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 | Zissou Pictures Ltd. |
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
- 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 |
