteland to retrieve what was lost, at all costs.
(Sci-fi action thriller)
SANDBOX
Set in the near future, a pregnant mother and her daughter attempting to flee a walled city survive a train derailment, only to find themselves trapped inside a container marooned in the desert, and stalked by a terrifying creature.
(Contained Sci-fi thriller)
FAMILY ANIMATION SCREENPLAY
ONCE UPON A TIME IN SANTALAND
A young boy’s mission to follow in his missing father’s footsteps and attempt to finally capture Santa, sends him on an incredible and dangerous journey of self-discovery.
(Family Animation)
The first of a two part Sci-fi family animation story about the origins of Santa Claus.
DIRECTOR
JUST DESSERTS
At a remote truck stop cafe in Australia's rural hinterland two middle-aged sisters struggle to overcome the ghosts of their past, with pastries and murder.
This darkly comedic short thriller written by Gillian Bartlett is set in a remote truck stop cafe in Australia's rural hinterland and tells the story of two middle-aged sisters and their struggle to overcome the ghosts of their past.
The film stars Colette Mann, Wendy Hughes and Stephen Leeder. Collette received a Best actress Award at Young At Heart Film Festival for her role as Frances.
The film was funded by Film Victoria, Velvet films and Thirdrow films and was written by Gillian Bartlett, produced by Donna Lyon for Velvet Films.
Just Desserts has screened widely at international festivals including Interfilm Berlin, Rhode Island, Hollyshorts, Flickerfest and was selected as the supporting short for Bruce Beresford's epic biopic 'Mao's Last Dancer' at the 2011 London Australian Film Festival.
Director: Nigel Karikari
THE DEAL
Serial philanderer Dan is selling his prized Mustang, but when he accompanies a prospective buyer on a test drive he finds himself trapped on a long and dangerous drive to nowhere.
The Deal premiered as the Opening Night Film at the St Kilda Film Festival and stars Glenn Robbins in his first ever short film.
It screened on ABC TV, on Qantas as part of their Australian showcase and went on to win best film at In The Bin Short Film Festival amongst other festivals screenings.
Produced by Rebecca Peniston-Bird, Co-Producer Kate Hagar and Executive Producer: Olivia Peniston-Bird
Writer/Director/Editor: Nigel Karikari
TRUNK
When Daz wakes up in his car after an all-nighter with no memory of how he got there, he quickly discovers there's something in the trunk!
A short film shot in one day for Tropfest. The film was selected to screen as part of the Best of the Rest showcase and subsequently licensed to Qantas.
Writer/Director/Editor: Nigel Karikari
