Food for the Soul, the latest project from rising filmmaker Chisom Chieke, is set to make its world premiere this August at the 2025 BlackStar Film Festival — and it’s bringing a soulful mix of love, culture, and comedy to the screen.
Led by Karen Obilom and Marcus Scribner , the romantic dramedy follows Adanma Eze and her fiancé Trey Williams, a couple navigating the messy middle of love. As cultures collide and meddling parents stir the pot, the pair — a first-generation Nigerian American and a Black Southerner — must choose between living for their families’ expectations or carving out their own path to happily ever after.
The 18-minute short film blends heartfelt storytelling with laugh-out-loud moments, all while exploring the nuances of multiculturalism within the Black diaspora. Chieke captures the beauty and tension of blending two Black experiences with warmth, wit, and an unapologetically Philly backdrop.
Food for the Soul also stars Nollywood legend Richard Mofe-Damijo, Joy Hodge, and Philly native Tristan Santana. The film was shot entirely in Philadelphia with support from BlackStar’s Philadelphia Filmmaker Lab, featuring familiar city landmarks like Ol Boys Soul Food Restaurant in West Philly, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Kelly Drive, and even a run-in with the infamous Philadelphia Parking Authority.
Behind the lens, Wren Rene serves as cinematographer, with Sarah Krusen as editor and Jai Monee’ as production designer. Music for the film comes from Chimzy, Meer Colon, and composers Jamal Whitaker, Kareem James, and Marcus Ash — bringing soul to every frame.
Chieke, who wrote and directed the film, is making waves as a storyteller to watch. A 2025 BlackStar Philadelphia Filmmaker Lab fellow and SuperSpecial Writers’ Fellow, she’s been a second-round selection for Sundance’s TV Development Track and has screened her work at The United We Heal Film Festival, OMWAN’EKHUI Film Program, and Stowe Story Labs.
Producers on the project include Brigid Des-Ogugua, Camille Shaiyen, Heidi Saman, Justice A. Whitaker, Karen Obilom, Richard Mofe-Damijo, and Yasmine Curruthers. Executive producers are Caroline Kim and Maori Karmael Holmes, with Sydney Rodriguez serving as co-producer.
From romance to run-ins with family — and even parking enforcement — Food for the Soul is a love letter to culture, community, and choosing yourself. The film premieres August 2025 at BlackStar.