Emmanuel Adjei
Born (1988-10-09) 9 October 1988
Amsterdam, The Netherlands
NationalityDutch
Occupations
  • filmmaker
  • visual artist
Notable workBlack Is King
Websitewww.emmanueladjei.com

Emmanuel Kwasi Adjei is a Ghanaian-Dutch film director and visual artist.[1][2] Adjei was featured as co-director and creative collaborator of Black Is King, the acclaimed musical film and visual album by American singer Beyoncé, which premiered on Disney+, July 31, 2020.[3][4][5][6]

Alongside British singer FKA twigs, Adjei directed the music video for Don't Judge Me, released on January 26, 2021, which featured the Tate Modern commissioned sculpture Fons Americanus by American contemporary artist Kara Walker.[7][8][9][10]

He directed the global campaign film Alien Goddess for French fashion house Mugler, released on August 29, 2021, starring American musician Willow Smith and with music by Icelandic musician and visual artist Bjork.[11][12]

Adjei was appointed by American rapper, record executive, and media proprietor Jay-Z, his wife Beyoncé, and the American retail and luxury company Tiffany & Co, to direct the film to the global campaign About Love, which premiered on September 13, 2021. The Carters' love story is illuminated by the Tiffany Yellow Diamond and set against the backdrop of Jean-Michel Basquiat's Equals Pi (1982). The film also features a musical performance of the song "Moon River." Made famous in the 1961 film Breakfast at Tiffany's, the tune is reimagined with vocals by Beyoncé.[13][14][15][16][17]

Adjei's directing career has been marked by successful collaborations with a variety of recording artists such as Madonna, Beyoncé, Mark Pritchard, Mykki Blanco, and Sevdaliza.[18][19][20][21][22]

Education

Adjei graduated with a degree in Fine Art from the Utrecht School of the Arts in the Netherlands, before securing a talent scholarship to attend the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Ghent, Belgium, where he studied Audiovisual Arts and Film. During this time, he discovered his passion for experimental cinema and video installation. In 2013 and 2014, Adjei was awarded a Young Talent grant from the Mondriaan Fund to develop his artistic practice.[23][24]

Awards

Adjei was nominated a Grammy Award for Best Music Film and a NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Directing in a Television Movie for his work on Black Is King.[25][26][27]

In 2021, Adjei and co-director FKA Twigs won Best Music Video at Raindance Film Festival for Don't Judge Me.[28]

References

  1. ↑ "In Conversation with Emmanuel Adjei". GLAMCULT.COM. Retrieved 2021-01-28.
  2. ↑ "Emmanuel Adjei". www.prior.club. Retrieved 2020-12-21.
  3. ↑ Sisario, Ben (2020-07-30). "Beyoncé's 'Black Is King' Is No Secret, but Still Comes With Mystery". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-01-28.
  4. ↑ Rij, Door Sanne van (2020-08-04). "Hoe de Ghanees-Nederlandse Emmanuel Adjei co-regisseur van Beyoncé's 'Black is King' werd". Vogue (in Dutch). Retrieved 2020-12-20.
  5. ↑ Kroll, Justin (2020-09-08). "'Black Is King' Co-Director Emmanuel Adjei Signs With LBI Entertainment". Deadline. Retrieved 2020-12-20.
  6. ↑ "How the directors of Beyoncé's Black Is King created an exercise in modern mythmaking". The FADER. Retrieved 2021-01-28.
  7. ↑ "Emmanuel Adjei on working with FKA twigs for the Don't Judge Me video". The Face. 27 January 2021. Retrieved 2021-01-28.
  8. ↑ "FKA Twigs's "Don't Judge Me" Music Video Is A Poignant Celebration Of Black Activism & Fashion". British Vogue. 27 January 2021. Retrieved 2021-01-28.
  9. ↑ Shaffer, Claire (2021-01-26). "FKA Twigs, Headie One, Fred Again.. Share New Single 'Don't Judge Me'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2021-01-28.
  10. ↑ "FKA twigs and Headie One Honor Black Activists on 'Don't Judge Me'". PAPER. 2021-01-26. Retrieved 2021-01-28.
  11. ↑ Jeffs, Lotte. "Willow Smith on what she's learnt from her famous parents". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 2021-09-11.
  12. ↑ Alien Goddess Eau de Parfum - The Film - Mugler, retrieved 2021-09-11
  13. ↑ "See Beyoncé And Jay-Z Star In A Blinged-Out Home Movie For Tiffany". British Vogue. 2021-09-13. Retrieved 2021-09-13.
  14. ↑ "EXCLUSIVE: Watch Beyoncé and Jay-Z's Sentimental 'About Love' Ad for Tiffany & Co". Essence. 13 September 2021. Retrieved 2021-09-13.
  15. ↑ Malkin, Marc (2021-08-23). "Beyoncé Is First Black Woman to Wear Iconic 'Tiffany Diamond' in New Ad Campaign". Variety. Retrieved 2021-09-13.
  16. ↑ Davis, Arianna (2021-09-13). "Beyoncé and JAY-Z Just Released a Dreamy "Breakfast At Tiffany's"-Inspired Short Film". Oprah Daily. Retrieved 2021-09-13.
  17. ↑ Socha, Miles (2021-09-13). "First Look at Beyoncé Serenading Jay-Z in Tiffany Campaign Film". WWD. Retrieved 2021-09-13.
  18. ↑ "An Interview with Emmanuel Adjei | Music and Film Craft | Music Production & Composition | MassiveMusic". www.massivemusic.com. Retrieved 2020-12-29.
  19. ↑ "Emmanuel and Madonna". 1.4. 2019-07-23. Retrieved 2021-01-28.
  20. ↑ "Sevdaliza's "Shahmaran" Director Talks Making Her Epic Visuals". Highsnobiety. 2018-09-04. Retrieved 2021-01-28.
  21. ↑ "Emmanuel Adjei on the Dark Ballet of music videos | shots". shots. Retrieved 2021-01-28.
  22. ↑ "Mark Pritchard ft Bibio 'Give It Your Choir' by Emmanuel Adjei | Videos | Promonews". Promonewstv. Retrieved 2021-01-28.
  23. ↑ "The Directors Bureau Signs Director Emmanuel Adjei | LBBOnline". www.lbbonline.com. Retrieved 2020-12-30.
  24. ↑ "Emmanuel Adjei ⋆ Nederlands Film Festival 2020". Nederlands Film Festival 2020. Retrieved 2021-01-28.
  25. ↑ "Emmanuel Adjei". GRAMMY.com. 2020-12-15. Retrieved 2020-12-21.
  26. ↑ "2021 GRAMMYs: Complete Nominees List". GRAMMY.com. 2020-11-24. Retrieved 2021-01-28.
  27. ↑ "2021 Nominees". NAACP Image Awards. Retrieved 2021-05-26.
  28. ↑ "Raindance Film Festival announce winners of 29th Edition". film-news.co.uk. 2021-11-06. Retrieved 2022-06-23.
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