Person Biography:
Sunu's early life was marked by the tumultuous backdrop of Zimbabwe's Civil War. Despite these challenging circumstances, he managed to excel academically, earning a scholarship to a private school in Zimbabwe. His impressive sporting prowess further opened doors to international travel and eventually secured another scholarship to the University of Cape Town, where he completed a degree in Organizational Psychology.
As his sporting achievements and lucrative banking career took off, Sunu's long-held dream of acting and filmmaking began to take center stage. With unwavering dedication, he worked his way up in the film industry, earning numerous prestigious directing awards within just three short years. His refreshing talent, courage, diligence, and persistence all contributed to his remarkable success.
In the world of commercials, Sunu is widely regarded as one of the finest directing talents, having produced a distinctive body of work that has inspired prominent clients such as Nike, VW, Coca Cola, and the U.S Tennis Association. His short film "Riding with Sugar," based on his own feature script, premiered at Cannes in 2006. Later that year, he beat out several more seasoned Hollywood directors to secure his first full-length feature directing assignment with Lionsgate.
Just five months after this milestone, Sunu made the bold decision to sell his home in South Africa and relocate his family to Hollywood to make his feature directorial debut on "Pride," starring Academy Award nominee Terrence Howard, Bernie Mac, Tom Arnold, and Kimberley Elise. The film's director and Howard received nominations for a NAACP Image Award.
Set in 1974 Philadelphia, "Pride" tells the inspiring true story of Jim Ellis, a black swimming coach who recruits a group of troubled inner-city youths and transforms them into a championship swimming team. As Sunu reflects on his life, it is clear that his unique experiences and insights enable him to bring a profound sense of honesty and authenticity to his storytelling, capturing the essence of an underdog black swim team that achieves their dreams through determination, passion, and unwavering ambition.
