Tchaiko Omawale
Tchaiko is an award winning director who grew up as a Global Nomad, a Black Third Culture Kid. Prior to moving to the United States at age 16, she lived in seven different countries while her father worked for UNICEF. Before pursuing narrative filmmaking Tchaiko made several short form projects. Her music videos were featured on Black Dog’s website and her short film Sita inspired by Octavia Butler and Derek Jarmon was exhibited in art spaces such as Project Row House exhibition for Black Women Artists for Black Lives Matter. She was chosen by Ava Duvernay to direct an episode for Queen Sugar for Season 4.
Tchaiko was awarded the Gaea Sea Change Residency for artists working for social change while working on America’s Shadows( about the socio-economic HIV risk factors for Black and Latino NYC Youth). Her feature film Solace starring Hope Olaide Wilson, Lynn Whitfield and Glynn Turman was inspired by her personal experiences as a Black girl navigating an eating disorder.
Solace premiered at the LA Film Festival where it won Special Jury Mention Best Ensemble Cast as well as the Audience Award at the New Orleans Film Festival. The film was supported by several institutions such as Panavision’s New Filmmakers Program, Tribeca Film Institute, IFP, Women In Film and Film Independent. It is currently streaming on amazon, showtime on demand and iTunes.
Tchaiko was a 2017 School of Making Thinking Resident fellow where she created the VR film Shapeshifters.
