The Water Man

The Water Man is a magical realism feature film written and executive produced by Emma Needell, directed by David Oyelowo, and produced by Oprah Winfrey. The story follows a young boy on a quest to save his terminally ill mother by seeking out a mythical figure said to possess the secret to immortality. Blending emotional depth with fantastical elements, the film explores themes of grief, imagination, and resilience through a child's eyes.

The Water Man premiered at the 2020 Toronto International Film Festival and was released worldwide by Netflix. The screenplay earned early recognition, placing in the Top 100 of the Academy Nicholl Fellowship and landing on the 2015 Hollywood Black List as one of the industry’s best unproduced scripts.