Blitz Bazawule is an award-winning Ghanaian filmmaker, musician, author, and visual artist based in Atlanta. He most recently directed the highly anticipated musical reimagining of THE COLOR PURPLE, produced by Steven Spielberg, Oprah Winfrey and Quincy Jones. Set to release in theaters on Christmas Day. The film stars Fantasia, Taraji P. Henson, Danielle Brooks, and Colman Domingo.

Bazawule’s feature directorial debut, THE BURIAL OF KOJO, premiered on Netflix in 2019 and was extremely well-received from critics and audiences alike. He also received a Grammy nomination on his work with Beyoncé on the visual album, BLACK IS KING. 

In addition to his experience as a filmmaker, Bazawule is also an accomplished musician and visual artist, having released four studio albums and has featured work at The Whitney Biennial exhibition. He is a Senior TED Fellow, recipient of the Vilcek Prize and the Guggenheim 2020 Fellowship. He is also the founder of the Africa Film Society, an organization focused on the preservation of classic African cinema. 

Upcoming, Bazawule is set to write, direct and produce a six-episode limited series with FX based on his critically acclaimed debut novel, The Scent of Burnt Flowers. Emmy Award-winner Yahya Abdul-Mateen II is attached to executive produce and star in the series, which Bazawule is developing under his newly minted production company, Inward Gaze.