Emma-Rosa Dias is an IFTA-nominated Producer/Director and Managing Director of Afro-Mic Productions, from Belfast, Northern Ireland. She first became known for presenting BBC’s Dinner Next Door and as a cast member of Channel 4’s first British Reality TV showShipwrecked in 2000. In 2013, Emma-Rosa founded her own production company, Afro-Mic Productions, which produces commercials, popular factual programmes, documentaries, commercials and drama.
Early life
Emma-Rosa Dias was born in Belfast. Her mother is of Northern Irish descent and her father is Angolan. Emma's mother managed a well known local record shop called Blinkers in the Student's Union of Queen's University Belfast between 1978-1986. Growing up around this, Emma-Rosa was immersed in a musical environment, and encountered various subcultures from mods and punks to new romantics that would frequent Blinkers. Emma-Rosa’s musical background also extended to her uncle, who was a sound engineer for many bands that played in Northern Ireland, including Pink Floyd, The Clash and Van Morrison. While attending Botanic Primary School in Belfast, Emma-Rosa became interested in performing arts, and was encouraged to develop her talent by joining a Belfast theatre group. Emma-Rosa later went on to win The Lyric Theatre's youth drama award two years running. Emma-Rosa also attained an Honours in Grade 1 to 4 ballet from the Royal Academy of Dancing.
Early career
Emma-Rosa moved to Koln, Germany in 1990 with her mother, residing there until 1998. During this time, Emma-Rosa became fluent in German, and her media career began in the German music industry in 1992. Starting in the House and Techno music scene when the dance/rave culture was thriving, Emma-Rosa managed the European bookings for DJ’s such as Carl Cox, Laurent Garnier and Richie Hawtin; she also secured European bookings for several homegrown DJ friends such as David Holmes. This experience led to a P.R. role, working for Planet House Records before it was purchased by Warner Brothers Music. She also co-managed the German tour for American alternative hip hop bandArrested Development. Emma-Rosa’s first TV media venture came when she was recruited to work for Germany’s landmark children’s TV series Die Sendung mit der Maus, for WDR Television, where she managed guest bands who were performing on the show.
Shipwrecked and television career
Emma-Rosa next move was starring as a cast member in the second season of Channel 4’s long running British reality television showShipwrecked, produced by RDF Media in 2000. Her television career began to snowball further when she secured a job presenting BBC factual entertainment series Dinner Next Door, produced by BAFTA award winning Alison Miller. While working in Sydney, Australia, Emma-Rosa had an unusual and memorable introduction to actor Hugh Jackman. Impressed by her talent, Jackman sponsored Emma-Rosa to take a three-month intensive television production course at in Sydney. Emma-Rosa then worked as a television presenter for BBC and UTV, and also began a production career behind the camera at Street Monkey TV, Belfast. Her behind-the-scenes work developed her experience of commercial production, leading to roles as an In-House TV producer and Assistant Creative Director, producing commercials for many companies including Subway, Coca-Cola, Heineken, Stena Line and Northern Ireland Tourist Board. Emma-Rosa fronted the ‘Backin’ Belfast’ campaign, which won the Tourism Think Tank Awards in Berlin, 2013, and Digital Communications Award, beating competition from over 600 contenders.
Afro-Mic Productions
Drawing on over 16 years experience, Emma-Rosa founded her own company, , in September 2013. Their first project was ‘’, a unique version of the Pharrell Williamsmusic videoHappy, which was shot featuring members of the public in Belfast dancing in the street. The video garnered worldwide attention, racking up 100,000 hits in the first 2 days on YouTube and was endorsed by Pharrell’s production company i Am Other, as well as The Oprah Winfrey Show. Using her passion for music and subcultures, Emma-Rosa Dias produced a trilogy of documentaries on Mod subculture, including Faces In The Crowd, For The Love of Mod: London, and For The Love Of Mod: Tokyo. The series has been viewed and downloaded in over 100 countries and has gained international acclaim, with reviews praising the authentic portrayals of the Mod scene. Other productions include, The Devil, narrated by Paul Weller, and Big Toe Needs A Hand for Channel 4. Afro-Mic's first short drama, Cry Rosa, was produced in association with RTÉ Storylands and Northern Ireland Screen. Based on a true story, centered around Emma-Rosa's own experiences, Cry Rosa, was nominated for Best Short Film at the Irish Film & Television Awards, 2018. Emma has recently produced A Taste of Home, a fun new cookery show based in Northern Ireland in co-production with Stellify Media. In addition to this, Afro-Mic Productions is currently in full production on a new observational documentary series for BBC Northern Ireland, following the work of a local volunteer search and rescue service. Growing quickly in stature, Afro-Mic Productions aim is to concentrate on producing high quality films and documentaries with a unique, personal touch.
