The Incredible Sensational Fiancée of Dr. Seyi Ajayi

Born in Heidelberg, Germany, Abbesi Akhamie is a Nigerian-American writer/director and producer working between Lagos and New York City. She received her MFA in Film from New York University and holds a BA in Communications from George Mason University. Her work focuses on Africa and diaspora experiences as well as the politics of culture and identity. Her debut short film, Still Water Runs Deep (2017) premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival and won Best Student Short Film at Aspen ShortsFest. Her latest short film, The Couple Next Door (2020), premiered at Aspen ShortsFest, won the Audience Choice Award at the Reel Sisters of the Diaspora Film Festival, and is streaming on the Criterion Collection. Currently, she is developing her debut feature film, In My Father’s House, a millennial family drama that follows a young woman as she rediscovers life and purpose in the homeland of her estranged father. The project will be filmed in Nigeria and has graciously been supported by EAVE Producer's Workshop, Athena Writer's Lab, TIFF Filmmaker Lab and Writer's Studio, and the Attagirl Residency program. Abbesi was also selected to participate in the Black Rock Artist Residency based in Dakar, Senegal, founded by Obama presidential portraitist, Kehinde Wiley. As an artist, Abbesi has been recently supported by the Chanel Writer's Network, Princess Grace Foundation, SFFILM Rainin Grant, and NYSCA/NYFA. When she is not diligently developing her projects, she enjoys sewing, reading, and traveling.

England-born, Yety is a costume designer and creative producer with West African roots. Starting her decade-long career in costumes in New York City after an introduction to luxury menswear at British GQ in London; she began her chapter in the U.S. at Cosmopolitan magazine. Her interests are curating organically complex visual stories with unexpected clashes of texture and pattern. While honoring diversity and women focused narratives, Yety’s uniquely layered designs are derived from her multicultural, British-Nigerian background. Her recent short, Rest Stop, continues its success on the festival circuit after premiering at TIFF, screening at SXSW and winning the Jury Award for U.S. Fiction at the Sundance Film Festival (2023). Most recently Yety wrapped principal photography on the gritty independent feature, Urban Ed, which highlights the fractured U.S. school system. Plus, her contemporary BET feature film is scheduled to premiere this fall. Her decade below the line nurtured her commitment to curate and create the stories that are often left unread; as well as dress the characters that lived within them. Yety is represented for costume design by United Talent Agency for T.V and film worldwide.

Christelle Matou is a Parisian native with roots from the Caribbean Island of Guadeloupe. She earned a Master of Fine Arts for Stage and Film from NYU Tisch School of the Arts in 2018 and has since worked on many rewarding productions. As a Production Designer, Christelle worked on The Spike Lee Production Fund Grant and HBO streamed film Cracked directed by Lin Que Ayoung and Criterion streamed film The Couple Next Door directed by Abbesi Akhamie. Christelle Matou’s credits as Production Designer include critically acclaimed short films such as : A Mutual Understanding, The Mailbox, LP, Music Video Black Girl Magic, and streaming series pilot B-Sides. Christelle’s most recent work includes her production design on the streamed opera W GBH/Boston Baroque production of Amadigi DiGaula, in post-production short films Reunion and Cut Me If You Can and 2023 released feature What We Do Next directed by Stephen Belber.

Born in Yaoundé, Cameroon, Ellie's work often explores pressing social-political issues within the African diaspora, aiming to shine a light on marginalized populations whose voices are seldom heard or included. Drawing from her experience as an actress, she crafts flawed complex characters who challenge stereotypes. Ellie was named one of 25 New Faces of Independent Film by Filmmaker Magazine and is a BAFTA Breakthrough USA Fellow. She holds an MFA in Directing from Columbia University's School of the Arts.