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 fights to free a girl accused of witchcraft from the clutches of a corrupt system and superstition in the heart of West Africa.
The film received 3 Africa Movie Academy Awards in 2016 for Best Director, Best Cinematography, and Best Production Design. It was nominated for 13 AMAA awards in total, making it the most nominated film of 2016.
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. The majority of the film was shot in a single village in the Eastern Region of Ghana.
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. In 2016 the film also screened in competition at the Pan African Film Festival in Los Angeles, the Atlanta Film Festival, the Helsinki African Film Festival, 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.
Awards Award Category Recipient ResultInternational Film Festival of KeralaBest FilmBlack Reel AwardsOutstanding World Cinema Motion PictureInternational Filmfest Emden-NorderneySCORE Bernhard Wicki Award Screen Nation Film and Television AwardsFavourite UK African FilmNicholas K. Lory, Maximilian Claussen, Nana Obiri YeboahFavourite Male Screen PersonalityOris ErhueroAtlanta Film FestivalJury Award for Best FilmHelsinki African Film FestivalJury Award for Human Rights and Social CommentaryFilm Africa LondonAUF Audience AwardCanada International Film Festival Award of Excellence for a Foreign FilmNicholas K. Lory 12th Africa Movie Academy AwardsBest FilmNicholas K. LoryBest Actor in a Leading RoleOris ErhueroBest Actor in a Supporting RoleJoseph OtsimanBest DirectorNana Obiri Yeboah, Maximilian ClaussenBest ScreenplayMaximilian ClaussenBest CinematographyNicholas K. LoryBest Costume DesignAfriye FrimpongBest Make-upAraba AnsahBest Production DesignDavide De StefanoBest SoundtrackBenjamin WrightBest EditingJosh LevinskyBest SoundGernot FuhrmannBest Young/Promising ActorOphelia Dzidzornu Golden Movie AwardsOverall Golden MovieNicholas K. LoryGolden CinematographyNicholas K. LoryGolden ActorOris ErhueroGolden Supporting ActorFred AmugiGolden Supporting ActressAma K. AbebreseGolden DirectorNana Obiri YeboahGolden WriterMaximilian ClaussenGolden Art DirectorGeorgie CarsonGolden EditorJosh LevinskyGolden Sound EditorGernot FuhrmannGolden DiscoveryOphelia Dzidzornu Ghana Movie AwardsBest PictureNicholas K. LoryBest Actor in a Leading RoleOris ErhueroBest Actor in a Supporting RoleJimmy Jean-LouisBest DirectingNana Obiri YeboahBest CinematographyNicholas K. LoryBest Makeup and HairstylingAraba AnsahBest Actress in a Supporting RoleAma K. AbebreseBest Adapted or Original ScreenplayMaximilian ClaussenBest Production DesignDavide De StefanoBest Music (Original Score)Benjamin WrightBest Music (Original Song)Benjamin WrightBest EditingJosh LevinskyBest Visual EffectsAhmed El-AzmaBest Sound Editing and MixingGernot FuhrmannDiscovery of the YearOphelia Dzidzornu
References
External links Zissou Pictures Official Film page The Cursed Ones at Rushlake Media
Adventures of Sinbad actor, Oris Erhuero talks about shooting The Cursed Ones