Shemu Joyah’s short movie misses award

Veteran filmmaker Shemu Joyah’s short film Strike A Blow and Die, which tells the story of one of the country’s freedom fighters, Reverend John Chilembwe, failed to claim the Efere Ozako Award for Best Short Film on Saturday at the Africa Movie Academy Awards (Amaa).

The event was held in Nigeria, where The Last Shoemaker from Uganda claimed the award.

Apart from Strike A Blow and Die, some of the films that were nominated in the category include Seben from Mali, Dear Future Wife from South Africa, Isolated from Nigeria, Jolie from Angola, Don’t Call Me Beautiful from Ghana and Sins of a Father from Zimbabwe.

“We would have loved to win it for Malawi but it has not been the case. It was still a great honour to get nominated,” the award-winning filmmaker said.

Apart from the Efere Ozako for Best Short Film Award, Several awards were given out and they included Best Film, which went to The Weekend.

Recently, Joyah said Strike A Blow and Die will be accessed on iPlus streaming platform.

Strike A Blow and Die is a rough cut where Joyah only took two scenes off the yet-to-be-produced Chilembwe feature film and it runs for less than 15 minutes.

The short film, produced using funds from Copyright Society of Malawi through the Copyright Fund, has two scenes of young John Chilembwe in 1891.

According to Joyah, the current budget for the full Chilembwe feature film is $3.5 million (approximately K6 billion).

FirstDawn Arts has said that it is working with three budgets for the film, which is curated in US dollars.

“If we are going to do it the way we want it done, $3.5 million is the first budget at the current rate,” he said recently.

Related Articles

Chingalire Cultural Festival on the cards-

Chingalire Cultural Festival on the cards

By Jimmy Chazama Veteran musician Ben Mankhamba, w...

Read More
Xandria to fly flag in Rwanda-

Xandria to fly flag in Rwanda

Renowned fashion designer Xandria left the country...

Read More
My Journey, Passion, Growth, and Music: Musician Bridget Makhula Tells Her Story-

My Journey, Passion, Growth, and Music: Musician Bridget Makhula Tells Her Story

As a highly motivated and driven individual, I’ve...

Read More
Entertainers of the Year Awards set for December 14-

Entertainers of the Year Awards set for December 14

By Kelly Napolo  The 2024 Entertainers of the Year...

Read More
Priscila Kayira Pockets Full Payment, Refuses to Take Down Post on Sparc-

Priscila Kayira Pockets Full Payment, Refuses to Take Down Post on Sparc

Prominent Malawi TV presenter and showbiz host Pri...

Read More