Artist Focus | Andrew Boateng-Observing the Spaces Between People

Some filmmakers announce themselves loudly. Others arrive quietly, letting the work speak first and trusting that the right people are paying attention. Andrew Boateng belongs firmly in the second camp. Actor, writer and director, Boateng is a storyteller shaped by observation, empathy and a deep respect for collaboration-qualities that were impossible to miss when we first encountered his work at the Five Lamps Film Awards.

That evening, Boateng took home Best Film for Girls and Boys, a beautifully written and delicately observed short starring Dani Moseley. The win was met not with bravado, but with a humble, articulate acceptance speech that revealed a filmmaker genuinely grateful for the people who champion independent cinema. It was clear from that moment: this is someone going from strength to strength, grounded in purpose and destined for far greater things.

Finding meaning in the margins

Currently based in Telford, Andrew Boateng’s creative voice has been shaped by movement rather than permanence. Having lived across South London, Manchester, the Republic of Ireland and Sheffield, his work carries the perspective of someone who has never quite stood still long enough to fully belong to one place.

That sense of being both inside and outside different environments has become central to his storytelling. Boateng’s films are rooted in social observation-how people behave, how they judge, how small interactions carry unspoken weight. It is an outlook forged through lived experience, curiosity and a constant awareness of cultural nuance.

“I’ve always felt like an outsider looking in,” he reflects. “That perspective has influenced my work heavily-it’s made me curious about people, about how different communities function, about social behaviour, and about the subtle cultural differences across regions.”

Writing as the gateway

Although Boateng now works fluidly across acting, writing and directing, it was writing that opened the door. During his master’s degree, a screenwriting module proved to be a turning point, igniting a passion for world-building, character and narrative structure. From there, the transition into directing and acting felt natural-each discipline feeding the others and forming the core of his creative identity.

That multi-hyphenate approach gives Boateng a rare sensitivity to performance and pacing. As a director, he understands the vulnerability of actors. As a writer, he knows when restraint is more powerful than exposition. And as an actor, he recognises the emotional truth required to make moments feel lived-in rather than performed.

Girls and Boys: a quiet idea with global resonance

Girls and Boys began as something small-a fleeting idea, a moment suspended between two people-but its impact has been anything but. In Andrew Boateng’s own words, shared via Instagram following the film’s Cannes Film Awards recognition:

“Boys & Girls started as a quiet idea-just a moment between two people in the night. Somehow, that moment has found its way to the Cannes Film Awards, with a nomination for Best Super Short.

This is my directorial debut, and I wanted to create something that felt real: a snapshot of modern tension, perception, and how quickly we judge each other in passing. Set in Enfield Island Village, the film lives in the pauses, the awkwardness, the misread signals-all the things we carry when we meet someone new.”

That philosophy-living in the pauses-defines the film. Rather than overexplaining or forcing meaning, Girls and Boys trusts its audience. It allows discomfort to breathe, lets silence speak, and invites viewers to interrogate their own assumptions.

Boateng’s gratitude for his collaborators is equally telling, acknowledging everyone from his producer and DOP to the rehearsal space that allowed the film to find its rhythm. It is the mark of a filmmaker who understands that independent cinema thrives on trust, generosity and shared belief.

Leadership through collaboration

One of the defining moments in Boateng’s development came through creating his own pilot series. Leading a cast and crew provided a crash course in practical leadership-not just vision, but responsibility. Seeing how every department interlocks sharpened his understanding of what directing truly demands, grounding his ambition in respect for the process.

That experience confirmed what his work already suggested: directing is not simply something he enjoys, but something he is committed to mastering.

Purpose over noise

For Boateng, the greatest challenge is not exposure or recognition, but meaning. As his work evolves, so too does the responsibility he feels toward what he puts into the world. Balancing personal expression with purposeful storytelling is an ongoing process-one that demands honesty, patience and a willingness to ask difficult questions.

His inspirations remain resolutely human. Real experiences-bullying, love, emotional vulnerability-sit at the heart of his work, shaping stories that feel authentic rather than manufactured. He is drawn not to spectacle, but to emotional truth and the quiet complexity of everyday encounters.

What comes next

Andrew Boateng is currently developing a new short film titled Rabbit Hole of Love, assembling the right team to push his storytelling into new territory. If Girls and Boys is any indication, audiences can expect work that challenges perception, subverts expectation and lingers long after the final frame.

At its core, Boateng’s ambition is simple yet powerful: to leave viewers thinking differently than they did before. His films often lead audiences down familiar paths before revealing something unexpected-a shift in perspective that reframes what came before.

A filmmaker worth watching

Confident without arrogance, thoughtful without pretension, Andrew Boateng represents the best of contemporary independent filmmaking. He is attentive to detail, generous in collaboration and deeply aware of the power of small stories told well.

For aspiring artists, his advice is refreshingly direct: create relentlessly. Do not wait for permission. Do not hide the work. Growth, he believes, comes only through action.

As his career gathers momentum, one thing feels certain-Andrew Boateng is not chasing trends or validation. He is building something quietly, carefully and with intent. And if Girls and Boys is the opening chapter, the story ahead promises to be a compelling one.

You can follow Andrew Boateng and explore his work on Instagram at @aprinceb_.

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