Emmanuel Adjei

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Specialisms

Motion

Bio

Emmanuel Adjei is a visionary Ghanaian-Dutch filmmaker and visual artist whose work transcends the conventional boundaries between fiction and reality. With a distinctive painterly and cinematic approach, Adjei crafts immersive worlds that invite audiences to explore complex themes of power, freedom, displacement, and inequality through rich, multi-layered narratives. His artistic journey has been marked by collaborations with some of the music industry's most celebrated names, including Beyoncé, Madonna, FKA twigs, Mark Pritchard, and Mykki Blanco. Adjei garnered critical acclaim for his short film *The Formula* (2016) and the evocative music video *Human* (2016) for Sevdaliza. His groundbreaking short film *Shahmaran* (2018) not only captivated audiences but also earned numerous accolades at prestigious festivals including the UK Music Video Awards, D&AD, Young Director Award, Camerimage, Kinsale Shark Awards, Ciclope Awards, and Le Club des Directeurs Artistiques. Adjei's innovative visual storytelling has drawn praise from major publications such as Rolling Stone, The Guardian, NME, and Billboard, particularly for his striking visuals in Madonna’s *Dark Ballet* (2019) and *Batuka* (2019). His remarkable contribution as a film director to Beyoncé's *BLACK IS KING* (2020) was recognized with a nomination for Best Music Film at the 2021 Grammy Awards, solidifying his reputation in the industry. Following this monumental success, he collaborated with FKA twigs, Headie One, and Fred Again.. to create the poignant short film for the track *Don’t Judge Me* (2021). Emmanuel Adjei's compelling work has been showcased at Academy Award and BAFTA qualifying festivals worldwide, making him a significant voice in contemporary visual arts and film.