ZOE: Ebube Nwani, Purity Njimezi, Stephanie Ugbeye Lead OGWAStudios’ Emotionally Charged, Mission-Driven Film

In OGWA Studios’ latest short film ZOE, storytelling finds its voice not only in
theme, but in performance—through a carefully selected ensemble led
by Ebube Nwani, Purity Njimezi, and Stephanie Ugbeye, whose portrayals bring
emotional depth to a deeply human narrative about love, faith, and loss.
Set over the Easter weekend, ZOE follows a 15-year-old girl living with Sickle Cell
Disease and the family who surrounds her, as a sudden medical crisis on Good Friday shifts
their lives into a space of emotional stillness and reflection.
The film is structured around presence and memory, allowing its central character, Zoe, to be
experienced through lived moments, emotional fragments, and the lasting imprint she leaves
on her family.

The Cast
Zoe – Purity Njimezi (Debut Performance)
At just nine years old, Purity Njimezi delivers a remarkably grounded and emotionally
instinctive performance in her debut role as Zoe. Her portrayal becomes the emotional centre
of the film—not through excess, but through presence. She embodies innocence, quiet
strength, and a natural emotional honesty that carries the story’s most intimate moments.
Mr. Benjamin – Ebube Nwani
Ebube Nwani brings emotional gravity to the role of Zoe’s father, portraying a man balancing
strength and vulnerability in equal measure. His performance reflects the internal conflict of
protection, grief, and helplessness, grounding the family’s emotional journey.
Stephanie Ugbeye (Supporting Role)
Stephanie Ugbeye adds emotional texture to the film’s world, contributing to its realism and
relational depth. Her presence supports the central narrative, helping to shape the
environment in which Zoe’s story unfolds.

A Performance-Led Vision
At its core, ZOE is not driven by spectacle, but by performance authenticity. OGWA Studios
positions the film as a study of emotional truth—where each actor is not simply portraying a
character, but embodying a lived experience shaped by love, vulnerability, and inevitability.
The film’s strength lies in its restraint. It does not overstate emotion; it allows performance to
carry it.
In doing so, ZOE becomes more than a story about illness. It becomes a reflection on what
remains when presence transforms into memory.

A Film With Purpose
Screening on June 19 in recognition of World Sickle Cell Day, ZOE extends its relevance
beyond cinema into awareness and conversation. By centering a story around Sickle Cell
Disease, the film amplifies visibility for experiences often underrepresented in mainstream
storytelling.
But at its heart, it remains deeply personal.
A story carried by performances.
A memory shaped by presence.
A film that lingers long after it ends.