SXSW
SXSW

Making its world premiere at the ongoing SXSW Film Festival tomorrow, March 13th, is Anthony Onah’s “Dara Ju,” his feature directorial debut which is based on his short film of the same name.

The story: A young Nigerian-American financier struggles with love, family, and a prescription drug dependency as his ambitions steer him down a criminal path.

The film stars Aml Ameen and Lucy Griffiths, with Michael Hyatt, Peter Vack, Hope Olaidé Wilson, Souléymane Sy Savané, Craig muMs Grant and Bill Sage rounding out the cast.

DARA JU
DARA JU

Long-time readers of this blog will be familiar with the Onah name, as his brother Julius Onah is currently directing David Oyelowo and Gugu Mbatha-Raw in the JJ Abrams produced, Paramount Pictures sci-fi thriller “God Particle” which is set for an October 2017 release. Anthony is certainly very well on his way, with his feature debut “Dara Ju” making its world premiere at one of the most prominent film festivals in the country in the Narrative Competition section.

A 2014 IFP Producers Lab and 2015 SFFS / KRF Filmmaking Grant finalist, the project is definitely one to keep an eye on (as well as the filmmaker).

We’ll have a review of the film (and interview with the filmmaker) published some time during the coming week.

In the meantime, as the film heads into its premiere tomorrow, a first look at its poster art is embedded above, along with an official still photo.