Kwaw Ansah

**Kwaw Paintsil Ansah** (dem born am 1941) be one Ghanaian filmmaker, wey him work as writer, director anaa producer include *Love Brewed in the African Pot* for 1980 and *Heritage Africa* for 1989. Ein first big film, *Love Brewed in the African Pot*, get plenty praise den awards all over English-speaking Africa. But despite all de awards den success, e take am nearly 10 years make he plete ein next big film project, de ambitious *Heritage Africa* (1989). Again, de film get plenty praise den awards. Since den, Ansah produce oda films like *Harvest at 17* (1994), *Crossroads of People, Crossroads of Trade* (1994) den *The Golden Stool, the Soul of the Asantes* (2000). Ansah be one person wey dey fight for African filmmaking den dramatic art, dey work hard for better funding den distribution of African films within Africa. Na he be chairmo of FEPACI den leader for FESPACO. For 1998, Ansah get Acrag Prize, de Living Legend Award for Contribution to de Arts of Ghana.

## Early life
Dem born Kwaw Paintsil Ansah for 1941 for Agona Swedru, Ghana. Na ein mummie be trader, wey ein poppie be photographer wey learn well (he sanso be painter, musician, den dramatist). After he start school for Anglican Mission School, Ansah go study for him O-Levels for Accra, de capital city, while he dey work as textile designer for United Africa Company. He dey thank ein poppie plenty for ein success den growth as filmmaker, buh na ein poppie wan am make he follow ein own trade, photography. But de young Ansah, wey discover say he fi draw den paint, get oda plans.

## Ein Education
From 1961 go 1963, na he dey London's Regent Street Polytechnic, wer na he get diploma insyd theater design. After he fini school for England, he go US, wer na he graduate from American Academy of Dramatic Arts den American Music and Drama Academy from 1963 to 1965. He first theater play, *The Adoption*, cam out off-Broadway for 1964.

## Ein Career
When Ansah cam back Ghana for 1965, he find work for film den TV. He work two years as Production Assistant den Set Designer for Ghana Film Industry Corporation, wey he sanso do commercials for Lintas Advertising Agency for Accra. He design set for Egbert Adjesu ein film *I Told You So* (1970). Ansah later start ein own advertising firm, Target Advertising Services, for 1973. He still dey do commercial advertising work (dem now dey bell ein company Target Saatchi & Saatchi Ltd), wey he say "dey pay de bills". One of ein TV commercials win am CLIO Award for New York for 1989.

Ansah no stop for commercial work, he still dey engage plus theater den arts world. Soon after he come back Ghana, he cam turn big man for Ghana Drama Association, Ghana Association of Writers, den officer for Film Guild of Ghana. Ein play, *Mother's Tears*, show for Drama Studio for Accra for 1967, wey people like am well well. Dem later san show am for Accra Arts Centre for 1973, 1991, den for National Theatre for 1995.

### ''Love Brewed in the African Pot''
Ansah start ein own film production company, Film Africa Limited, for 1977, wey he begin work on de project wey cam turn *Love Brewed in the African Pot* (1980). De film be instant hit for English-speaking Africa, break all previous records for film by African director, while e sanso get critical acclaim den respect. De film win awards worldwide, wey dey include Omarou Ganda Prize for "most remarkable direction and production in line with African realities" at FESPACO, de first time dem give award to film from Anglophone country; UNESCO Film Award for France, den Jury's Special Silver Peacock Award, "For Genuine and Talented Attempt to Find National and Cultural Identity" at International Film Festival of India.

### ''Heritage Africa''
Despite all de awards den success, e take Ansah nearly ten years make he plete ein next big film project, de ambitious *Heritage Africa* (1989). Ansah face plenty challenges wey dey worry filmmakers for Africa. Making de film be one long struggle to find money den get de necessary things. As na ebe de case plus *Love Brewed*, he get ein hand insyd nearly all aspects of de film ein production—even writing de theme music for de two films, along plus directing, writing, den producing. Buh de logistical challenges be de most difficult. E be exhausting, even debilitating process. He cam out of de experience plus ein health no good, buh plus one impressive, widely acclaimed film. *Heritage Africa* win grand prize for FESPACO for 1989 (again, de first from Anglophone country), Organization for African Unity's Best Film Award, Outstanding Film Award for 1989 London Film Festival, den plenty odas.

### ''Crossroads of People, Crossroads of Trade''
Ansah ein documentary, *Crossroads of Trade, Crossroads of People*, wey he make for Ghana Museum and Monuments Board wey Smithsonian Institution sponsor, now dey show continuously for Cape Coast Castle, as part of one controversial plan to renovate de slave forts den castles.

He receive several national, international den professional awards wey dey include The Order of the Nation of Burkina Faso (March 1995) for Arts & Culture; Best Documentary and TV Production Award for *Crossroads of People, Crossroads of Trade* (FESPACO-1995); The Grand Prix Award for Heritage Africa at FESPACO, Ouagadougou, 1989, wich na ebe de first from Anglophone Africa.

Ansah make comeback after a while from active filmmaking insyd 2010 plus de release of *Good Old Days: The Love of AA* (2010). Since then, he make films like *The Good Old Days: Papa Lasisi Good Bicycle* (2011), *The Good Old Days: Suffering to Lose* (2012) den *Praising The Lord Plus One* (2013). At de first NAFTI Film Lectures insyd 2011 for de Ghanaian Motion Picture Industry, na dem honor Ansah for ein immense contribution to cinema. During dat same event, na dem sanso give am de Osagyefo Lifetime Achievement Award by de Ghana Academy of Film and Television Arts (GAFTA).

Insyd October 2014, Ansah launch comic book base for ein critical acclaimed 1980 film *Love Brewed in the African Pot*, de first film make dem adapt into a comic book insyd Ghana. Ansah be founding member of de Ghana Academy of Film and Television Arts.

## Filmography

* *Love Brewed in the African Pot* (1980)
* *Heritage Africa* (1989)
* *Harvest at 17* (1994)
* *Crossroads of People, Crossroads of Trade* (1994)
* *The Golden Stool, The Soul of the Asantes* (2000)
* *The Good Old Days: The Love of AA* (2010)
* *The Good Old Days: Papa Lasisi Good Bicycle* (2011)
* *The Good Old Days: Suffering to Lose* (2012)
* *Praising The Lord Plus One* (2013)

## References


## External links
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