Amma Asante MBE is a multi-award winning writer and director who won a BAFTA for her first film, A Way of Life (2004). This made Amma the first Black director to win a BAFTA Film Award for writing and directing a feature film. The film went on to garner 17 additional awards worldwide, including FIPRESCI, and Grand Jury prizes.
Her follow up movie, Belle (2013) drew widespread critical acclaim, going on to become one of the highest grossing independent films of the year and saw Amma named one of CNN’s Leading Women of 2014, as well as being named by Variety as one of their 10 Directors to watch.
In 2016, A United Kingdom, (2016) directed by Amma for Pathé and Fox Searchlight US, was released and its European Premiere saw Amma celebrated as the first Black director to open the BFI London Film Festival in its 60 year history.
In 2017, Amma was named an MBE by Queen Elizabeth in the Queen’s Birthday Honour’s list, for Services to Film as a Writer and Director. She is a member of the American Academy of Motion Picture, Arts and Sciences, has twice been elected to the council of The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA).
Amma’s most recent film, is Where Hands Touch (2018) The film, inspired by historical events, starring Amandla Stenberg, is set in 1944 Germany, and was distributed world wide by Sony.
Amma will helm, the film adaptation of The Billion Dollar Spy for Walden Media and Weed Road. Based on the book by journalist and Pulitzer Prize winner, David E. Hoffman, The Billion Dollar Spy tells the true story of Adolf Tolkachev, who became the Pentagon’s most valuable spy during the last years of the Cold War.
For television, Amma has additionally directed episodes of Hulu-MGM’s The Handmaid’s Tale (season 3) and the critically acclaimed “Shirley” and “Betty” episodes of Cate Blanchett’s first US television series, Mrs America for FX – Hulu.
She will direct the television series adaptation of Peter Hoeg’s book, Smilla’s Sense of Snow for German outfit, Constantin.
Amma has been bestowed with an Honorary Fellowship by the National Film and Television School, is an Honorary Associate of the London Film School, and is Chancellor of Norwich University of Arts.