Lisbon Okafor

Directing

Lisbon Okafor is an independent filmmaker, director, and creative director based in Oakland, California. A graduate of the Art Institute of Houston, Okafor spent over two decades building a successful career in visual brand strategy, design, and commercial video production before transitioning into narrative feature films. He is an alumnus of the prestigious 2024 Television Mentorship Program hosted by the Directors Guild of America (DGA) Director Development Initiative. In narrative cinema, Okafor is best known as the director, producer, and co-writer of the indie fantasy-drama feature TEN-CENT DAISY: A Lost Mermaid Tale (2022). Seamlessly blending contemporary immigrant experiences with West Indian mermaid folklore, the film earned Okafor an ABFF Jury Award nomination for Best Director and a nomination for Best Narrative Feature. The film was officially selected to screen at the American Black Film Festival (ABFF) in 2021 and went on to win Best Narrative Feature at the 2023 1261 Grenada Film Festival. His earlier independent film projects as a director include the short OAKVILLE (2013) and JUJULUV (2004).