Ato Yanney’s “His Majestys Sergeant” For London Film Africa 2012

The film “His Majesty’s Sergeant”, a feature on the Second World War, shot on Panavision lenses, the first of its kind in Ghana, is in the news again!

This time it’s been selected to be screened as part of the films lined up for the event during the Film Africa 2012 film festival taking place in the United Kingdom from the 1st to the 10th of November 2012. The film was written and directed by the Ato Yanney snr, one of the pioneer filmmakers in Ghana who passed away about a year ago after a long battle with illness.

Ato Yanney Jnr, C.E.O of Flamboyant Films in a chat with the paper, spoke about his delight when he heard of the news, and for the fact that his late father’s work is still being recognized though he is no more. “It serves as a challenge to those of us who have taken the mantle, to produce films that would be accepted by international audiences, to continue the legacy he left behind.

“We are preparing to attend the event although we have a busy schedule shooting a television series “Old Simpson” a hilarious comedy written by my late father, which God willing, will hit the screens soon. We are therefore grateful to companies like Special ice mineral water, I.P.M.C , and Arc Security Consult for their support” he concluded.

It’s on record that “His Majestys Sergeant”, received the British Board of Film Classification Certificate after it was re edited in the Molinare Studios in the heart of Soho, in the United Kingdom, and the only feature which showcases the African participation in Burma during world war two.

The DVD version of the film was launched in Slough, England in 2011, and had guests like the then mayor of Slough, Councillor Sukhjit Dhaliwal and the Member of Parliament, Fiona Mactargatt, in attendance.

The film had a crack African crew with veterans like Rev. Dr Chris Hesse as the director of photography, Bernard odjidja as editor, James Mettle as cameraman, and featured Ghanaian actors George Williams, Tommy Ebow Ansah , as well as British Actor Tony Trent and Surrinder Singh Ghuman from Bombay India.

The late Ato Yanney Snr, has to his credit films like Genesis Chapter X, The Last Show, No Tears for Ananse, Death on Wheels, and a host of documentaries that were made during his days at the then Ghana Film Industry corporation. He was also a onetime broadcaster for short stories on B.B.C home service in the early sixties.