Young Guns 19: Boma Iluma

By Alixandra Rutnik and Brett McKenzie on Oct 27, 2021

Featuring the creative stars of Young Guns 19


A year and a half of uncertainty across the creative industry and beyond has finally given way to a light at the end of the proverbial tunnel — a spotlight with a great big "YG19" standing in the middle of it. After more than 70 acclaimed creatives from around the world and across a multitude of disciplines reviewed hundreds of submissions, whittling them down to a formidable finalist list, we can finally reveal the phenomenal winners of Young Guns 19!

This year, we welcome a diverse class of 32 inductees into the exclusive Young Guns family, a collection of young creative talent that is already near the top of their game — and will only get better. These are the designers, the art directors, the illustrators, the filmmakers, the animators, the multidisciplinary artists whose names you'll want to know — if you aren't already following their every move, that is.

Ahead of the Young Guns 19 Ceremony + Party taking place on Wednesday, November 17 — our first in-person event since the pandemic began — we are featuring the future legends who will be stepping into the spotlight that evening.


BOMA ILUMA
DIRECTOR

Based:

Los Angeles, California

Hometown:

Abuja, Nigeria

SEE BOMA'S ENTRY

Congrats first-timer! What made you enter this year?

I saw the award on past YG winner's portfolios and was inspired to apply.

How did you feel when you found out you won Young Guns?

I felt incredibly honored to be selected and happy that my work was positively received by the YG19 jury. Thank you!

If you had to pick one of the six projects that you entered as your favorite, which one would it be and why?

COMFORT was a personal and professional turning point.

Black immigrants rarely have attention paid to the issues that plague their communities, so this film was an opportunity to give audiences insight in an intimate, non-politicized way.

If you had to describe your creative style, the part of your work that’s most distinctively “you,” what would it be?

My work explores the complex relationship between memory, trauma, and reconciliation.

"My work explores the complex relationship between memory, trauma, and reconciliation."

Who are some of the biggest influences on your work and career– people who may have had a hand in mentoring and supporting you?

I have so many influences: Tarkovsky, McQueen, Denis, and Jenkins. Kara Walker. Jean-Mitchel Basquiat. Solange, Kanye, and Frank. The list goes on.

I definitely have to give thanks to Lena Waithe and Hillman Grad, the Castro sisters at 271 Films, Tia Swint and Berhana, and Malcolm Jones and Jumpman LA for their creative support and the opportunities they've given to me.

Now that you’re in the Young Guns family, are there any past winners you look up to and admire?

AV Rockwell and Fenn O'Meally. AV's shorts have been a source of inspiration for some time– all very raw and topical. Fenn's work is poetic and artfully shot. I'm incredibly moved by both of their work.

The pandemic of 2020 is slowly starting to taper a bit, so do you have any big goals moving forward into 2022?

Planning another art installation, expanding more into the world of commercials and branded content, and currently developing my first feature film.

Name a creative dream that you have yet to fulfill — hey, maybe Young Guns can help propel you in that direction!

I want to help grow the black creative community in art, advertising, and film.


BOMAILUMA.COM

IG: @BOMAILUMA


Go check out all the Young Guns 19 Winners in the archive!

Young Guns 19 Archive

 


Related

Cash is King
Fire + Fragility: Zuzanna Rogatty's YG21 Cube Design
Young Guns 21: Max Amato
Young Guns 21: Justin Au

 

 

 

 

 

 

Follow Us