Nabila Lester

WRITER, DIRECTOR, PRODUCER

Nabila Lester is an American Film, Television, Stage and Commercial Producer/Director/Writer with over 10 years experience in the Hollywood film industry and abroad. 

Born in Harlem, New York she was raised by her grandmother, a blue-collar housemaid and her mother; a once aspiring Opera singer turned accountant. Like most children from the NY 80s, her childhood was colored by the politics of the Reagan era, the birth of hip-hop and the crack epidemic. These heightened times, along with her multi cultural/racial background, sparked an interest in human behavior, historical legacies and the ever changing ‘peoples movement’; to this day remaining central themes in her films.

When she was 16, she had an epiphany to move to Berkeley, California: the birthplace of the free speech movement. She sought a community where her liberal political views yet nerdy outlook on life would be supported. To her surprise, her move to Berkeley exposed her to a larger world of infinite possibilities. She began what will be a lifetime as a world traveler when she was selected as a Youth Ambassador to Israel. 

In 2004, she acquired her BA in Media Studies from the top public university in the US, UC Berkeley on a full scholarship. During her undergraduate tenure, she studied dance and performance art abroad in Accra, Ghana. The experience of traveling to the home of her African American slave ancestors was life changing. Her expanding love for African history and culture began to affect her taste in aesthetics and story. In 2011, she went on to earn her Masters in Film Production from the top film school in the world; The University of Southern California, School of Cinematic Arts.

In 2013, Nabila was hired to direct her first African film, shoot on location in Nigeria, entitled ‘Ase’: an epic period piece based on the Oyo Kingdom in 13th century Yoruba land. During her brief stay in Nigeria, she learned about the multi-billion dollar Nollywood media industry and decided to move to Nigeria as she felt ‘called’ to do.  She saw Nigeria, as a way to participate in a growing media industry without the barriers of racism. She moved to Nigeria, April 2015 by herself, having no familial ties to the place.  Within one year, she founded NABS International Productions, a multi media production company creating project for Film, Television and Stage.

Most recently, she is Producer/Director of CNN’s feature show, African Voices. In her two years of residence in Lagos, she has directed projects for top companies such as Coca – Cola, Google, Uber, Etisalat and Hennessey, etc. She has also directed two stage plays, the latest entitled ‘Love Like Slave,’ sponsored by The British Council and ‘The Land Is Green’ about the history of Nigeria across generations.

Nabila resides in Atlanta, Georgia. She is currently a Professor in the Film and Television Department at SCAD, Atlanta and CEO of NABS International Productions.

Karen Li Lee

PRODUCER

Karen Li Lee is a Florida Native who has worked through many different careers in her lifetime. She has degrees from Georgetown University and George Mason University, and most recently has attended Savannah College of Art and Design. Karen has been passionate about this project from its inception and has worked tirelessly throughout every stage of production. Karen is a film and television screenwriter who now lives in LA.