“I Sing of A Well” RECEIVES 11 AFRICA MOVIE ACADEMY AWARDS NOMINATIONS

-“I Sing of A Well” tops nominations, which include Best Picture and Best Director-

(HOLLYWOOD, Mar. 9, 2010) – “I Sing of A Well” received 11 Africa Movie Academy Award (AMAA) nominations to include Best Picture and Best Director, to lead with the most nods. The film, jointly produced by Turning Point Pictures and Calabash Images and distributed by Cinema Librè, capitalizes on the elegant and breathtaking beauty of Ghana. The feature is set in the ancient Ghana Empire, in the time of the Mali kingdom under King Mansa Musa's rule. Prince Wenambe wins the throne from his father when he hands over the kingdom to Mansa Musa for protection from slave raiders. Basking in his glory as King, he seeks tirelessly after the beautiful Soraya who is betrothed to another, Dume , but his glory is short lived as Mansa Musa himself becomes a slave raider.

“When I was writing and directing the movie, I did not set out to get this kind of response,” said the elated writer and director Leila Jewel Djansi. “I'm not sure how I feel about the nominations because they came as a surprise, but I thank God for his grace and mercies.”

While she is no stranger to being recognized for her craft by such organizations as WorldFest and FESPACO, this is her first nod by the AMAA, and the film marks the first narrative feature Djansi has directed; her previous work being documentary films and shorts.

“As I have always said, I am humbled by the project. The cast, along with narrator Jimmy Jean- Louis, all brought new insight into their characters, coupled with the exquisite Ghanaian landscape; I am simply amazed at what it turned out to be. It would be great to win Best Picture. Then it makes the entire team who put in time and effort all winners. No one person can or should take credit for “I Sing of A Well.” If we don't win, it is great to be nominated. This is a great opportunity to say very big congratulations to everyone who contributed to the making of the film. ” Other nominations include, Akofa Edjeani Asiedu, Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role for her role as Soraya, John Osei Tutu Agyeman, Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role for his role as Prince Wenambe, and Godwin Kotey, Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role for his role as Dume.

AMAA will take place on April 10, in Bayelsa State, Nigeria.

A compete list of the nominations is as follows:

BEST DOCUMENTARY
1. Wanba Ngoma (Tanzania)
2. Peace Wanted Alive (Kenya)
3. Bariga Boys(Nigeria)
4. En quette d'identite (Burkina Faso)
5. Innovating for Africa (Nigeria)

BEST SHORT FILM
1. Mahala – (Mozambique)
2. The Abbys Boys –(South Africa)
3. The Painter – (Uganda)
4. Suara La – (Nigeria)
5. The Camera (Nigeria)

BEST ANIMATION
1. Hanayns Shoe (Egypt)
2. Adventure of Alayo (Nigeria)
3. Zoodo – (Burkina Faso)
4. Lyrics – (Algeria)
5. One Step of Love (Algeria)

BEST FILM BY AN AFRICAN FILMMAKER IN DIASPORA
1. Soul Diaspora
2. Okra Principle
3. China Wahala
4. Crunch

BEST FILM IN AFRICAN LANGUAGE
1. Omo Iya Kan – (Nigeria)
2. Aldeweden – (Ethiopia)
3. Togetherness Supreme – (Kenya)
4. Imani – (Uganda)
5. Game of my life – (South Africa)

HEART OF AFRICA AWARD FOR BEST FILM FROM NIGERIA
1. Nnenda by Izu Ojukwu
2. Freedom in Chain by Bond Emeruwa and Fred Amata
3. The Child by Izu Ojukwu
4. Figurine by Kunle Afolayan
5. High Blood Pressure by Teco Benson

AMAA ACHIEVEMENT IN SOUND
1. The Tenant
2. Season of a life
3. Perfect Picture
4. I Sing of A Well
5. Soul Diaspora

AMAA ACHIEVEMENT IN EDITING
1. Season of a life
2. The Child
3. Perfect Picture
4. Heart of Men
5. Lilies of the Ghetto

AMAA ACHIEVEMENT IN ART DIRECTION
1. I Sing of A Well
2. Fulani
3. The Child
4. Figurine
5. Imani

AMAA ACHIEVEMENT IN MAKE-UP
1. Heart of Men
2. The Child
3. The King is Mine
4. I Sing of A Well
5. Fulani

AMAA ACHIEVEMENT IN COSTUME
1. Perfect Picture
2. Prince's bride
3. The Child
4. I Sing of A Well
5. Lilies of the Ghetto

AMAA ACHIEVEMENT IN VISUAL EFFECT
1. The Child
2. Figurine
3. A sting in a tale
4. Fulani
5. Heart of Men

ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK
1. Seasons of a life
2. Imani
3. A sting in a tale
4. The Child
5. Figurine

BEST PERFORMANCE BY A CHILD ACTOR
1. Teddy Onyago and Bill Oloo- Togetherness Supreme
2. Tobi Oboli - The Figurine
3. Feyisola Ewulomi – Champions of our Time
4. Treasure Obasi – Champions of our Time
5. Mfanafuthi Magudulela – Game of my life

MOST PROMISING ACTRESS
1. Martha Kisaka – Togetherness Supreme
2. Chelsea Eze – Silent Scandal
3. Martha Ankomah – Sins of the Soul
4. Ashionye Michelle Ugboh- Jungle Ride
5. Rahema Nanfuka – Imani

MOST PROMISING ACTOR
1. Wilson Maina – Togetherness Supreme (Kenya)
2. Wale Ojo – The Child (Nigeria)
3. John Dumelo – Heart of men (Ghana)
4. Pethro Tumba Mbole – A game of my life (South Africa)
5. Sunny Chikezie – Lilies of the Ghetto (Nigeria)

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
1. Godwin Kotey- I Sing of A Well
2. Francis Duru – Nnenda
3. Yemi Blaq – High Blood Pressure
4. Adjatey Anang – The Perfect Picture

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
1. Doris Sakitey – A sting in a Tale
2. Funlola Aoifeyebi-Raimi – Figurine
3. Tapiwa Gwaza – Seasons of a life
4. Yvonne Nelson – Heart of Men

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE
1. Bimbo Akintola- Freedom in Chains
2. Jackie Apia, Lydia Farson and Naa Ashoku Mensa-Doku – The Perfect Picture
3. Stephanie Okereke- Nnenda
4. Flora Suya – Season of a life
5. Akofa Edjeani Asiedu – I Sing of A Well

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE
1. Lucky Ejim – The Tenant
2. Majid Michael – Sin of a soul
3. Ramsey Noah – The Figurine
4. Odera Ozoka – Soul Diaspora
5. John Osie Tutu Agyeman – I Sing of A Well

BEST SCREENPLAY
1. Season of a life
2. The Tenant
3. Freedom In chains
4. Guilty Pleasure
5. I Sing of A Well

AMAA ACHIEVEMENT IN CINEMATOGRAPHY
1. The Perfect Picture
2. Figurine
3. I Sing of A Well
4. The Child
5. The Tenant

BEST PICTURE
1. Seasons of a life (Malawi)
2. The tenant (Nigeria)
3. The Perfect Picture (Ghana)
4. The Figurine (Nigeria)
5. I Sing of A Well (Ghana)

BEST DIRECTOR
1. Shemu Joyah- Seasons of a life
2. Shirley Frimpong-Manso- The Perfect Picture
3. Kunle Afolayan – Figurine
4. Leila Jewel Djansi – I Sing of A Well
5. Jude Idada and Lucky Ejim – The Tenant