Nina Yang Bongiovi

Producing partners, Nina Yang Bongiovi and Forest Whitaker have gained a stellar reputation for having in-depth knowledge of film financing, creative and physical producing, and a knack for discovering talent, like that of Ryan Coogler (Marvel’s Black Panther), whose first film, Fruitvale Station (2013) was produced by Forest and Nina.

Together under their banner, Significant Productions, Nina and Forest have produced a number of critically-acclaimed films by auteur filmmakers, including Dope (2015) by Rick Famuyiwa, Songs My Brothers Taught Me (2015) by Chloe Zhao, Roxanne Roxanne (2018) by Michael Larnell, and Sorry To Bother You (2018) by Boots Riley. More recently, Forest and Nina produced Rebecca Hall’s directorial debut, Passing, based on Nella Larsen’s renowned Harlem Renaissance novel. The producing duo is currently executive producing the premium tv series, Godfather of Harlem, which is in production on Season 2 at EPIX. Nina and Forest are consistently in active development on a slate of multi-cultural feature films and television projects that they love.

Significant Productions’ mission is to create opportunities and push inclusivity for underrepresented narratives and storytellers by championing culturally-significant films and television shows starring BIPOC talent, alongside diversified representation behind the camera.

Forest is a member of The Academy of the Motion Picture Arts & Sciences (AMPAS), and the Television Academy. He notably received the Oscar for Best Actor for his performance in The Last King of Scotland. Forest actively serves as a Special Envoy in Conflict Resolution for the United Nations, through his foundation, The Whitaker Peace & Development Initiative.

Nina is a board member of Film Independent, The Oscar Grant Foundation, Coalition of Asian Pacifics in Entertainment (CAPE), and The Producers Guild of America. She is also a member of The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences’ (AMPAS) Producers Branch and the Television Academy. She is fluent in Mandarin, Chinese, and received her graduate degree in Entertainment Management from the Annenberg School at the University of Southern California.