Nana Mensah Didn’t Just Star in ‘Queen of Glory.’ She Also Wrote, Directed and Raised the Money to Make It

“Queen of Glory,” a new indie drama about a doctoral student whose plans are upended when her mother dies unexpectedly and leaves her the family’s Christian bookstore, is a remarkable feature film directing debut for Nana Mensah.Not only does its premiere at this year’s Tribeca Festival herald the arrival of a compelling new cinematic voice, it also represents an impressive triple act. Mensah didn’t just direct the movie. She wrote the script and stars in the picture, as well. That was partly a necessity, she claims, one that arose because of the film’s shoestring budget. Mensah, best known for her work in NBC’s “New Amsterdam” and the indie drama “Farewell Amor,” also helped raise the money for the production and, in a case of art imitating life, convinced her parents to let her turn their Christian bookstore into a film set.“Queen of Glory ...