Amartei Armar Returns To Revive Ailing Movie Industry 

The mastermind behind one of the world's most nominated and awarding winning short film 'Arc', Amartei Armar, otherwise called Tei, is back home to contribute to reviving Ghana's struggling movie industry.

Product of a Ghanaian father and an African-American mother, he lived between Ghanaian cultures and that of America. He spent most of his childhood days creating stories that combined Ghanaian and American forms of storytelling with his older brother, Amartey Armar.

Years later, the early experiences of Amartei fuelled his dreams in becoming a filmmaker, with a particular interest in creating stories that revolved around cultural identity and belonging. With his mind set on being a writer for film, Amartei enrolled in the UBC B.F.A Film Production Programme, where he learned the ins and outs of filmmaking.

His final thesis and debut short film, 'Arc', won him several accolades at UBC and went on to win more awards at various international festivals around the world. Among the awards are Best Student Short Award – Vancouver Short Film Festival 2016 – 'Arc', Creators Vancouver Interview 2015, Official Selection – Portsmouth International Film Festival 2015 – 'Arc', Official Selection – New Hampshire Film Festival 2015 – 'Arc', Best Student Production (Nominee) – Leo Awards 2015 – 'Arc', Official Selection – Greater Cleveland Urban Film Foundation 2015 – 'Arc', Official Selection – Capital City Black Film Festival 2015 – 'Arc', Official Selection – Jozi Film Festival 2015 – 'Arc', Official Selection – Action on Film Festival 2014 – 'Arc', Outstanding Achievement in Directing – U.B.C. POV Film Festival 2014 – 'Arc', Outstanding Achievement in Screenwriting – U.B.C. and POV Film Festival 2014 – 'Arc'.

“I've come home to stay! I read about the dying industry of Ghana on the internet and I would love to be a part of it resurrection,” he said when he arrived in Ghana.

Tei's 'ARC' is a 13 minutes award-winning short film about a Kenyan elderly man who tries to cope with his wife’s terminal illness. A recently divorced Canadian mother wants to prove she can take care of her daughter. A Chinese immigrant treads the line between honest work and crime to make ends meet.