Nana Obiri Yeboah’s “The Cursed Ones” Wins Big at 2016 African Movie Academy Awards

2016 African Movie Academy Awards, popularly known as #AMAA, which is fondly dubbed ‘The African Oscars’, are presented annually to recognize excellence of professionals in the film industry, took place yesterday, Saturday, June 11, 2016, at Dr. Obi Wali’s Event Centre, Port-Harcourt, Rivers State – Nigeria.

Ghanaian – UK based film director Nana Obiri Yeboah’s “The Cursed Ones” was able to win three (3) awards out of the thirteen (13) nominations in this year’s edition. Nana Obiri Yeboah and “The Cursed Ones” won Best Director, Best Cinematography and Best in Production Design in Africa.

“The Cursed One”, is a film produced by Nicholas K. Lory of Zissou Productions, who again produced “Nana Means Kings” and directed by Nana Obiri Yeboah. It was written by Maximilian Claussen and inspired by the BAFTA winning 2009 documentary, Saving Africa's Witch Children. The film was shot entirely on location in Ghana. The majority of the film was shot in a single village in the Eastern Region of Ghana.

The film which starred the likes of Oris Erhuero, Ama K. Abebrese, Jimmy Jean-Louis, Joseph Otsiman, Ophelia Dzidzornu , Akofa Edjeani Asiedu, Fred Amugi and Rama Brew.

“The Cursed One”, have screened on several screens in the world; Hackney Picturehouse in London, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, Pan African Film Festival in Los Angeles, the Atlanta Film Festival,the Helsinki African Film Festival and many other places.

The film which was released in 2015, tells the story of a disillusioned reporter and an idealistic assistant Pastor, who fight to save the lives of children accused of witchcraft, from the clutches of a system of corruption and superstition in the heart of West Africa.

Congrats to Nana Obiri Yeboah and the Team!!
Check out full list of winners below.

BEST SHORT FILM Meet The Parents – Nigeria/Canada

BEST ANIMATION The Pencil – Burkina Faso

BEST DOCUMENTARY The Fruitless Tree – Niger

BEST DIASPORA SHORT Across The Track – USA

AWARD FOR BEST FILM BY AN AFRICAN LIVING ABROAD Lambadina – Ethiopia/USA

BEST DIASPORA FEATURE Ben & Ara – USA

BEST DIASPORA DOCUMENTARY Agents of Change
ACHIEVEMENT IN COSTUME DESIGN Eye of the Storm

ACHIEVEMENT IN PRODUCTION DESIGN The Cursed One – Ghana

ACHIEVEMENT IN MAKE-UP Soldiers Story
ACHIEVEMENT IN SOUNDTRACK O-Town – Nigeria

ACHIEVEMENT IN VISUAL ARTS Oshimiri – Nigeria

ACHIEVEMENT IN CINEMATOGRAPHY The Cursed One – Ghana

ACHIEVEMENT IN EDITING Hear me Move AMAA 2016 play AMAA 2016

ACHIEVEMENT IN SCREEN PLAY Tell me Something Sweet

BEST FILM IN AN AFRICAN LANGUAGE Missing God – Nigeria

BEST ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE Abidine Dioari – Eye of the Storm

BEST ACTRESS IN SUPPORTING ROLE Thishiwe Ziqubu – Tell Me Something Sweet

BEST ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE Daniel K Daniel – Soldiers Story

BEST ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE Fulu Mugovhani – Ayanda Best

FIRST FEATURE FILM BY A DIRECTOR Beyond Blood – Greg Odutayo

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD Olu Jacobs and Joke Silva

BEST FILM Eye of the Storm – Burkina Faso

BEST DIRECTOR Nana Obiri -Yeboah – Ghana

BEST YOUNG / PROMISING ACTOR Zubaidat Ibrahim Fagge – Dry