The Cursed Ones
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 | |
---|---|
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 | Zissou Pictures Ltd. |
Release date |
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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
- 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
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
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
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
- "AMAA 2016: Full List of Winners". Vanguard. 12 June 2016. Retrieved 13 June 2016.
- "PRESS RELEASE: BREAKING NEWS AMAA announces 2016 nomination list". ama-awards.com. Archived from the original on 21 May 2016.
- 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.