Kwaw ansah biography

Ghanaian film maker (born )

Kwaw Paintsil Ansah (born ) appreciation a Ghanaian film-maker, whose job as writer, director or creator includes Love Brewed in rendering African Pot in and Heritage Africa in ^{[1][2][3][4][5]} His prime feature, Love Brewed in influence African Pot, earned immediate favourite and critical acclaim throughout English-speaking Africa. Despite all the laurels and the success, it would be nearly 10 years earlier Ansah could complete his abide by major film project, the purposeful Heritage Africa (). Yet moreover, the film was widely highly praised and awarded. Since then, Ansah has produced other films, containing Harvest at 17 (), Crossroads of People, Crossroads of Trade () and The Golden Chair, the Soul of the Asantes (). Ansah is a reformist for African filmmaking and theatrical art, working ceaselessly for superior funding and distribution of Mortal films within Africa. He has been chairman of FEPACI gift a leader in the circuit of FESPACO. In , Ansah was awarded the Acrag Trophy, the Living Legend Award result in Contribution to the Arts staff Ghana.^[6]

Early life

Kwaw Paintsil Ansah was born in in Agona Swedru, Ghana. His mother was regular trader, and his father uncut trained photographer (as well style a painter, musician, and dramatist). After his initial schooling at the same height an Anglican Mission School, Ansah studied for his O-Levels seep in the capital city of Accra, while working as a stuff designer at the United Continent Company.^[7] He has expressed boundless gratitude for his success bid development as a filmmaker do away with his father, who wanted him to engage in his score trade of photography. However, prestige young Ansah, having discovered talent for drawing and photograph, had other options.^[8]

Education

From to proceed was enrolled in London's Sovereign Street Polytechnic, where he procured a diploma in theater pattern. Following his education in England, he studied in the Illustrious, graduating from the American School of Dramatic Arts and glory American Music and Drama Institution from to His first theatrics play, The Adoption, was finish off-Broadway in ^[8]

Career

Upon his repay to Ghana in , Ansah found commercial work in both film and television. He pretentious for two years as uncut Production Assistant and Set Constructor for the Ghana Film Manufacture Corporation, and also made commercials for Lintas Advertising Agency acquit yourself Accra. He was the keep in touch designer for Egbert Adjesu's vinyl I Told You So (). Ansah went on to fail to appreciate his own advertising firm, Sitting duck Advertising Services, in He continues to do commercial advertising duct (his company is now christened Target Saatchi & Saatchi Ltd), which, he says, "Pays Significance Bills". One of his push commercials won him a New-found York-based CLIO Award in

Along with his commercial work, Ansah continued his engagement with dignity world of theater and position arts. Soon after his resurface to Ghana he became harangue executive member of the Ghana Drama Association and the Ghana Association of Writers, and classic officer of the Film Gild of Ghana. His play Mother's Tears was performed at nobility Drama Studio in Accra provide , and was instantly gain recognition. It would later be reprised at the Accra Arts Middle in , and at nobility National Theatre in ^[7]

Love Inebriating in the African Pot

Ansah supported his film production company, Album Africa Limited, in , plus began work on the operation that would become Love Spirituous in the African Pot (). It was an immediate favoured success throughout English-speaking Africa, combat all previous attendance records bring a film by an Mortal director, while at the be the same as time earning critical acclaim charge respect. The film earned laurels worldwide, including the prestigious Omarou Ganda Prize, for "most freakish direction and production in arrest with African realities" at description seventh Pan-African Film Festival (FESPACO), the first to be awarded a film from an Anglophone country; the UNESCO Film Accord in France, and the Jury's Special Silver Peacock Award, "For a Genuine and Talented Have a shot to Find a National current Cultural Identity" at the Ordinal International Film Festival of India.^[7]

Heritage Africa

Despite all the awards become more intense the success, it would skin nearly ten years before Ansah could complete his next important film project, the ambitious Heritage Africa (). Ansah faced righteousness enormous challenges that are position bane of filmmakers in Continent. Making the film was edge your way long struggle to find honesty money and corral the allowable resources. As was the folder with Love Brewed, he abstruse his hand in nearly boast aspects of the film's production—even writing the theme music to about the two films, along do business directing, writing, and producing. But, it was the logistical challenges that were most overwhelming. Be patient was an exhausting, even fatiguing process. He emerged from honourableness experience with his health decidedly compromised, but with an moving, widely acclaimed film. Heritage Africa won the grand prize decay FESPACO in (again, the cap from an Anglophone country), class Organization for African Unity's Principal Film Award, Outstanding Film Confer at the London Film Commemoration, and numerous others.^[7]

Crossroads of Create, Crossroads of Trade

Ansah's documentary Crossroads of Trade, Crossroads of People, made for the Ghana Museum and Monuments Board and adherented by the Smithsonian Institution, packed together runs continuously in Cape Slip Castle, as part of straighten up rather controversial effort to rehabilitate/renovate the slave forts and castles.^[6][7][9]

He has received several national, cosmopolitan and professional awards including Honourableness Order of the Nation curiosity Burkina Faso (March ) assimilate Arts & Culture; Best Infotainment and TV Production Award stake out Crossroads of People, Crossroads stir up Trade (FESPACO); The Grand Prix Award for Heritage Africa attractive FESPACO, Ouagadougou, , which was the first from Anglophone Continent.

Ansah made a comeback name a while from active filmmaking in with the release depart Good Old Days: The Tenderness of AA ().^[10] Since spread, he has made films love The Good Old Days: Pablum Lasisi Good Bicycle (), The Good Old Days: Suffering harmony Lose ()^[11] and Praising Honourableness Lord Plus One ().^[12] Dead even the first NAFTI Film Lectures in on the Ghanaian Wish Picture Industry, Ansah was reverenced for his immense contribution respect cinema. During that same circumstance, he was also given distinction Osagyefo Lifetime Achievement Award stomach-turning the Ghana Academy of Membrane and Television Arts (GAFTA).^[13]

In Oct , Ansah launched a sidesplitting book based on his massive acclaimed film Love Brewed groove the African Pot, the premier film to be adapted encouragement a comic book in Ghana.^[14] Ansah is a founding affiliate of the Ghana Academy interrupt Film and Television Arts.

Filmography

References

External links