The Cursed Ones is a 2015 British film that was directed by Nana Obiri Yeboah and produced by Nicholas K. Lory. The original screenplay was written by Maximilian Claussen. The film tells the story of a disillusioned reporter and an idealistic young pastor, who fight to free a girl accused of witchcraft from the clutches of a corrupt system and superstition in the heart of West Africa.
| The Cursed Ones | |
|---|---|
 Film Poster for The Cursed Ones | |
| Directed by | Nana Obiri Yeboah |
| Written by | Maximilian Claussen |
| Produced by | Nicholas K. Lory |
| Starring | Oris Erhuero Jimmy Jean-Louis Ama K. Abebrese Fred Amugi David Dontoh Rama Brew Joseph Otsiman Ophelia Dzidzornu |
| Cinematography | Nicholas K. Lory |
| Edited by | Josh Levinsky |
| Music by | Benjamin Wright |
Production company | |
Release date |
|
Running time | 95 minutes |
| Country | UK / Ghana |
| Language | English |
The film received 3 Africa Movie Academy Awards in 2016 for Best Director, Best Cinematography, and Best Production Design.[1] It was nominated for 13 AMAA awards in total, making it the most nominated film of 2016.[2]
Cast edit
- Oris Erhuero as Godwin Ezeudu
- Jimmy Jean-Louis as Paladin
- Ama K. Abebrese as Chinue
- Joseph Otsiman as Pastor John Moses
- Ophelia Dzidzornu as Asabi
- Fred Amugi as Pastor Uchebo
- David Dontoh as Bartender
- Rama Brew as Village Elder
- Akofa Edjeani Asiedu
Production edit
The film was shot entirely on location in Ghana.[3] The majority of the film was shot in a single village in the Eastern Region of Ghana.[3]
Release edit
The Cursed Ones screened at the Hackney Picturehouse in London, England as part of the official selection for the Royal African Society's Film Africa festival.[4][5] In 2016 the film also screened in competition at the Pan African Film Festival in Los Angeles,[6] the Atlanta Film Festival,[7] the Helsinki African Film Festival,[8] the 27th Annual Emden International Film Festival, and the New York African Film Festival at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts where it was co-presented by the Human Rights Watch.[9]
Awards edit
| Award | Category | Recipient | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| International Film Festival of Kerala[10] | Best Film | Nominated | |
| Black Reel Awards[11] | Outstanding World Cinema Motion Picture | Nominated | |
| International Filmfest Emden-Norderney[12] | SCORE Bernhard Wicki Award | Nominated | |
| Screen Nation Film and Television Awards[13] | Favourite UK African Film | Nicholas K. Lory, Maximilian Claussen, Nana Obiri Yeboah | Won |
| Favourite Male Screen Personality | Oris Erhuero | Won | |
| Atlanta Film Festival[14] | Jury Award for Best Film | Nominated | |
| Helsinki African Film Festival[15] | Jury Award for Human Rights and Social Commentary | Won | |
| Film Africa London[16] | AUF Audience Award | Nominated | |
| Canada International Film Festival[17] | Award of Excellence for a Foreign Film | Nicholas K. Lory | Won |
| 12th Africa Movie Academy Awards[2][18] | Best Film | Nicholas K. Lory | Nominated |
| Best Actor in a Leading Role | Oris Erhuero | Nominated | |
| Best Actor in a Supporting Role | Joseph Otsiman | Nominated | |
| Best Director | Nana Obiri Yeboah, Maximilian Claussen | Won | |
| Best Screenplay | Maximilian Claussen | Nominated | |
| Best Cinematography | Nicholas K. Lory | Won | |
| Best Costume Design | Afriye Frimpong | Nominated | |
| Best Make-up | Araba Ansah | Nominated | |
| Best Production Design | Davide De Stefano | Won | |
| Best Soundtrack | Benjamin Wright | Nominated | |
| Best Editing | Josh Levinsky | Nominated | |
| Best Sound | Gernot Fuhrmann | Nominated | |
| Best Young/Promising Actor | Ophelia Dzidzornu | Nominated | |
| Golden Movie Awards[19][20] | Overall Golden Movie | Nicholas K. Lory | Won |
| Golden Cinematography | Nicholas K. Lory | Nominated | |
