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Ama Ampadu
Ama Ampadu is a British-based film executive and producer whose career spans more than a decade, marked by a dedication to supporting global and underrepresented voices in cinema. She began her professional journey in the UK independent sector, working as an independent producer across both UK and international projects for over twelve years. Ampadu’s producing credits include Lamb (2015), the debut feature by Ethiopian filmmaker Yared Zeleke, which was selected for the “Un Certain Regard” section at the 2015 Cannes Film Festival — the first time a film from Ethiopia achieved that honour. She co-founded the Ethiopian production company Slum Kid Films, which played a part in developing Lamb and building a platform for filmmaking in Ethiopia. In addition to Lamb, Ampadu produced the short film Lions (2022), directed by Beru Tessema and supported by BFI NETWORK, which was nominated for Best British Short at the 2023 British Independent Film Awards. Her producing credits also include two films by British-Nigerian filmmaker Ayo Akingbade — The Fist and Faluyi (2022 Screen Star of Tomorrow) — demonstrating her ongoing commitment to emerging talent. In January 2023, Ampadu was appointed as Senior Production & Development Executive at the British Film Institute’s Film Fund, where she is responsible for assessing applications, recommending funding decisions, and providing hands-on creative and production support for filmmakers and projects. She has emphasised her focus on diverse stories and voices and on supporting ground-breaking projects that resonate with audiences. The short film Lions was nominated for Best British Short at the British Independent Film Awards (2023), shared with co-producer Beru Tessema.
