Experiencing Interruptions?

Valleyheart

Struggling to let go after the loss of her brother, a grieving social worker finds a path toward healing through the act of aiding a former client grappling with his own demons.

  • Kofi Boakye
    Director
  • Gregory Abbott Miller
    Writer
  • Marie Broderick
    Writer
  • Marie Broderick
    Producer
  • Yaz Canli
    Producer
    Man in Hoodie
  • Marie Broderick
    Key Cast
    "Lauren"
  • Curtis Belz
    Key Cast
    "Ray"
  • Jeffrey Gold
    Composer
    Echoes of Kerberos, Life is Rough, The Wasteland (TV, 1 episode), Coin, We Can Do Better America, A Brief Romance, In the Company of Friends, A Journey to Homeland, Given, The Teacher, Abby Singer, Edge Running, Monk, Children of the Wind, Isles in the Midst of the Great Green Sea
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Runtime:
    14 minutes 57 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    May 31, 2020
  • Production Budget:
    1,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    RED
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16.9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Kofi Boakye

Kofi Boakye is a Ghanaian actor/writer/director/producer. It's always Friday in Kofi's world. Literally and figuratively, you see Kofi means Friday Born in Twi his native language of Ghana, West Africa.

After winning a worldwide dance competition as a young man Kofi left Ghana for London where he found his love for the theatre and acting. His desire to learn and practice his newfound craft brought him to New York City.

Kofi, a lifetime member of The Actors' Studio, has been honing his skills in New York's theater scene for the better part of 2 decades. He has appeared on Broadway, Off-Broadway & Off-Off-Broadway, along with numerous turns in Film & Television.

Kofi’s directorial film debut is Valleyheart, a dramatic work currently being submitted to film festivals. His most recent outings include 3 short films of which he wrote, directed, and produced that deal with quarantine, the pandemic and racism: H.I.B.S., currently streaming on his YouTube channel, and AntiBody and Killa Budda, both to be released on YouTube 2021.

Kofi’s producing credits include the short films I Hate You and Hollyhoods.

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Director Statement

In times of great wealth and opulence, the overspilling of homelessness on our streets is, to me, a call to action - as an artist, I can't stand by seeing this glaring issue and not attempt to do something about it. Hence, the incubation and collaboration that resulted in our film Valleyheart, a story that asks the age-old question, "Am I my brother's keeper?"

Looking to the future as a director, I am passionate about elevating the international profile of African films/African filmmakers and African Storytelling. My vision is to bring a confluence of gripping narratives, exquisite cinematography, and compelling performances to African cinema and storytelling. I am intent on portraying Africans as active agents in films, rather than a backdrop to Western stories. My vision is to see cinema that presents Africans as diverse nations with a variety of desires, experiences and environments, and to break free of the recurring storylines of Africans as victims. I am currently focusing on creating thought-provoking storylines that act as metaphors for lived experiences.