Temi Ami-Williams, who starred in award-winning Nigerian feature film Eyimofe, has been named Best Young Actor from West Africa at the Pan African Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou (Fespaco) in Burkina Faso.
In the 2020 movie she plays Rosa, an everyday Nigerian trying to make ends meet through working as a hairstylist and a bartender, selling personal items and even entertaining the attentions of an unwanted suitor for money.
According to GDN Studios, the Nigerian production company behind the film, she is the second Nigerian actor to win the award at Fespaco.
The award is accompanied by a cash prize of CFA1m and recognises the work of West African film actors aged under 30 who have distinguished themselves in fiction films in competition at Fespaco.
Ami-Williams said: “Eyimofe is my first film, so I had to understand many new things. Being the person to carry the story of Eyimofe to people is something I am very proud of, so I had to do it right. I had to understand shots, how much and how little was expected of me during scenes. I am glad the directors and producers took all these into consideration and they even got [fellow actor] Cynthia Egbijie and me a coach whom they flew in to take us through the story, how to bring it to life and the techniques needed.”
Fespaco 2021 took place in the Burkinabe capital from October 16 to 23.
tagged in: Eyimofe, Fespaco, Pan African Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou, Temi Ami-Williams