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Home Culture C.J. “Fiery” Obasi Crafts a New Vision for African Cinema at Locarno

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C.J. “Fiery” Obasi Crafts a New Vision for African Cinema at Locarno

Ikenna ChurchillJuly 25, 20252 Mins read69

Nigerian award-winning director C.J. “Fiery” Obasi has created a powerful new visual for Locarno Pro’s Open Doors platform, marking Africa’s debut on the platform this year. His lyrical short film, “The Colours That Bind Us,” premieres with two other spots created under his creative vision.

Open Doors events are Locarno Pro initiatives that launch new world filmmakers through training, mentoring, industry networking, and public screenings at the festival. The current edition is focused explicitly on Africa, and Obasi was invited to assist in setting the tone for the initiative with his short films.

“The Colours That Bind Us” is a tribute to the theme of “unity in diversity,” one that acknowledges millennia-old wisdom anew with fresh filmic vigour. For Obasi, this is realised in the form of a lavish mosaic of faces, voices, cultural signifiers, and landscapes. Each frame amplifies the strands of unity that tie Africa’s diverse communities together, transcending language differences, geography, and tradition.

The short was selected to play before screenings at the first African‑focused Open Doors sessions. Audiences will see Obasi’s piece just ahead of panels, case studies, and spotlight presentations that begin discussing cross‑continent collaborations and regional storytelling initiatives.

Obasi also produced two other supporting clips, each representing a different facet of the Open Doors mission: expansion, creativity, and conversation. While Obasi didn’t provide detailed storylines for the companion pieces, his history of lyrical images and folkloric richness suggests they will be similarly textured.

In a short interview, Obasi described the assignment as natural. He feels that film is a valuable tool for social cohesion. While pointing to “unity in diversity,” he explained, the commercial “attempts to remind us that despite seeming differences, we belong to a shared whole.”

Obasi began in the Nigerian independent film industry, premiering his first feature, Ojuju, in 2014. The film won the Best Nigerian Film award at the Africa International Film Festival, and Obasi was named the Trailblazer of the Year at the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards. His third feature, Mami Wata, premiered at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival and won the Special Jury Prize in the World Dramatic Competition for its cinematography.

Over the last ten years, Obasi has established a reputation for boldly telling stories that combine folklore, horror, and social realism. His contribution to this Open Doors project marks a milestone, providing him with a platform at the international level to influence how African cinema is presented to the global film industry.

The Locarno Open Doors Africa launch will feature Obasi’s spot during live sessions where emerging African filmmakers can meet industry professionals, attend workshops, and engage with funders. Obasi’s visuals are intended as both an artistic statement and a call for unity—a reminder that African creativity thrives in connection and collaboration.

At its heart, Obasi’s short conveys a simple yet profound message: that cinema can weave together narratives of difference into harmonious stories. “The Colours That Bind Us” creates an intimate space where individual voices come together to form a collective chorus through colour, composition, and cultural motifs.

The films will have their world premieres when Locarno Pro releases the African tour of its Open Doors programme later this summer. Filmmakers and viewers will come together under the banner of shared artistry and discovery. And as Obasi has shown us, the power of images to bring people together is as vital as ever.