Babatunde Apalowo’s movie, All the Colours of the World Are Between Black and White, is also nominated in three award categories at the 73rd Berlinale, one of the major events in the international film calendar. 

Not bad for someone who considers filmmaking as a “hobby!”

He said: “To get selected for the Berlinale is so exciting. Then to be nominated for the awards, especially for the 'first feature film' award, which looks at films across the festival as a whole, was completely unexpected.”

Pictured above: Babatunde Apalowo. Credit: Berlinale. 

Babatunde grew up in Lagos, Nigeria, and came to the UK in January 2022 to study for an MSc in Artificial Intelligence and Data Science at the University of Bradford. Part of the reason for picking Bradford was its rich film heritage. 

He wrote and directed All Colours, but admits he never expected it to be accepted at the world-renowned film festival. 

Babatunde, 36, said: “I submitted it in November and I didn’t plan for this to come to fruition. To be told it had been selected was fantastic.”

A movie-lover, he wrote his first script in 2014 but when he didn’t like the finished result, Babatunde decided to take matters into his own hands and learn how to direct. 

He said: “It was only a hobby but I decided I would get into directing and studied some courses online.”

He says his studies - including a degree in engineering from Nigeria - have helped him become a better filmmaker. 

He said: “In terms of artificial intelligence, that can be applied to many different things, including filmmaking. I definitely think the things I’ve learned at university have helped my filmmaking, particularly in managing people on set. In the future, I would like to be able to combine my studies with my love of filmmaking.

“Bradford is pretty amazing. I love the diversity here. I am also very active in the Student’s Union, as Postgraduate Officer. 

“When it came to choosing where to study in the UK, I read about how Bradford is the first UNESCO City of Film and its film history and that made my mind up.”

'Politically important'

Babatunde flew out to Berlin on Wednesday (February 15th) to attend the 10-day festival, network with key members of the industry and watch other hotly-tipped movies. 

His film stars Nigerian actors Tope Tedela and Riyo David and is described as “a sensual and politically important film about finding love where you least expect it.”

It tells the story of two men, Bambino (Tedela) and Bawa (David), who become close in a society in which same-sex relations are considered taboo and liable for prosecution. 

Babatunde previously won a Nigeria Integrity Film Award for his script for his short films Lost Children and A Place of Happiness. 

In 2022, he won the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Award for Best Editor.