Cherish Oteka

Biography

Cherish ‘Chez’ Oteka is a BAFTA-winning documentary filmmaker, passionate about telling universal stories through the lens of often-erased communities, with a focus on identity, social justice and representation. Their BAFTA-winning film The Black Cop (2022) explored internalised racism through the story of a former police officer and was praised for its creative and intimate approach.

Chez has worked with leading platforms including BBC One, Tate, Stonewall, and The Guardian, and has been selected for coveted talent schemes such as BAFTA x BFI Flare’s Talent Lab, NETWORK at London Film Festival, The Grierson Trust's Doc Lab, and the Arts Foundation Fellowship Award.

Early career accolades include UKTV’s Rising Star Award, Best Documentary at the Movie Screen and Video Awards and Vimeo’s Breakthrough Creator.