The Cursed Ones

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	6 November 2015 (2015-11-06)(Film Africa)
Running time	95 minutes
Country	UK / Ghana
Language	English

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. ^[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

1. "AMAA 2016: Full List of Winners". Vanguard. 12 June 2016. Retrieved 13 June 2016.
2. "PRESS RELEASE: BREAKING NEWS AMAA announces 2016 nomination list". ama-awards.com. Archived from the original on 21 May 2016.
3. 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.
4. "Film Africa Festival 2015 Programme". Film Africa. Archived from the original on 3 October 2015. Retrieved 2 October 2015.
5. Okwoche, Peter (3 November 2015). "Ghanaian director's film The Cursed Ones tackles issue of witchcraft". BBC News. BBC News. Retrieved 4 November 2015.
6. "Films - Pan African Film Festival". www.paff.org. Archived from the original on 22 October 2021. Retrieved 23 March 2016.
7. "List of Films & Special Presentations". Atlanta Film Festival. Archived from the original on 13 March 2016. Retrieved 23 March 2016.
8. "The Cursed Ones". Helsinki African Film Festival. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
9. "THE CURSED ONES". New York African Film Festival. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
10. "Competition Films". Archived from the original on 22 October 2021. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
11. "17TH ANNUAL BLACK REEL AWARDS NOMINATIONS". 14 December 2016. Archived from the original on 28 February 2017. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
12. "SCORE BERNHARD WICKI AWARD" . Retrieved 5 June 2016.
13. "11th Screen Nation Film & Television Awards 2016: Rewarding Excellence Celebrating Diversity". TheNigerianVoice. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
14. "The Cursed Ones". Archived from the original on 9 January 2017. Retrieved 16 May 2016.
15. "The Cursed Ones Wins Award At Finnish Film Festival". 13 May 2016. Retrieved 16 May 2016.
16. "Film Africa Audience Award". Archived from the original on 18 July 2016. Retrieved 25 December 2015.
17. "Canada International Film Festival Screenplay Contest - 2016 Winners". www.canadafilmfestival.com. Archived from the original on 2 April 2016. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
18. "AMAA 2016: Full List of Winners". Vanguard. 12 June 2016. Retrieved 13 June 2016.
19. "Golden Movie Awards 2016 Nominees". goldenmovieawards.com. Archived from the original on 1 July 2016. Retrieved 27 June 2016.
20. Debrah, Ameyaw. "'Cursed Ones' wins big at Golden Movie Awards Africa". Ameyaw Debrah. Archived from the original on 26 June 2016. Retrieved 27 June 2016.
21. "Full list of nominations for Ghana Movie Awards out". 19 December 2015.
22. "WATCH LIVE: Ghana Movie Awards 2015 Comes off Tonight+ LIVE Updates...CLICK HERE NOW". 30 December 2015.
23. "10 Best Shows on Netflix of All Time - Ghanagist". 6 July 2023. Archived from the original on 25 December 2015.

External links

• Zissou Pictures Official Film page Archived 28 March 2015 at the Wayback Machine
• The Cursed Ones at Rushlake Media Archived 12 August 2020 at the Wayback Machine
• The Cursed Ones at IMDb
• Adventures of Sinbad actor, Oris Erhuero talks about shooting The Cursed Ones Archived 24 September 2018 at the Wayback Machine