Ghana

Kwaw Paintsil Ansah was born in 1941 in Agona Swedru, Ghana. He studied Theater Design at the London Polytechnic, before studying Performing Arts at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts of New York from 1963 to 1965. He founded the Abibirma Players in 1964, and his play The Adoption was produced off-Broadway in 1964. In 1965 he moved to Los Angeles to study at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy, and worked at RKO Studios. Soon after his return to Ghana in 1965 he became an executive member of the Ghana Drama Association and the Ghana Association of Writers, and an officer of the Film Guild of Ghana. His play Mother's Tears was performed in Accra in 1967, and was instantly successful. In 1977, Ansah founded his film production company, Film Africa Limited. Ansah is a crusader for African filmmaking and dramatic art, working ceaselessly for improved funding and distribution of African films within Africa. He has been chairman of FEPACI and a leader in the direction of FESPACO. In 1998, Kwaw Ansah was awarded the Acrag Prize, the Living Legend Award for Contribution to the Arts of Ghana.

Filmography

Love Brewed in the African Pot (1980)
Heritage Africa (1989)
Crossroads of People, Crossroads of Trade (1994)
Harvest at 17 (1994)
The Golden Stool, The Soul of the Asantes (2000)
The Good Old Days: The Love of AA (2010)
The Good Old Days: Papa Lasisi Good Bicycle (2011)
The Good Old Days: Suffering to Lose (2012)
Praising The Lord Plus One (2013)