Help Tchaiko Omawale and Child Find Stability

Season's Greetings to my friends, family, and the film community,

My name is Tchaiko Omawale, and I’m a TV/film director and a mother. Many of you may have noticed that I’ve been relatively quiet this year, and I want to share with you why.

2024 has been a year of profound personal and professional transition for me. While the challenges have been immense, they’ve also brought exciting opportunities. Earlier this year, I had the privilege of directing high-octane action sequences for Black Mafia Family—a long-time dream of mine. More recently, I directed a powerful fight scene for the 3-minute action film 2 MOTHERS. My personal documentary, LOOKING FOR TCHAIKO, supported by the Ford Foundation and the International Documentary Association’s Direct Action Fund, continues to move forward, with several important interviews with Elders who were comrades of my parents. This film explores their love story during a politically turbulent era in Guyana. Additionally, my feature film project, BEAST—a dark, fantastical narrative about my struggles with infertility and postpartum mental health—was honored with a 2024 Creative Capital Award.

While these milestones have been professionally fulfilling, this year has also been one of the most difficult in my life. In July, I made the difficult decision to leave my child’s father for my emotional safety and well-being. Though necessary, this decision has led to housing instability. Since then, my child and I have been moving from place to place, seeking stability. We have finally found a more permanent home as of October, but I am now facing mounting bills (including legal fees spent navigating custody) that I am unable to pay.

As many of you know, I’ve always prided myself on being brave. But with bravery comes consequences. For me, those consequences have led me to a moment of vulnerability, where I am stepping out of isolation and into community to ask for support.

Right now, community means having people to lean on—and right now, I need people to lean on financially.

Navigating housing instability while balancing my responsibilities as a filmmaker and mother has been incredibly difficult. Since July, I’ve been in therapy and counseling, doing everything I can to stay afloat. While I have promising interviews for TV directing roles and expect to work in the spring, I’m reaching out now because I need immediate financial support to cover living and professional expenses.

I am humbly asking for your help in raising $30,000 to cover bills and provide stability for myself and my child during this challenging time. Any amount you can contribute would mean the world to me and will help me get back on my feet and continue pursuing my career as a director and filmmaker.

In addition, I am actively looking for work opportunities, so if you know of any directing, teaching, or producing openings, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

Currently, I’m also teaching an online class with actor and former Director of Acting at Pace University, Amen Igbinosun. We are focusing on using the Classical Russian Theater practice of Etudes as an approach to film and project creation, with the goal of inspiring others to keep making impactful work. Please feel free to share this opportunity with anyone who might benefit.

Thank you for your support during this season of renewal. Your generosity will not only help me get through this difficult period but will also allow me to continue creating the work that matters most to me.