Production Company has signed filmmaker for commercials, branded entertainment and music video representation. Born and raised in Washington, DC, Merawi鈥檚 origin informs his work and his community-centred orientation, and his work focuses on going outside the boundaries of creative conventions to discover and cultivate an authentic storytelling accent.
He just released his first commercial, '', for Drake鈥檚 NOCTA X Nike line, launching the label鈥檚 custom AF1 in honour of Drake鈥檚 favourite childhood book 'Love You Forever', by Robert Munsch.
鈥淲e are so thrilled to welcome Merawi to Serial Pictures!鈥 says says Serial Pictures founding partner Violaine Etienne. 鈥淗is work is evocative visually striking and sheds a light on important social issues. He is an important fresh artistic voice whom we are excited to introduce to the branded space.鈥
Watch his new NOCTA spot and the rest of his reel .
鈥淪erial鈥檚 boutique, handcrafted, story-driven approach felt kindred from the outset,鈥 says Merawi. 鈥淚鈥檓 proud to be working alongside some of the best producers and directors in the game.鈥
RESIDUE, his hauntingly personal feature debut was a communal endeavour shot in the neighbourhood where Merawi grew up. Written and directed by Merawi, RESIDUE follows aspiring filmmaker Jay (Obinna Nwachukwu) returning to his childhood neighbourhood in Washington, DC that has been changed beyond his recognition. The film is an intense, thought-provoking, evocative and emotional story of social dislocation and broken lives set against the backdrop of gentrification in the District of Columbia.
Following its world premiere at the 2020 Slamdance Film Festival, RESIDUE was honoured with the festival鈥檚 Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature and the Acting Award for star Nwachukwu. RESIDUE also was awarded Special Mention at the 77th Venice International Film Festival鈥檚 Giornate degli Autori and won the John Cassavettes Award at the 2021 Film Independent Spirit Awards. The film was later acquired by Ava DuVernay鈥檚 ARRAY and is currently streaming on Netflix.
Merawi has since directed television episodes for The CW series NAOMI and OWN Networks鈥 CHERISH THE DAY, created and produced by DuVernay. He is currently in post on his first music video.
Merawi grew up immersed in film. Prior to attending USC鈥檚 School of Cinematic Arts (encouraged by mentor filmmaker Bradford Young), he spent his childhood on film sets and in editing rooms with his filmmaker parents Shirikiana Aina and Haile Gerima. These legendary filmmakers of the LA Rebellion film movement have won multiple international awards for their best-known films SANKOFA, ASHES AND EMBERS and TEZA. With Merawi, they all support each other鈥檚 films and provide support for other independent filmmakers through their non-profit film company, Positive Productions Inc.