“This is one of the most underrated films of the last few years. Psychological thriller about a man trying to regain his memory and connect with his daughter and life that he once knew. The chemistry between Mamodou Athie and Amanda Christine is heartwarming. Emmanuel Osei-Kuffour blends genres here seamlessly and keeps you engaged and on the edge of your seat.” ~Donald Elise Watkins, guest curator of Black Cinema 2023

Emmanuel Osei-Kuffour Jr.’s fascinating directorial debut “Black Box” concerns the lifeline of memory, and one man’s lack of it. Mamoudou Athie stars as Nolan, a photographer who survived a car accident that took his wife and gave him amnesia, making it hard to connect with his daughter. In their sweet but heartbreaking relationship, she has taken to writing reminders about regular domestic functions on Post-its, scattered throughout the house. But when it comes to his wife and the relationship they shared, he has many questions, which eke out from Athie’s sensitive performance.

Emmanuel Osei-Kuffour, Jr. is an award-winning writer-director born and raised in Houston, Texas. He started his career in Japan where he developed a passion for telling authentic, sensitive human-centered stories. His films have screened and won awards at over 50 film festivals internationally including Cannes, Toronto, Palm Springs, the NBC Short Film Festival, Pan African Film Festival, and more. And as a commercial director, his work has garnered 6 Addy Awards.

“When you watch a debut like Black Box, you just know that the director is going to be around for a while.” ~ Nick Allen, RogerEbert.com