All films in this program are closed-captioned.
Unburied" is a haunting exploration of identity and acceptance, set against the backdrop of contemporary Nigeria. The film follows Alex, a non-binary individual from a conservative Yoruba family and a strict Pentecostal community, as they navigate the treacherous path toward self-discovery. Confronted by family rejection, societal transphobia, and religious condemnation, Alex's journey unfolds in a dark, metaphorical forest where they are both literally and figuratively running from their past. This sinister setting is haunted by a masquerade that embodies the societal pressures and deep-seated fears aiming to erase their identity. Employing elements of suspense and the supernatural, "Unburied" is a poignant narrative that delves into the struggles and resilience required to live authentically. It highlights the challenges faced by transgender and non-binary individuals in Nigeria, advocating for acceptance and the fundamental human right to one's true self.
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Ayo Lawson is a Nigerian filmmaker who tells stories for those who grew up never seeing themselves on screen.
Through films like Nightmare on Broadstreet and Unburied, Ayo explores the ways identity, memory, and fear shape our lives. Their work looks at what it means to exist authentically in a world that often refuses to understand, using genre storytelling to create space for reflection, connection, and visibility. Growing up non-binary in Nigeria, where being queer is still criminalized, Ayo learned early what it feels like to be erased. There were no stories about people like them, so they decided to write their own. Inspired by storytellers like Ryan Coogler, Jordan Peele, and Zoë Kravitz, Ayo uses genre not just to scare, but to reveal. Their work blurs the line between the terrifying and the tender, the brutal and the beautiful, creating space for every queer, Black, and marginalized person to feel seen. For Ayo, filmmaking is more than art. It is a form of resistance, a form of healing, and a way to start the conversations many are too afraid to have. Their films invite audiences to step into the uncomfortable, to sit with the questions, and maybe, to see the world and each other a little differently.
All films in this program are closed-captioned.
Unburied" is a haunting exploration of identity and acceptance, set against the backdrop of contemporary Nigeria. The film follows Alex, a non-binary individual from a conservative Yoruba family and a strict Pentecostal community, as they navigate the treacherous path toward self-discovery. Confronted by family rejection, societal transphobia, and religious condemnation, Alex's journey unfolds in a dark, metaphorical forest where they are both literally and figuratively running from their past. This sinister setting is haunted by a masquerade that embodies the societal pressures and deep-seated fears aiming to erase their identity. Employing elements of suspense and the supernatural, "Unburied" is a poignant narrative that delves into the struggles and resilience required to live authentically. It highlights the challenges faced by transgender and non-binary individuals in Nigeria, advocating for acceptance and the fundamental human right to one's true self.
-
Ayo Lawson is a Nigerian filmmaker who tells stories for those who grew up never seeing themselves on screen.
Through films like Nightmare on Broadstreet and Unburied, Ayo explores the ways identity, memory, and fear shape our lives. Their work looks at what it means to exist authentically in a world that often refuses to understand, using genre storytelling to create space for reflection, connection, and visibility. Growing up non-binary in Nigeria, where being queer is still criminalized, Ayo learned early what it feels like to be erased. There were no stories about people like them, so they decided to write their own. Inspired by storytellers like Ryan Coogler, Jordan Peele, and Zoë Kravitz, Ayo uses genre not just to scare, but to reveal. Their work blurs the line between the terrifying and the tender, the brutal and the beautiful, creating space for every queer, Black, and marginalized person to feel seen. For Ayo, filmmaking is more than art. It is a form of resistance, a form of healing, and a way to start the conversations many are too afraid to have. Their films invite audiences to step into the uncomfortable, to sit with the questions, and maybe, to see the world and each other a little differently.