Film Maker Nworah’s Shanty Town Shines At 2023 AMVCA

Nigerian Filmmaker, Chichi Nworah’s 2023 series ‘Shanty Town’ has received ten nominations at the 2023 Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA).

‘Shanty Town’ was released on Netflix in January to wide acclaim.

These AMVCA nominations are coming a few days after an online platform, released an audience survey which ranked ‘Shanty Town’ as the audience’s most favourite Nollywood flick released so far in 2023.

In the audience survey, ‘Shanty Town’ was picked as the most impressive to watch, followed by ‘Brotherhood’ and ‘Gangs of Lagos’ respectively.

Chichi Nworah, the film’s executive producer, on her Instagram page @realchichinworah expressed delight at the AMVCA nominations

Nominees

The cast of ‘Shanty Town’ who got nominations includes Dimeji Ajibola for Best Director; Jonathan Kovel for Best Cinematographer; Olalekan Isiaka for Best Art Director; Chidi Mokeme for Best Actor; Nse Ikpe -Etim for Best Actress; Ini Edo for Best Actress; Jaysynths and Hotkid for Best Sound Track; Maryam Ndukwe and Hakeem Effects Onilogbo for Best makeup; Kolade Morakinyo for Best sound Editor; Bunmi Fashina, Tiannah Empire and Secrets of April for Best Costume Designer.

The blockbuster series goes head-to-head with other big films that include ‘Anikulapo’ with 16 nods and ‘Brotherhood’ with 11 nominations. Ageshinkole, ‘Battle on Buka Street’, ‘Ile Owo’, and ‘Four Forty-Four’ are others that got several nominations each.

‘Shanty Town’, a Netflix original series produced by Chinenye Chichi Nworah and directed by Dimeji Ajibola, features Ini Edo, Chidi Mokeme, Nse Ikpe-Etim, Mercy Eke, Nancy Isime, Zubby Michael, Uche Jombo, RMD, Peter Okoye (Psquare).

Chichi Nworah, the CEO of Giant Creative Studios, is not new to Nollywood, having produced two films that did well at the box office between 2017 and 2020. Before ‘Shanty Town’ in 2023, she produced films like ‘Hot Girl Next Door’ in 2017 and ‘Betty’s Love Triangle’ in 2020. Also, ‘Tough Love’ series was widely watched on Nigerian pay-TV platforms in 2021, among other projects yet to be released like ‘Omoge Suzzy’ and ‘Fairytale Wedding’ series.

Recognition for one’s creative work comes with a great feeling. It feels good that ‘Shanty Town’ bagged ten nominations. This shows the depth of work, sleepless nights, talents, creativity, and other resources put together to produce the masterpiece. ‘Shanty Town’ is part of my journey to tell a local story with global artistry. With ‘Shanty Town’, I tried to create a departure from the norm. And we are happy with the results coming out.

Creating a project like ‘Shanty Town’ took a lot of money, and it stretched my co-executives and me, but seeing the positive global acceptance turned that stretch into joy,” the producer, Chichi Nworah said.

Tribune/Victoria Ibanga