Some Ghanaian movie stars and producers are dissatisfied that Beast of No Nation, an African war drama film shot in Ghana and directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga with a $6million budget, is competing against movies made by Ghanaians and Ghanaian producers.
Beast of No Nation got 15 nominations.
Although the movie starred international actor Idris Elba, it featured Ghanaian actors like Ama K. Abebrese, Abraham Attah, Grace Nortey and David Dontoh. Some movie stars think the movie should not be considered Ghanaian.
Juliet Ibrahim, contributing to the debate via a series of tweets, has called on actors and producers to boycott the event scheduled to take place December 30, 2015 in Accra.
In her words, “like I once said, till all Ghana celebrities/producers can come together and not attend and entertain the GMAs, the same will happen yearly.”
She said: “Other countries have several movie awards happening in a year! We only have one in Ghana. That’s why the GMA feel like they can mock Ghana producers.”
“When will Ghanaians start recognising and appreciating their own hardworking young producers and actors? Is it only when we make it to Hollywood?” she asked.
Ms Ibrahim added that she did not submit any of her movies this year for a GMA because “it’s a big joke that needs serious attention and help.”
According to her, if all producers in Ghana could come together and boycott the awards this year, organisers would understand they mean business. “Unity is all we need,” she added.
She said Ghanaian producers are trying so hard to sell the country’s culture and image out there but are “not recognised” for their works.
She revealed this is not the first time she has had issues with the Ghana Movie Awards. “Stop this scamming! This award is a big scam and we all know it!” she charged.
She alleged that she was robbed of an award last year. “That is why I have vowed never to attend GMA till you fix this scam. Stop cheating”.
In her words, “Fred Nuamah is a friend, but you need to get your act together my dear. Don’t keep joking with this industry. It’s not funny when you are the only one laughing.”
“If you want a way to get Idris Elba to attend your award event, simply invite him and nominate him for best actor in diaspora. Why stress it.
“[I’m] not even going to waste my breath on this. We need to stop submitting movies and attending for them to take us seriously! [That’s] my advice to all producers.
“I have questioned the Ghana movie awards from its first year till date. Only few will recall. Glad everyone has seen now.
“Funny how those who were winning fake awards last year and years before, are now complaining…
“GMA is a family awards oh, now family members are fighting Award schemes.
“Some reasons why I question GMA credibility – I shoot a movie and act as a supporting actress then GMA nominates me as LEAD ACTRESS. But how?
“You will be the LEAD ACTOR in a movie and Ghana movie awards will nominate you in SUPPORTING ACTOR CATEGORY. Jokes.
The full list of nominees for the GMA was announced Friday December 18, 2015 at the Silver Bird Cinema in Accra.
Read the full list of nominations below:
ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE
1. Oris Erhuero – The Cursed Ones
2. Prince David Osei – Last Night
3. Adjetey Annan – Cartel
4. Abraham Attah – Beast of No Nation
5. Henry Adofo – Freetown
ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE
1. Yvonne Nelson – If Tomorrow Never Comes
2. Nadia Buari – Imogen Brown
3. Lydia Forson – A Letter from Adam
4. Martha Ankomah – Shattered Lives
5. Joselyn Dumas – Silver Rain
ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
1. Jimmy Jean-Louis – The Cursed Ones
2. Idris EIba – Beast of No Nation
3. Van Vicker – I Do
4. Emmanuel Affadzi – Beast of No Nation
5. James Gardiner – Candle in the Wind
ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
1. Rebecca Acheampong (Becca) – If Tomorrow Never Comes
2. Sellorm Galley – The Table
3. Ama K. Abrebese – The cursed ones
4. Christabel Ekeh – Candle in the wild
5. Belinda Baidoo – Silver rain
COSTUME & WARDROBE
1. If Tomorrow Never Comes – Clara Asantewaa
2. I Do – Elikem Kumordzie
3. Beast of No Nation – Jenny Eagan/Kayoa Afriyie Frimpong
4. 14:32 – Augustus Edgar Quartey
WRITING ADAPTED OR ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
1. If Tomorrow Never Comes – Pascal Amanfo
2. Beast of No nation – Uzodinma Iweala/Cary Fukunaga
3. Freetown – Melissa Larson / Garrett Batty
4. The Cursed Ones – Maxilian Claussen
5. Silver Rain – Juliet Asante
MUSIC ORIGINAL SCORE
1. If Tomorrow Never Comes – Berni Anti
2. Freetown – Kirk Sharpe
3. The Cursed Ones – Benjamin Wright
4. Beast of No Nation – Dan Romer
5. Nana Means King – Aleksander Kuzba
MUSIC ORIGINAL SONG
1. If Tomorrow Never Comes – Berni Anti 2.
2. I Do – Kobi Rana
3. The cursed ones – Benjamin Wright
4. 4. Coz ov mont – Emmanuel Owusu Bonsu Mensah Ansah
5. Why should I get married 2 – D. Black
BEST EDITING
1. Freetown – Connor O’Malley
2. Beast of No Nation – Mikkel E. G. Nielsen
3. The Cursed Ones – Josh Levinsky
4. 14:32 – Kimi Frimpong
5. Cartel – Abby Bawa
MAKEUP AND HAIRSTYLING
1. If Tomorrow Never Comes – Jana Siidaus Nahdi
2. I Do – Christabel Jones
3. The Cursed Ones – Araba Ansah
4. Cartel – Lydia Ashietey
5. Beast of No Nation – Chris Burgoyne, Rita Parklo
VISUAL EFFECTS
1. Freetown – Davin Bekins
2. I Do – Enoch Obiri Opoku
3. Beast of No Nation – Kevin Bitters
4. The Cursed Ones – Ahmed El-Azma
5. 14:32 – Charles McCarthy
PRODUCTION DESIGN 1. Beast of No Nation – Tony Tomety / Miles Kristian
2. If Tomorrow Never Comes – D. J. Vagas
3. The Cursed Ones – Davide De Stefano
4. I Do – Ada Chibuife
5. Freetown – Albert Aidoo / Courage Wormenor
CINEMATOGRAPHY
1. Cartel – John Passah
2. If Tomorrow Never Comes – Rex Perbi
3. Freetown – Jeremy Prusso
4. The Beast of No Nations – Cary Joji Fukunaga
5. The Cursed Ones – Nicholas K. Lory
SOUND EDITING AND MIXING
1. Nana Means King – Aleksander Kuzba
2. Freetown – George Dankwa
3. Beast of No Nation – Geoffrey Patterson
4. If Tomorrow Never Comes – Berni Anti
5. The Cursed Ones – Gernot Fuhrmann
DIRECTING 1. Freetown – Garrett Batty
2. If Tomorrow Never Comes – Pascal Amanfo
3. Beast of No Nation – Cary Fukunago
4. The Cursed Ones – Nana Obiri Yeboah
5. 14:32 – Kwesi Apenteng Quartey
BEST PICTURE
1. Beast of No Nation – Tony Tagoe/ Danny Damah (Producers)
2. If Tomorrow Never Comes – Yvonne Nelson (Producer)
3. The Cursed Ones – Nicholas K. Lory (Producer)
4. Silver Rain – Julliet Asante (Producer)
5. I Do – Kafui Danku (Producer)
6. 30 days in Atlanta – A. Y. (Producer)
7. Candle in the Wind – Abdul Sallam (Producer)
8. Freetown – Mawuli Akpabi Adam Abel Garret Batty (Producers)
9. Cartel – Dayan Fields (Producer)
BEST ACTOR AFRICAN COLLABORATION
1. Enyimma Nwigwe – Silver Rain
2. Ramsey Nouah – 30 days in Atlanta
3. De Deyemi Okanlawon – If Tomorrow Never Comes
4. Nsikan Isaac – The Corned Help
BEST ACTRESS AFRICAN COLLABORATION
1. Ure Eke – Silver Rain
2. Mercy Johnson – 30 days in Atlanta
3. Patience Ozokwor – Mama Africa
4. Ini Edo – While You Slept
5. Rachael Oniga – The Corned Help
DISCOVERY OF THE YEAR
1. Abraham Attah – Beast of No Nation
2. Emmanuel Affadzi – Beast of No Nation
3. Ophelia Dzidzornu – The Cursed Ones
4. Jessica Larnyoh – I Do
5. Stonebwoy – Happy Death Day
6. General Ntatea – Kalybos in China
7. Deborah Vanessa – 14:32
8. Becca – If Tomorrow Never Comes
9. Belinda Dzata – Royal Diadem
10. Princess Shingle – Why Should I Get Married?
FAVOURITE ACTOR
1. Majid Michel
2. John Dumelo
3. Kalybos
4. Bismark the Joke
5. Kwadwo Nkansah
6. Akrobeto
7. Adjetey Annan
8. Agya Koo
9. Kwaku Manu
10. Van Vicker
FAVOURITE ACTRESS
1. Kyeiwaa (Rose Mensah)
2. Mercy Asiedu
3. Maame Serwaa
4. Emelia Brobbey
5. Nana Ama McBrown
6. Yvonne Nelson
7. Jackie Appiah
8. Ahoufe Patri
9. Juliet Ibrahim
10. Nadia Buari
SHORT MOVIE
1. Gaxorzozor
2. Love at the time of Odwira
3. Date
4. Thief
5. The cry
ANIMATED SHORT MOVIE
1. Nasir (Bribery Gone Wrong)
2. Hogan Toons
3. The Perculiar Life of a Spider
4. Agradaa
5. Nubuke
BEST DOCUMENTARY
1. Komabu – za
2. Dog tales
Source: Ghana/ClassFMonline.com/91.3fm
