First Ghanaian film screens at Los Angeles Film Festival

This is a good one for Ghanaian filmmaker, Leila Djansi as she continues to make strides with her work.

Last week, her latest film Where Children Play was trending on Netflix and this week, it was announced that her latest film, Like Cotton Twines which was shot in Ghana will have it’s world premiere at the prestigious Los Angeles Film Festival, organized by Film Independent who also organize the Spirit Awards.

Like Cotton Twines will play in competition in the World Cinema category. By playing in competition, the film is nominated for the Best World Fiction Film.

This will be the first time a film from Ghana will play at this festival and possibly be in the running for the Spirit Awards. Ghana’s Abraham Attah won the Spirit Award for Best Actor last year and it will be an honor if Leila Djansi’s latest work is able to make it that far.

The film tells the story of Micah Brown, an American volunteer takes a teaching job in a remote African village where he meets Tuigi, a 13-year old girl who is to become Trokosi, wife to the gods. A practice of religious sexual slavery.

Accepting her fate, Tuigi’s only desire it to be able to write her BECE. Locked in a battle between church and state, Micah is determined to give Tuigi a life outside tradition.

The festival holds from the 1st to the 10th of June 2016 in Los Angeles at the Archlight Cinemas in Culver City and Hollywood.

Like Cotton Twines will play on the 2nd of June.

"Like Cotton Twines" stars star actress Yvonne Okoro, star of BET’s The Game Jay Ellis, David Dontoh, Luckie Lawson, Adjetey Anang, Ophelia Dzidzornu and Hollywood executive, actress/producer Miranda Bailey who produced last years award winning film Diary of a Teenage Girl.

Filmed on location in Ho, Keta and Saviefe, the film shows the richness of the Ghanaian landscape and immense talent of Ghanaian actors.