Anthony Onah is a Nigerian-American filmmaker known for directing, writing, and producing independent films, highlighted by his debut feature The Price. His path from biochemistry to cinema reflects influences from a global upbringing shaped by his diplomat father.
Profile Summary
| Full name | Anthony Onah |
| Date of birth | February 10, 1983 |
| Place of birth | Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria |
| Nationality | Nigerian-American |
| Partner | N/A |
| Children | N/A |
| Occupations | Film director, screenwriter, producer |
| Net worth | $500,000-$1.5 million |
Early Life and Education
Born in Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria, Onah experienced frequent relocations due to his father Adoga Onah’s role as an ambassador, living in places like the Philippines, the United Kingdom, Nigeria, Togo, and eventually settling in Arlington, VA, and Washington, D.C.
He graduated with honors in biochemical sciences from Harvard University, securing the Pechet Foundation grant and Thomas T. Hoopes Prize for his research on neural behavior in Drosophila. Opting against Cambridge for genetics after publishing in The Journal of Neuroscience, he instead pursued an MFA in film directing at UCLA on a fellowship.
Career
Onah launched his filmmaking journey with short films at UCLA, such as The Cure (2008), which claimed a Directors Guild of America Student Award and mtvU spotlight, and Dara Ju (2012), victor of the Afrinolly Short Film Competition with a $25,000 award.
Featured among Indiewire’s 10 Exciting New Voices and Filmmaker Magazine’s 25 New Faces, he expanded Dara Ju into his feature debut The Price (2017), backed by Sundance and Film Independent, and hailed by Variety as a strong indie drama.
His script Goliath advanced to the 2019 Sundance Screenwriters Lab and Alfred P. Sloan Fellowship; he shares identical twin status with director Julius Onah.
Personal Life
Public information on Onah’s private world remains scarce, offering no confirmed details about a partner or children. He has referenced his father’s impact in discussions linked to projects like Dara Ju, underscoring family expectations. Onah prioritizes discretion, channeling his nomadic youth into stories rich with multicultural themes.
Net Worth
Anthony Onah’s net worth is estimated between $500,000 and $1.5 million as of 2026. This range accounts for earnings from indie film distribution deals like The Price, festival prizes including $25,000 from Afrinolly, fellowships, and ongoing screenplay development.
Filmography
Short Films
• 2008: Keepers (Director, Writer, Producer, Editor)
• 2008: The Cure (Director, Writer, Producer, Editor)
• 2010: Gimme Grace (Director, Writer, Producer)
• 2011: True Colors (Director, Writer, Producer, Editor)
• 2012: Dara Ju (Director, Writer, Producer)
Feature Films:
• 2017: The Price (Director, Writer, Producer)
Feature Films
| Year | Title | Director | Writer | Producer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | The Price | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Awards and Recognitions
Onah secured two Directors Guild of America Student Film Awards (2008 for The Cure, 2012 for Dara Ju) alongside the 2017 Indie Memphis Craig Brewer Emerging Filmmaker Award for The Price.
His film The Price contended for SXSW Grand Jury Prize and Seattle’s FIPRESCI Prize. Other accolades encompass the Hollywood Foreign Press Award, Edie and Lew Wasserman Fellowship, and 2019 Sundance Screenwriters Lab placement for Goliath.
