About
DESTINY EKARAGHA - WRITER AND DIRECTOR:
Destiny Ekaragha is the third child of six children. She was born and raised in London, England in 1982 to Nigerian parents who came to Britain in the 1970's. Watching films has been one of Destiny's favourite past times for most of her existence, the first film being A Nightmare on Elm Street when aged 5. Her relationship with the dark was never quite the same, however neither was her relationship with film. The idea of escaping to a world other than her own was very compelling.

Destiny has since spent most of her time immersed in all things film related whether it be script writing, directing or drooling over Johnny Depp. She studied film in college and university and got her first runner job on a film called Wimbledon.

After various runner jobs, including a stint at BBC Films, Destiny teamed up with producer Tamana Bleasdale to make her first short film TIGHT JEANS which she both wrote and directed. TIGHT JEANS was funded by the Southern Exposure branch of Film London. TIGHT JEANS went on to be officially selected by the 2008 Times BFI 52nd London Film Festival. It was also voted the best short film shown at the London Film Festival by The Observer newspaper.

Destiny still lives in South East London, a place that has greatly inspired her work. Herself and Tamana Bleasdale are currently developing several projects including three short films, several music videos and a feature film.

Profile by BAFTA
October 2014 will be a month to remember for director Destiny Ekaragha: not only is her first feature film, Gone Too Far!, hitting UK cinemas, following its premiere at the BFI London Film Festival (LFF) in 2013, but she's also been named as one of BAFTA's Breakthrough Brits. That they should both come along at once seems almost like fate.

"October is a crazy month for me," she laughs. "It's a little overwhelming. Getting my film made was a milestone, so to get distribution is incredible. It's on 20 screens, so I'm really happy. Making your first film isn't the hardest part, it's getting that second one done. So knowing BAFTA will be there to support me this year is a huge sigh of relief. It's an incredible initiative. I'm humbled to be a part of it."

Three years in the making, Gone Too Far! is only the fourth British film directed by a black woman to be released in cinemas. Adapted from Bola Agbaje's stageplay, Ekaragha's comedy focuses on the nature of identity and ethnicity in modern multicultural London. She was nominated for Best British Newcomer at the LFF, and won the Emerging Talent award at the Screen Nation Awards (both in 2013). The film picked up further awards at the London Comedy Film Festival and Screen Nation Awards in 2014.

Not a bad haul for a debut film and its director, but then if the name fits…

Since Breakthrough Brits
Destiny Ekaragha has been mentored as part of her Breakthrough Brits programme by filmmaker Amma Asante and The Honourable Woman creator Hugo Blick. She is currently working on her first TV project. Destiny has also become a BAFTA Mentor in her own right and will be supporting a young filmmaker this year.

Source:
www.destinyekaragha.com/about/
www.bafta.org/initiatives/supporting-talent/breakthrough-brits/bafta-breakthrough-brits-2014#Ekaragha