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SMA to award Gambian film makers

Special Movie Award under the auspices of afrinity productions recently convened a press conference for the maiden edition of the special movie award dedicated to recognize the work of filmmakers and actors in The Gambia.
This according to organisers is to celebrate films made in the Gambia, promote qualitative film contents, encourage the art of film making and to recognize key players in the industry and support film productions in the country.
Speaking at the conference, Franklin Adim, the program/Award coordinator of special movie awards (SMA) said afrinity productions is a recognised media house in the Gambia and has come up with this initiative.
“Special movie awards is an award that has been initiated some few months ago. This is an award that will be celebrated to bring film makers in the country. When we talk about film makers, producers, actors for both lines as well as other recognition in the process of making film. The publicity has been going on gradually over the weeks and we are here today to formally inform and involve the press in the whole process and the award is slated for 30th September 2016.”
“The award is meant to award the film makers, actors and actress in the country and secondly it is a way of publishing the activities of film makers and actors in the country and to call out more collaborations, more support for film makers and actors in the Gambia. It is an award for celebration, publicity and recognition for those who are into film making.”
Also speaking at the conference, Sheikh Tijan Sonko, the producer of the SMA, said: “The maiden edition of SMA is to celebrate together with Gambian film makers and actors to at least recognize them. There are lot of people that are not aware of the good work the film makers are doing and we also want to at least promote quality films in the Gambia.
“And by doing this we decided to bring fifteen awardees in the film making and we will give out honorary award.”
Winners of the maiden edition will go home with certificates, a trophy and cash, according to the organizers of the event.
Special Movie Awards 2016 (Maiden Edition) is a night of glitz, glamour and paparazzi it is a night of unforgettable experience for movie starts to celebrate creative titles, diverse languages, beautiful colors, melodious sounds, graphical effects, styles and actions.
By Samsideen Ceesay & Juldeh Njie The Standard Newspaper, The Gambia.
Finally Zack Orji is BACK!

From the stables of AQ Entertainment and McAwal Concerns Productions comes first pan African film production entitled “Descent – My Family then Everyone Else”.
The full length featured film which is centrally themed around family, vengeance, betrayal, arms dealings and drugs features African film industry giants like Zack Orji, Matt Stern, JT Medupe, Benedikt Sebastian, Palesa Madisakwane, Tayo Faniran, Chibuzor Nwankwo, Phoenix Baaitse and host of others.
“Descent – My Family then Everyone Else” tells the story of family and what one would do to protect the ones they love and what they may do to the people who hurt the ones they love. It tells the story of Kalu Achebe (Zack Orji) an illegal arms dealer who lost his daughter to the recklessness of Vusi Morgan (JT Medupe) adopted son of Andrew Morgan (Matt Stern) a drug kingpin. Kalu Achebe seeks the heads of the culprits responsible for his daughter’s death though he blames the world for her sudden demise but someone needs to pay for the mistake of that single night.
In a recent encounter with the Director; Awal Abdulfatai he said “…the story narrated in the film is so compelling that you wouldn’t at any time be able to tell what might happen next. Each action has a reaction and the reactions so far are unpredictable. All I can say is that I am so excited to have worked on this project with the best team; my casts and crew”
The film which was shot on locations in Johannesburg, South Africa enjoyed a mixed race casting to tell the story of Africa. According to the producers “…we don’t want to produce this film as just a Nollywood product or just for the South African or Ghanaian film market rather an African film exportable to all African film markets and even to the rest of the world. If Hollywood films come down here to make Box-office success, why can’t our films also go there to do same?”
Descent is however scheduled to be premiered in some International film festivals cum 2017 and release to cinemas across Africa before it will be available for purchase on some digital platforms. The film is supported by the South Africa Police Service (SAPS), Ekurhuleni Municipality, Media Film Service, Larona HR Solutions and Lanrey Akins Fashion.
“…the interesting thing about this production is how it actually came together. The beautiful effort in the story, the amazing casts to interpret the lines and immense support and extra efforts of the people behind the cameras. What more satisfaction could you ask for?” – Chibuzor Nwankwo, Executive Producer Descent
The official trailer of the film is set for release by 23rd of August so we do believe that there is yet another blockbuster hitting African cinemas.
Gambia to Host First Movie Awards

In a bid to recognise and award outstanding personalities in the movie industry, the first-ever movie award to take place in the Smiling Coast of West Africa, dubbed Special Movie Awards (SMA), is scheduled to take place on 30th September, 2016.
This was disclosed recently during a press conference held at the Joint Officers Mess, in Kotu. Sheikh Tijan Sonko, Producer of the SMA, revealed that his association is a platform to recognise vibrant talents in the film industry, especially those who are doing their very best to take the nation’s entertainment industry to standard.
He added: “It starts with appreciating the quality work the film makers are doing in diverse areas.” Amadou Sillah, Advisor of SMA Committee, emphasised that SMA is building a structure that will continue to recognise committed and hardworking people involved in the film and movie industry.
To have a working movie industry, he opined, involves movie awards, TV channels, magazines, but that it comes down to sustainability, which he believes, with their dedicated team and the support of the people they will get there.
Frankline Adim, Programe/Award Coordinator remarked that the SMA 2016 awards will be a night of glitz and glamour to celebrate movie makers in The Gambia.
According to him, SMA 2016 will be giving fifteen awards, forty-five nominations and ten honorary awards that will be screened by both national and international judges.
According to SMA members apart from the trophy, awardees will have certificates and prizes will also be given to winners.
The event will be a bi-annual event in the country, and they are open to sponsorship and partnership.
By Alpha M Kamara Source: The Daily Observer Newspaper The Gambia.
Nollywood Director Collins Pearce to Grace SMA2016 as Main Anchor

