Nigerian Filmmaker Cheta Chukwu Selected for Prestigious Red Sea Lodge 2025 with War Drama Love is a Deeper Shade of Red

Lagos, Nigeria — Rising Nollywood filmmaker Cheta Chukwu has been selected for the Red Sea Lodge 2025, a prestigious yearlong development program organized by the Red Sea Labs and the Red Sea International Film Festival in Saudi Arabia. His powerful war drama, Love is a Deeper Shade of Red, joins a carefully curated slate of 12 projects from across the world.

The Red Sea Lodge is a highly competitive and immersive lab that provides filmmakers with access to world-class mentorship, industry development sessions, and co-production opportunities. It includes both virtual and in-person workshops designed to elevate storytelling craft and industry exposure for emerging voices in global cinema.

About the Project

Love is a Deeper Shade of Red explores the emotional aftermath and human complexities of war through an African lens — a genre not often tackled in Nollywood with such scale and nuance. The film is:

Produced by Manny Orwi Manny (Hello Rain, Tainted Canvas)

Executive Produced by Shiela Nortley (Supacell, Stay Close – both streaming hits on Netflix)

With a project of such depth and ambition, Chukwu aims to spark conversations around love, resilience, and identity in times of chaos.

A Filmmaker on the Rise

Cheta Chukwu is no stranger to breaking new ground. He’s best known for his breakout film Payday, a coming-of-age crime comedy that not only resonated across Nigeria but also aired in 9 Francophone countries before being acquired by Netflix and Amazon Prime Video.

His upcoming romantic comedy Strawberry Chinny — centered on a quirky cosmetologist navigating heartbreak — is already generating buzz ahead of its official screening at Essence Film Festival 2024.

Adding to his impressive résumé, Cheta recently completed production on Adam Bol, a cross-cultural comedy co-produced between Nigeria and Kazakhstan.

More Than a Selection

Before this latest recognition, Chukwu was also selected for the TorinoFilmLab’s TFL Extended Writer-Director Lab 2024 in the Netherlands — a clear signal that his cinematic voice is gaining global traction.

“This selection marks a significant step in the development of the film,” Chukwu shared. “I’m honored to be part of a platform that’s committed to nurturing impactful stories from the region and beyond.”

What’s Next?

As part of the Red Sea Lodge, Chukwu will engage in one-on-one sessions with acclaimed international mentors, further refining Love is a Deeper Shade of Red with an eye on international co-productions, festival circuits, and global distribution.

With his bold storytelling style, deep thematic focus, and commitment to showcasing underrepresented communities and strong female characters, Cheta Chukwu is shaping up to be one of the most exciting voices in African cinema today.

Stay tuned to PartyJollof Africa for more updates on Cheta Chukwu, the Red Sea Lodge, and the future of Nollywood storytelling on a global stage.