Nollywood star Gideon Okeke is taking the lead in The Missing Chord, a new music-driven romantic drama that ties creative talent from the United Kingdom, Nigeria and Ghana.
The 19-minute play is written, produced and directed by award-winning UK-based Ghanaian filmmaker Bibi Owusu Shadbolt and co-produced by Olumuyiwa Ojo for BOS Films UK.
Okeke acts as Emeka, a talented but struggling Nigerian musician whose dreams have been stalled by constant rejection.
Expressing doubts about his talent, he travels from Lagos to Accra, where a sudden encounter forces him to confront his insecurities and rediscover his passion.
While in Ghana, he meets Serwaa, acted by British-Ghanaian actress Vanessa Vanderpuye, a confident and perceptive young woman who notices his potential.
Mixing romance, humour and music, The Missing Chord explores love, self-worth, artistic ambition and resilience. The film features music by celebrated African artistes alongside original compositions created for the story.
At its heart is a simple message: She didn’t complete him. She revealed him.
Director Bibi Owusu Shadbolt, known for festival favourite Afua’s Diary, said Okeke was the perfect fit for the role.
“I wanted an actor who could bring both strength and vulnerability to Emeka, and Gideon has that ability,” she said.
“The Missing Chord is more than a story about music or romance. It’s about those moments when rejection makes us question our worth, and how one person believing in us can help us rediscover our confidence.”
The short film is also a proof-of-concept for Shadbolt’s planned feature, There’s Love in the Lyrics, currently in development.
The Missing Chord is in post-production and will be submitted to international film festivals in 2027.
