# 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 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 | Result |
| International Film Festival of Kerala | Best Film | | Nominated |
| Black Reel Awards | Outstanding World Cinema Motion Picture | | Nominated |
| International Filmfest Emden-Norderney | SCORE Bernhard Wicki Award | | Nominated |
| Screen Nation Film and Television Awards | Favourite UK African Film | Nicholas K. Lory, Maximilian Claussen, Nana Obiri Yeboah | Won |
| Screen Nation Film and Television Awards | Favourite Male Screen Personality | Oris Erhuero | Won |
| Atlanta Film Festival | Jury Award for Best Film | | Nominated |
| Helsinki African Film Festival | Jury Award for Human Rights and Social Commentary | | Won |
| Film Africa London | AUF Audience Award | | Nominated |
| Canada International Film Festival | Award of Excellence for a Foreign Film | Nicholas K. Lory | Won |
| 12th Africa Movie Academy Awards | Best Film | Nicholas K. Lory | Nominated |
| 12th Africa Movie Academy Awards | Best Actor in a Leading Role | Oris Erhuero | Nominated |
| 12th Africa Movie Academy Awards | Best Actor in a Supporting Role | Joseph Otsiman | Nominated |
| 12th Africa Movie Academy Awards | Best Director | Nana Obiri Yeboah, Maximilian Claussen | Won |
| 12th Africa Movie Academy Awards | Best Screenplay | Maximilian Claussen | Nominated |
| 12th Africa Movie Academy Awards | Best Cinematography | Nicholas K. Lory | Won |
| 12th Africa Movie Academy Awards | Best Costume Design | Afriye Frimpong | Nominated |
| 12th Africa Movie Academy Awards | Best Make-up | Araba Ansah | Nominated |
| 12th Africa Movie Academy Awards | Best Production Design | Davide De Stefano | Won |
| 12th Africa Movie Academy Awards | Best Soundtrack | Benjamin Wright | Nominated |
| 12th Africa Movie Academy Awards | Best Editing | Josh Levinsky | Nominated |
| 12th Africa Movie Academy Awards | Best Sound | Gernot Fuhrmann | Nominated |
| 12th Africa Movie Academy Awards | Best Young/Promising Actor | Ophelia Dzidzornu | Nominated |
| Golden Movie Awards | Overall Golden Movie | Nicholas K. Lory | Won |
| Golden Movie Awards | Golden Cinematography | Nicholas K. Lory | Nominated |
| Golden Movie Awards | Golden Actor | Oris Erhuero | Nominated |
| Golden Movie Awards | Golden Supporting Actor | Fred Amugi | Nominated |
| Golden Movie Awards | Golden Supporting Actress | Ama K. Abebrese | Won |
| Golden Movie Awards | Golden Director | Nana Obiri Yeboah | Won |
| Golden Movie Awards | Golden Writer | Maximilian Claussen | Nominated |
| Golden Movie Awards | Golden Art Director | Georgie Carson | Won |
| Golden Movie Awards | Golden Editor | Josh Levinsky | Nominated |
| Golden Movie Awards | Golden Sound Editor | Gernot Fuhrmann | Nominated |
| Golden Movie Awards | Golden Discovery | Ophelia Dzidzornu | Nominated |
| Ghana Movie Awards | Best Picture | Nicholas K. Lory | Nominated |
| Ghana Movie Awards | Best Actor in a Leading Role | Oris Erhuero | Nominated |
| Ghana Movie Awards | Best Actor in a Supporting Role | Jimmy Jean-Louis | Nominated |
| Ghana Movie Awards | Best Directing | Nana Obiri Yeboah | Nominated |
| Ghana Movie Awards | Best Cinematography | Nicholas K. Lory | Nominated |
| Ghana Movie Awards | Best Makeup and Hairstyling | Araba Ansah | Won |
| Ghana Movie Awards | Best Actress in a Supporting Role | Ama K. Abebrese | Nominated |
| Ghana Movie Awards | Best Adapted or Original Screenplay | Maximilian Claussen | Nominated |
| Ghana Movie Awards | Best Production Design | Davide De Stefano | Nominated |
| Ghana Movie Awards | Best Music (Original Score) | Benjamin Wright | Nominated |
| Ghana Movie Awards | Best Music (Original Song) | Benjamin Wright | Nominated |
| Ghana Movie Awards | Best Editing | Josh Levinsky | Nominated |
| Ghana Movie Awards | Best Visual Effects | Ahmed El-Azma | Nominated |
| Ghana Movie Awards | Best Sound Editing and Mixing | Gernot Fuhrmann | Nominated |
| Ghana Movie Awards | Discovery of the Year | Ophelia Dzidzornu | Nominated |