Take Down “Beasts of No Nation” Now! – Fuji Fukunaga

Award-winning Filmmaker, Cary Joji Fukunaga has issued a statement requesting that his critically acclaimed war drama ‘Beasts of No Nation’ be removed from the 2015 Ghana Movie Awards Nominations announced on Friday afternoon in Accra, Ghana.

Beasts of No Nation, a movie starring Idris Elba and a host of Ghanaian stars had quickly racked up nominations in over 15 categories, just because it was shot in Ghana, had Ghanaian producers and it featured a handful of artists of Ghanaian descent.

According to Fukunaga, his film is not a Ghanaian film and he did not submit it to the Ghana Movie Awards Jury; and he wonders how they got to see the movie. They could award anything associated with Ghana.

Parts of the statement reads: “While I am honoured by the numerous nominations from the Ghana Movie Awards jury, I must say ‘Beasts of No Nation’ is not for what the awards are intended for. It is merely a movie is shot in Ghana with supporting cast and crew in Ghana for an international audience.”

“Tony Tagoe and Danny Damah are not the producers of Beasts of No Nation. Daniel Damah was our line producer for Ghana, and Tony Tagoe as co-producer. I am sure the honourable jury know the definition for these roles adequately. ”

“Neither me or any of our producers submitted our film to the Ghana Movie Awards. In fact we don’t know how they even got to watch and review the movie. I didn’t know Netflix worked in Ghana. We only recently screened Beasts Of No Nation in Ghana at the Silverbird Cinemas, and we are absolutely perplexed to be included in an award that closed nominations on November 20 according to reports on the internet.”

“On behalf of the other producers of Beasts Of No Nation’, I request for the annulment of all nominations in the 2015 Ghana Movie Awards or we shall take legal action against the jury and producers of the awards.”

‘Beasts of No Nation’ was screened in the main competition section of the 72nd Venice International Film Festival, where it won the Marcello Mastroianni Award.
At the 2015 Toronto International Film Festival, the film was also shown in the Special Presentations section and released on Netflix globally and in a limited release by Bleecker Street on October 16, 2015.

Meanwhile, Ghanaian industry players have argued back and forth over why the movie swooped 14 nominations at the Ghana Movie awards with some saying that although the movie was shot in Ghana, it does not make it a Ghanaian movie but organizers of the Awards who still insist on claiming glory for the price not won stated in response that the producers of the movie are Ghanaians and therefore, it qualifies to be nominated.

The movie is based on a 2005 novel of the same name by Uzodinma Iweala. ‘Beasts of No Nation’ was directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga and tells the story about a young boy surviving a civil war in his country.

The film was shot in Ghana and stars Idris Elba, Ama K. Abebrese, Abraham Attah, Grace Nortey, David Dontoh, and Opeyemi Fagbohungbe

By Antwi Odrey|ghanashowbiz.com