Following the rise in the country’s industry, and thirst for taking the movie sector to the international stage, the Special Movie Awards (SMA) slated for 30th September, this year will mark a birth in the nation’s cinematography, as a result of choosing one of Nollywoods most renowned producer/director to be one of the main anchors for the event.
Popularly known as Director Collins Ajuma, a Sierra Leonean by birth, and a product of the Fourah Bay College in Sierra Leone, he has worked with most of the big names in Nollywood and outside, contributing to the very inner core of the industry at both national and international level.
Collins who has received numerous awards in the movie industry like, Best Film Producer (UK) 2015 by Malisha Da Queen Foundation; Best Supporting Actor 2014 AWOL; Best Sierra Leone Film Producer 2014 by Universal Achievements Awards and many more has managed the careers of prominent celebrities in Nollywood and Ghallywood. They include celebrities in the likes of Desmond Elliot,
Patience Ozoekwo, John Okafor (Mr Ibu), Ghana’s most prolific actor Van Vicker, and Charles Owurum. He has also taken the careers of some Sierra Leoneans to the international stage in the music industry like Kao Denero.
SMA 2016 awards will be a time to celebrate the excellence in the Gambia’s movie industry, having the personality in the likes of Collins Ajuma Archie Pearce gracing our maiden awards means we are on the right direction.
By Alpha M Kamara Source: The OBSERVER LIGHT
Gambia Film Industry Sparkling as Gods Will Premieres on Valentines Day

On a rapid drive to boost the nations film industry to produce standard films that will have universal audience and viewership, The Gambias film industry is sparkling as the movie Gods Will premieres on Valentines Day. The movie is produced by Wilfred Adams of Afrinity Productions.
In an interview with Observer Light, Adams said the principal idea behind the movie is one that discourage divorce, faith in God, and promote spouses to remain in long standing marriages by enduring patiently despite challenges that comes with marital life.
In describing her role in the movie, the lead role Fanta played by Isatu M Bokum, said as a strong young lady, she got married at an early age after courtship for about ten years and married for five years. The problem started when she could not bear a child for her husband Omar, played by Daniel Okorie, as he is desperate to have a child.
The movie takes a gloomy turn for Fanta as her best friend Isha played by Binta Janneh, whose husband is rich and provide all her needs, began to manipulate her to go into extra marital affairs because of the way Omar is treating her. With Fantas strong perseverance, she remains faithful to her husband, even after she was driven away from her matrimonial home for not bearing a child.
Source: Daily Observer
Special Movie Awards 2016 Press Conference

On Wednesday 20th July 2016, a press conference was held at the Joint Officers Mess for the Special Movie Awards (SMA) 2016.
The purpose was to sensitize the general public about this brilliant initiative, solicit for partnership and to let Film Makers know the closing date for the submission of application forms. The Conference was attended by the Committee Members of SMA and of about nine (9) Press Houses both Print and Electronic Media such as Standard Newspaper, Observer, The point, West coast Radio, Hot Fm and more.
Various questions with regards to the awards was asked in other to clear the air for the public and avoid skeptics. Some of the questions include:
• Where and when can one vote?
• When are submissions due?
• What is the submission process?
The press was more particular about the processes involved to be part of the Special Movie Awards Maiden Edition 2016. The Special Movie Awards Calendar has already been drafted below:
SPECIAL MOVIE AWARDS (SMA) 2016 |
|
ACTIVITIES | DATE |
Movie Submissions Opens | 1st July (9am-4pm)(Mon to Fri) |
Movie Submissions Closes | 30th July, Saturday |
Jury Retreat for Movie Screening | 1st August – 7th August |
Launching of SMA (Press Conference) | 8th August, Monday |
Public Voting Opens | 10th August, Wednesday |
Public Voting Closes | 10th September, Saturday |
Collation of Nomination Results | 29th September, Thursday |
Special Movie Awards Night |
30th September, Friday |
Aside the Special Movie Awards Calendar, some of the things discussed involved the submission requirements which involves A copy of the Film Makers movie to be submitted, A trailer and Production Logo in a flash drive to be submitted at:
Afrinity Productions
Office Address:
10 East Street,
Fajara F Section,
P.O. Box 3069 S/K,
The Gambia .
After all the matters and questions from the press was digressed by the committee members which included The Producer Sheikh Tijan Sonko, Program Coordinator Franklin Adim, Admin Secretary Isatu M. Bokum, Assistant Admin Secretary Binta Janneh , Financial Secretary Bankole Browne, and The Committee Adviser Amadou Sillah, the next press conference to be held on the 8th of August was disclosed. All the press Members are urged to join as that’s when most Concealed matters regarding the awards will be revealed. A special thanks goes the Executive Producer of SMA and CEO of Afrinity Productions, Mr. Wilfred Adams for powering the Maiden Edition of Special Movie Awards 2016, Afrinity Productions Technical Crew Adams Orukpe and Ayisatu Aiyegbo for covering the event, The Press members and Special Movie Awards Committee and everyone that was present at the conference.
Best Director 2016
Nominees
Voting officially opens on the 10th of August and closes 10th of September
Before voting please take a minute to watch your candidate’s short clip videos below,
Best Feature Film 2016
Nominees
Voting officially opens on the 10th of August and closes 10th of September
Before voting please take a minute to watch your candidate’s short clip videos below,
Best Indigenous Film 2016
Nominees
Voting officially opens on the 10th of August and closes 10th of September
Before voting please take a minute to watch your candidate’s short clips videos below,
Best Documentary Film 2016
Nominees
Voting officially opens on the 10th of August and closes 10th of September
Before voting please take a minute to watch your candidate’s short clip videos below,