By N’fa Alie, Freetown.
Popular Sierra Leonean actor, Desmond Finney (pictured), has been invited by Affrinity Production to witness the first ever Special Movie Awards scheduled for 30th September 2016 in The Gambia.
The sensational Sierra Leonean award winning actor and director confirmed that he has received an official invitation to be on the red carpet for the event in September.
The Sollywood movie star who has been featured in countless movies produced in the continent will be attending the august event in The Gambia on the invitation of Affrinity Production, the organizers of the event.
Finney, who also doubles as actor and English, Drama and Theatre lecturer at the University of Sierra Leone said he is very optimistic the movie industry could help to make a strong socio-economic turnaround for the betterment of Sierra Leone and the continent as a whole if the private sector turns attention to it.
He said the African continent would drastically reduce youth unemployment if policies that are implemented to guarantee investor confidence and safeguards are introduced for the entertainment industry.
"I feel honoured to be invited to such a high class event and I look forward to meeting and chatting with other key players in the film industry. The movie industry is strategic in creating employment and stimulating socio-economic growth in sub Saharan Africa," he said.
Desmond will be among other celebrities from across the sub-region who will join him at this event that is aimed at recognizing movie makers in the Gambia for their efforts in boosting the African movie industry.
Another Sierra Leonean actor and producer Collins Archie Pierce will be a special guest at the awards.Pierce will be flying into the Gambia from London for the landmark event.
The blockbuster movie, Ibu in Sierra Leone, which is produced by Pierce and which features Nigerian movie star John Okafor aka Ibu, Desmond Finney and Collins himself and directed by John Solo is likely to be premiered in the Gambia on October 1, 2016.
The Special Movie Awards is the first-ever movie award ceremony that is being held to recognize and award outstanding personalities in the movie industry in The Gambia.
The event is meant to celebrate films made in The Gambia, promote quality film content and encourage the art of film-making.
Afrinity Production, organiser of the event, is a Pan-African specialist interactive media outfit.
SMA 2016 film entries were submitted by 24 film production houses after a week-long screening by an independent jury.
Based on the films submitted, the jury came up with three nominees in each of the 15 categories.
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