Mo Abudu tackles mental health with Iyawo Mi, Her Perfect Life
Sonia Nwosu (left), Inem King, Mo Abudu, and Bolaji Ogunmola during the premiere.
After 20 years as executive producer, Mosunmola Abudu, popularly known as Mo Abudu, has stepped into the director’s chair to craft two captivating short films, in which she took up the dual roles of writer and director.
Iyawo Mi (My Wife) and Her Perfect Life are her latest creations.
Ahead of the theatre release on October 6, 2023, Abudu held a private screening at EbonyLife Place, Victoria Island, Lagos. The star-studded event elicited accolades from the diplomatic, corporate, and entertainment spheres.
Abudu, widely acclaimed for her trailblazing contributions to the Nigerian entertainment industry, has been instrumental in shepherding numerous storytelling endeavours as an executive producer. Her latest attempt marks a profound personal and professional milestone.
Although these stories are fictional, they shed light on the often-unspoken mental health challenges prevalent in Nigerian society, issues that resonate across the globe.
Her Perfect Life introduces Pearl Thusi and Joseph Benjamin as lead actors, with notable support from Omawunmi Dada, Mary Lazarus, Christian Paul, and Uzo Osimpka. Meanwhile, Iyawo Mi features an outstanding cast including Segun Arinze, Bolaji Ogunmola Adedimeji Lateef, and Jude Chukwuka. Both films boast a distinguished production team, with Mo Abudu, Bola Atta, Wale Tinubu, and Shola Akinlade serving as executive producers. Heidi Uys, Inem King, Joshua Olaoluwa, and Sonia Nwosu take on production roles, with Temidayo Makanjuola contributing to the production design.
These two films have already graced prestigious Oscar-qualifying film festivals this summer, including the Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival, the Rhode Island Film Festival, and the HollyShort Film Festival.
These projects have received invaluable support from the British High Commission, and the French Embassy in Lagos. The sponsors behind these endeavours include the UBA Foundation, Wale Tinubu, Artsplit Limited, and Sporting Lagos.
Speaking with The Guardian, Abudu said: “I am very excited about these projects because they are two projects I decided to write and direct, and they are dealing with germane issues. Mental health concerns transcend age, race, income, and social class, and regrettably, they are on the rise.”
“I have been executive producer for the last 20 years, so, these two films are very special for the topic that they are addressing. I am stepping out of my comfort zone to write and direct these two short films.
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