CI-NEWS

Young film actors receive awards in Bamenda.

2019-12-24

No: 462

Young film actors receive awards in Bamenda.

Even though the entertainment industry is still to take off on a serious note in Cameroon, many are young people who have dedicated their time and skill to become household names in the sector. Sixteen of them were disclosed and awarded trophies and special prizes during a colourful ceremony that ended the selection of actors, actresses and cinematographers with best works in Bamenda on December 15, 2019.

The trophies and other symbolic prizes received were in recognition of their products passed the test of a skilled jury and met the appetite of the public. The winners received the Almost A Night Award (ALAN) 2019 during a colourful and entertaining moment at the Epic Event Center in Bamenda, Sunday, December 15, 2019.

They won the award for both fiction and non-fiction short films, and cinematography.

ALAN Award is organized annually to promote young talents in the entertainment industry. From the initiation of the Award in 2017, three editions have seen the light of day, culminating in the selection of the 16 winners this year.

The jury constituted for the final selection made their judgment based on public votes made online in the previous month.

27-year-old Melvine Azah, winner of an award in the short film category, says she was nominated best actress following her role in the short film titled “Missing”. “It’s always exciting to see that the much energy we put in, the sleepless nights pay off. This is the best gift for me this Christmas. This is my seventh award both national and international,” she explains.

Azah, who hails from Mankon, has other short films including, “Tenacity,” “Ngwena” and “Rebel Pilgrim,” which have won her over six awards most of which can be watched at yabadao. Her advice to young people or those aspiring to be actresses like her is that there is no dream that is too small; the beginning of everything is never easy. To her, “Once you know that this thing is good for you, do not wait to hear the opinions of others; once you think it is your conviction, let it push you to go for it.”

She is currently working on “Three Days in October,” a film that will come up soon. Her inspiration, she says, comes from her Mankon background.

Eystein Young Jr Dingha, 27, actor and film director, won the award for short film titled “Mbutuku,” produced by a talent promotion agency in Bamenda. “I have been acting but this is my first film and first award. I am very excited about it. I am impressed about the trend Bamenda is showing and this is just the beginning of great days.”

To Victor Achiri, film maker, producer and director, participating in the production of “Missing” is an awesome experience. He says the film was shot sometimes in August 2019 at the peak of the curfew in Bamenda. He says, “Its actress, Melvine Azah, is very daring to have acted the scenes in the night during this time above 9pm. I give her the credit for that. If she was that kind of actress that was scared, we couldn’t have succeeded in shooting the film.”

The crisis, he says, is a very big challenge. Now to get a shooting permit is very difficult. “When they examine your script and see that it has a part that has to do with politics, they won’t give you a permit. Also, going inside the bush to shoot a film you will have to face the boys that will terrorise you, and when you come into the city you will have to face the military. So it’s very difficult for us to navigate; so we are forced to move out of Bamenda.”

Culled from Cameroon Insider

A PHP Error was encountered

A PHP Error was encountered

Young film actors receive awards in Bamenda.