{"id":981,"date":"2026-07-18T12:02:55","date_gmt":"2026-07-18T12:02:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/?p=981"},"modified":"2026-07-18T16:05:14","modified_gmt":"2026-07-18T16:05:14","slug":"omenala","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/?p=981","title":{"rendered":"\u00d3m\u00e9n\u00e0l\u00e0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"800\" data-id=\"982\" src=\"https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Poster-ac32fa2497-poster.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-982\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Poster-ac32fa2497-poster.jpg 600w, https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Poster-ac32fa2497-poster-225x300.jpg 225w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">An estranged first son must protect the legacy of his late father from his hard-headed uncle while navigating traditional Igbo burial rites.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Project Type:<\/strong>Short, Student<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Runtime:<\/strong>14 minutes 30 seconds<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Country of Origin:<\/strong>United States<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Country of Filming:<\/strong>Nigeria<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Language:<\/strong>English<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>First-time Filmmaker:<\/strong>Yes<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Student Project:<\/strong>Yes &#8211; Savannah College of Art and Design<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"534\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Headshot-8615504fb1-headshot.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-983\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Headshot-8615504fb1-headshot.jpg 534w, https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Headshot-8615504fb1-headshot-200x300.jpg 200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 534px) 100vw, 534px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Director Biography<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Stephanie Byron-Ene is the writer and director of \u00d3m\u00e9n\u00e0l\u00e0 (Oh-May-Nah-lah). She\u2019s Nigerian, from the Igbo tribe, and grew up in Lagos State before heading to the U.S. to study film. Her passion for filmmaking started early. At just 10 years old, she would join her father on Nollywood sets at 4 a.m.\u2014 often to hold the actor\u2019s purse \u2014 but those experiences deeply shaped her love for storytelling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Director Statement<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Not long after beginning her film studies in the U.S., Stephanie realized that growing up in Nigeria was a deeply unique experience. Being around the incredible determination of Nigerian filmmakers, telling their stories for the world to see, inspired her to do the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u00d3m\u00e9n\u00e0l\u00e0\u2019s direct translation, \u201cas it is in the land,\u201d refers to Igbo tradition. For this film, Stephanie decided to focus on the process of grief and how it differs depending on a family member\u2019s role in Igbo land. Inspiration for select scenes also came from Rattlesnake (1995), directed by renowned filmmaker Amaka Igwe (May her soul rest in peace). She was an inspiration to many, but especially to Stephanie as her Godmother.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As the eldest daughter in her family, this story is deeply personal. Stephanie relates to Nnamdi\u2019s journey of navigating the weight of expectation. But beyond its cultural specificities, this is a universal story about taking on responsibility when life throws the unexpected at you, and ultimately, how loss can mark the beginning of personal growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-2 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" data-id=\"984\" src=\"https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Photo-1-Omenala_Still_04-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-984\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Photo-1-Omenala_Still_04-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Photo-1-Omenala_Still_04-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Photo-1-Omenala_Still_04-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Photo-1-Omenala_Still_04-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Photo-1-Omenala_Still_04.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" data-id=\"987\" src=\"https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Photo-2-Omenala_Still_08-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-987\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Photo-2-Omenala_Still_08-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Photo-2-Omenala_Still_08-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Photo-2-Omenala_Still_08-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Photo-2-Omenala_Still_08-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Photo-2-Omenala_Still_08.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" data-id=\"988\" src=\"https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Photo-3-Omenala_Still_02-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-988\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Photo-3-Omenala_Still_02-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Photo-3-Omenala_Still_02-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Photo-3-Omenala_Still_02-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Photo-3-Omenala_Still_02-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Photo-3-Omenala_Still_02.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" data-id=\"986\" src=\"https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Photo-4-Omenala_Still_01-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-986\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Photo-4-Omenala_Still_01-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Photo-4-Omenala_Still_01-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Photo-4-Omenala_Still_01-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Photo-4-Omenala_Still_01-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Photo-4-Omenala_Still_01.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" data-id=\"985\" src=\"https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Photo-5-Omenala_Still_03-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-985\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Photo-5-Omenala_Still_03-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Photo-5-Omenala_Still_03-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Photo-5-Omenala_Still_03-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Photo-5-Omenala_Still_03-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Photo-5-Omenala_Still_03.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" data-id=\"990\" src=\"https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Photo-6-Omenala_Still_07-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-990\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Photo-6-Omenala_Still_07-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Photo-6-Omenala_Still_07-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Photo-6-Omenala_Still_07-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Photo-6-Omenala_Still_07-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Photo-6-Omenala_Still_07.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" data-id=\"989\" src=\"https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Photo-7-Omenala_Church2_Still-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-989\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Photo-7-Omenala_Church2_Still-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Photo-7-Omenala_Church2_Still-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Photo-7-Omenala_Church2_Still-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Photo-7-Omenala_Church2_Still-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Photo-7-Omenala_Church2_Still.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Project Links<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/instagram.com\/omenalafilm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">\u00a0Instagram<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">News &amp; Reviews<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>&#8220;Meet Stephanie Byron-ene | Filmmaker&#8221;Shoutout Atlanta<a href=\"https:\/\/shoutoutatlanta.com\/meet-stephanie-byron-ene-filmmaker\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/shoutoutatlanta.com\/meet-stephanie-byron-ene-filmmaker\/<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>&#8220;Omenala Awarded Best Drama&#8221;College Television Awards<a href=\"https:\/\/www.televisionacademy.com\/features\/news\/foundation-news\/cta-winners-260328\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/www.televisionacademy.com\/features\/news\/foundation-news\/cta-winners-260328<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div data-wp-interactive=\"core\/file\" class=\"wp-block-file\"><object data-wp-bind--hidden=\"!state.hasPdfPreview\" hidden class=\"wp-block-file__embed\" data=\"https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/OMENALA_EPK_Package.pdf\" type=\"application\/pdf\" style=\"width:100%;height:600px\" aria-label=\"Embed of OMENALA_EPK_Package.\"><\/object><a id=\"wp-block-file--media-43191ca8-7d70-41e9-8b49-353b355900fa\" href=\"https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/OMENALA_EPK_Package.pdf\">OMENALA_EPK_Package<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/OMENALA_EPK_Package.pdf\" class=\"wp-block-file__button wp-element-button\" download aria-describedby=\"wp-block-file--media-43191ca8-7d70-41e9-8b49-353b355900fa\">Download<\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>An estranged first son must protect the legacy of his late father from his hard-headed uncle while navigating traditional Igbo burial rites. Director Biography Stephanie Byron-Ene is the writer and director of \u00d3m\u00e9n\u00e0l\u00e0 (Oh-May-Nah-lah). She\u2019s Nigerian, from the Igbo tribe, and grew up in Lagos State before heading to the U.S. to study film. Her &hellip; <\/p>\n<p class=\"link-more\"><a href=\"https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/?p=981\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &#8220;\u00d3m\u00e9n\u00e0l\u00e0&#8221;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":989,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-981","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-short-film"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/981","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=981"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/981\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":992,"href":"https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/981\/revisions\/992"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/989"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=981"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=981"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=981"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}