By Linden Standish
Welcome to NYWIFT, Ginelle Bamfo!
Ginelle Bamfo is a talented young filmmaker and recent graduate from NYU Tisch’s Film and TV school.
With a background in acting and theater, Ginelle has expanded her creative pursuits into many realms of the filmmaking industry. Having won NYU’s Best Undergraduate Film award for her project Talk Yo’ Shit, her talents and ambitions have quickly proven worthwhile.
Ginelle is a staunch advocate of amplifying diverse voices. Her role as President of The Collective at NYU – a club which connects and highlights the work of Black students – is only one example of her commitment to this goal.
Ginelle is a flexible and dynamic creative, drawing inspiration from ever-evolving sources. Always excited to learn and collaborate, she is an exciting addition to the entertainment industry.
In our interview, Ginelle discusses what her journey to filmmaking has looked like and her current artistic ambitions.
NYWIFT Member Ginelle Bamfo
Welcome to NYWIFT! Could you give our readers a brief introduction to yourself?
Thank you! My name is Ginelle Bamfo and I’m a writer, actor, and director from Chicago, Illinois. I recently graduated from NYU Tisch’s Film & TV school with a minor in the Business of Entertainment, Media & Technology. Since graduating, I’ve been freelancing as an actor and photographer, and am also currently looking for assistant and coordinator gigs so please reach out if you have any leads!
What brought you to NYWIFT?
I learned about NYWIFT through Fusion Film Festival, a festival at NYU that highlights female and non-binary filmmakers. Fusion was a wonderful space in meeting and seeing the works of such talented people, and I feel like NYWIFT is a way for me to continue to make sure that I’m in spaces that highlight that same demographic.
What set you on the path of pursuing a career in the film industry? Is there a pivotal moment that stands out?
I grew up acting in theatre and I’ve always been super curious about filmmaking and I decided to apply to film school on a whim to further explore that curiosity. And then I got in! So ironically, I feel like the pivotal moment of me deciding to pursue a career in the film industry was actually the moment I got into film school.
Tell me about The Collective at NYU, your experience leading it, and the impact it’s had on you creatively.
The Collective is a club at NYU that highlights Black artists on campus. I sought the club out as a freshman and eventually became president. This meant I was planning all kinds of events encouraging our Black student body to meet and collaborate. It also culminated in the Black Arts Festival, a week-long event showcasing Black art in every medium.
Through leading this club, not only was I able to meet a plethora of talented people but I was also able to interact with forms of art that I hadn’t previously. It was a joy to help plan fashion shows and dance nights when those are things I don’t know as much about in comparison to film and theatre. The Collective taught me that I never stop learning.
What is your creative process? How do you find inspiration?
Honestly, I’m still trying to figure that out. As my life changes, so does my process. I don’t think I’m someone who ever had a solid creative process and I’m currently embracing learning what works for me. It’s easy to find inspiration in the everyday – the random acts of kindness of strangers or the meaningful gestures from friends and family. I’m constantly inspired and I think that’s a key part of my creative process.
How do you hope to see the film industry change in the future?
I hope to see a lasting growth in diversity. It’s frustrating to know that my work might pick up in February and drop for the rest of the months. Or to know that because of the current climate, there might be less of a demand for work from people who look like me.
I want to work with an air of stability in the knowledge that what I create is appreciated by others and that being appreciated isn’t dependent on a moment.
Having recently graduated (congratulations!), what are your next steps? Are you working on anything currently?
Thank you! I’m still figuring out next steps to be honest. I’m currently working on my next short film, which I am able to make through the support of NYU’s Fusion Film Festival. My most recent film, Talk Yo’ Shit, was awarded the Best Undergraduate Film, and I was rewarded with a bunch of tools to help me make my next film in the next year. I’m super excited and can’t wait to share it!
Connect with Ginelle Bamfo on LinkedIn and follow her on Instagram at @ginellebamfo.
(All photos courtesy of Ginelle Bamfo)
Linden Standish
Linden Standish is an intern at NYWIFT and aspiring television screenwriter. Working in collaboration with her sister, Audrey Standish, the two have developed numerous pilots. Inspired by a range of genres, Linden hopes to craft emotionally resonant and thought-provoking stories.
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