| Golden Actor | Oris Erhuero | Nominated | |
| Golden Supporting Actor | Fred Amugi | Nominated | |
| Golden Supporting Actress | Ama K. Abebrese | Won | |
| Golden Director | Nana Obiri Yeboah | Won | |
| Golden Writer | Maximilian Claussen | Nominated | |
| Golden Art Director | Georgie Carson | Won | |
| Golden Editor | Josh Levinsky | Nominated | |
| Golden Sound Editor | Gernot Fuhrmann | Nominated | |
| Golden Discovery | Ophelia Dzidzornu | Nominated | |
| Ghana Movie Awards[21][22][23] | Best Picture | Nicholas K. Lory | Nominated |
| Best Actor in a Leading Role | Oris Erhuero | Nominated | |
| Best Actor in a Supporting Role | Jimmy Jean-Louis | Nominated | |
| Best Directing | Nana Obiri Yeboah | Nominated | |
| Best Cinematography | Nicholas K. Lory | Nominated | |
| Best Makeup and Hairstyling | Araba Ansah | Won | |
| Best Actress in a Supporting Role | Ama K. Abebrese | Nominated | |
| Best Adapted or Original Screenplay | Maximilian Claussen | Nominated | |
| Best Production Design | Davide De Stefano | Nominated | |
| Best Music (Original Score) | Benjamin Wright | Nominated | |
| Best Music (Original Song) | Benjamin Wright | Nominated | |
| Best Editing | Josh Levinsky | Nominated | |
| Best Visual Effects | Ahmed El-Azma | Nominated | |
| Best Sound Editing and Mixing | Gernot Fuhrmann | Nominated | |
| Discovery of the Year | Ophelia Dzidzornu | Nominated |
References edit
- ^ "AMAA 2016: Full List of Winners". Vanguard. 12 June 2016. Retrieved 13 June 2016.
- ^ a b "PRESS RELEASE: BREAKING NEWS AMAA announces 2016 nomination list". ama-awards.com. Archived from the original on 21 May 2016.
- ^ a b Debrah, Ameyaw. "Adventures of Sinbad actor, Oris Erhuero talks about shooting 'The Cursed Ones' in Ghana, African entertainment and more". Ameyaw Debrah Media. Archived from the original on 24 September 2018. Retrieved 5 October 2015.
- ^ "Film Africa Festival 2015 Programme". Film Africa. Retrieved 2 October 2015.
- ^ Okwoche, Peter (3 November 2015). "Ghanaian director's film The Cursed Ones tackles issue of witchcraft". BBC News. BBC News. Retrieved 4 November 2015.
- ^ "Films - Pan African Film Festival". www.paff.org. Retrieved 23 March 2016.
- ^ "List of Films & Special Presentations". Atlanta Film Festival. Retrieved 23 March 2016.
- ^ "The Cursed Ones". Helsinki African Film Festival. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
- ^ "THE CURSED ONES". New York African Film Festival. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
- ^ "Competition Films". Retrieved 15 December 2016.
- ^ "17TH ANNUAL BLACK REEL AWARDS NOMINATIONS". 14 December 2016. Archived from the original on 28 February 2017. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
- ^ "SCORE BERNHARD WICKI AWARD". Retrieved 5 June 2016.
- ^ "11th Screen Nation Film & Television Awards 2016: Rewarding Excellence Celebrating Diversity". TheNigerianVoice. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
- ^ "The Cursed Ones". Retrieved 16 May 2016.
- ^ "The Cursed Ones Wins Award At Finnish Film Festival". 13 May 2016. Retrieved 16 May 2016.
- ^ "Film Africa Audience Award".
- ^ "Canada International Film Festival Screenplay Contest - 2016 Winners". www.canadafilmfestival.com. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
- ^ "AMAA 2016: Full List of Winners". Vanguard. 12 June 2016. Retrieved 13 June 2016.
- ^ "Golden Movie Awards 2016 Nominees". goldenmovieawards.com. Retrieved 27 June 2016.
- ^ Debrah, Ameyaw. "'Cursed Ones' wins big at Golden Movie Awards Africa". Ameyaw Debrah. Retrieved 27 June 2016.
- ^ "Full list of nominations for Ghana Movie Awards out". 19 December 2015.
- ^ "WATCH LIVE: Ghana Movie Awards 2015 Comes off Tonight+ LIVE Updates...CLICK HERE NOW". 30 December 2015.
- ^ "10 Best Shows on Netflix of All Time - Ghanagist". 6 July 2023.
