As the Malawi film industry continues to gain ground, this year the country was not so lucky at the annual Africa Magic Choice Viewers Awards (AMCVAs) when the only local nominated movie The Beautiful Hen Behind Yao Mountain failed to claim the award.
The movie, by Imran Kingsley Shabaan, was nominated in the Best Movie-Southern Africa category but the award went to Dalitso, a movie by Abraham Kabwe from Zambia.
In a WhatsApp interview after the event, which took place on Saturday evening in Nigeria, Shabaan said though he would have loved to bring the award home, he is still happy that his movie was nominated.
“We are happy that we got nominated. It only means we are on the right path. Even though we have not won, the nomination was such an honour,” he said.
Shabaan added that with his team they will strive to come back better and stronger next time.
This is the third time for local movies to be nominated for this prestigious award which is in its seventh year.
In 2016, Joyce Chavula made history when she became the first Malawian to win the AMVCAs award with her film Lilongwe. The film won the Best Movie-Southern Africa category.
Shemu Joyah also won the same accolade in 2018 with the The Road to Sunrise.
The Beautiful Hen Behind Yao Mountain is a love story. It is about a man named Amadu, who falls in love with Asuwema and as they are about to get married, it is discovered that Amadu is Asuwema’s brother.
The film features Ken Kananji as Amadu, Bertha Nkhoma as Asuwema, Abdullah as John and Kamlanje Fantasia Mkwamba as Abiti Daudi.
The film was shot in Mangochi at Che Moto Village, Traditional Authority Chowe.
MultiChoice Malawi managing director Gus Banda said getting the nomination was a great development for the country.
He said: “A nomination at the AMCVA is a big deal in the African film industry and as MultiChoice Malawi, we are very proud to see what our fellow Malawians are doing in the film industry.”
The Beautiful Hen Behind Yao Mountain DVDs will go on sale from April 1 2020.
