Yinka Idowu

Yinka Idowu is a London-based, Nigeria- born, Powerhouse known in film production circles as Rex 'the Visionare'. He is a multi-talented and multifaceted young director and cinematographer, who has recently transitioned from music videos, fashion photography and short films into the arena of feature filmmaking. Yinka Idowu was born in Ile-Ife, to a bank manager father and entrepreneur mother. He spent his earliest years living in many different areas of the country due to his parent's business pursuits. When he was only five years old his father unexpectedly passed away and his mother struggled to care for him and his older sister on her own in a time of political turbulence and uncertainty in the country. When he was 12, his mother left Nigeria for England, hoping to establish a better life for her family. Yinka was not to see his mother again for 8 years. He lived in Lagos, Nigeria's colorful industrial capital, with his mother's family. He attended the renowned Baptist Academy Secondary school and gained admission to study Performing Arts at Lagos State University in 2000 but left just a year later when his mother arranged for him to join her in the United Kingdom. Living in London, Yinka continued on his life- long ambition to make feature films. He studied Television and Video Production at Westminster Kingsway College from 2001-2003 before moving on to a degree in Digital Media and Film Studies at London Metropolitan University in 2004. In 2007 he briefly enrolled for acting classes at Identity Drama School, hoping to gain a better understanding of the chemistry of acting from actor's perspective. During his studies Yinka supported himself by working for an international wine merchant based in London until he saved up enough to begin accumulating production equipment including a professional digital camera which allowed him to start working as a photographer. He had been introduced to technical skills required for photography as part of his university course and in 2010 he gave up his work in the wine business to focus on photography and cinematography. He soon built up a reputation as a go-to photographer for up-and-coming London fashion models and as a Music Video Producer and Director for urban artists such as the UK's K.I.G family as well as international African musicians like Awilo Logomba. In 2011 he produced and directed his first short movie- The Witness followed in 2012 by his debut feature production, a British- Nollywood drama called Hunting 4 Hubbies. Since then he has worked on several projects as director of photography, cinematographer and director, honing his story- telling skills.