Leila Djansi facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Leila Afua Djansi
Born	Leila Afua Djansi 17 July Bangalore
Occupation	Filmmaker
Known for	Like Cotton Twines (2016)

Leila Afua Djansi is a Ghanaian-American filmmaker who makes powerful movies. She started her career in Ghana's film industry and is known for telling important stories, especially about women and African culture.

A Storyteller's Beginning

Leila Afua Djansi was born on July 17. Her father was a pilot, and her mother was a senior nurse. Leila grew up in both India and Ghana.

At first, Leila wanted to be a gynecologist, a doctor who specializes in women's health. Later, she became interested in forensics, the use of science to solve crimes.

Her path changed again when she met a Ghanaian actor named Sam Odoi. He encouraged her to write a movie script for him. At just 19 years old, her script Babina was turned into a real movie.

Learning the Craft of Filmmaking

Leila went to primary and secondary school in Ho, a city in Ghana.

She started studying film at the National Film and Television School in Ghana. Soon after, she moved to the United States. She received a scholarship to study film at the Savannah College of Art and Design.

Bringing Stories to the Big Screen

Leila's career in entertainment began in 1998. She was a runner-up in a local beauty pageant. This gave her the confidence to pursue her dreams in the film industry.

Early Work in Ghana

Leila started making films in Ghana when she was 19. She worked with the state-owned Gama Film Company. There, she wrote and produced a film called Legacy of Love.

Award-Winning Films

Leila's first film as a director was I Sing of a Well in 2009. It was a huge success. The film received 11 nominations at the Africa Movie Academy Awards. It also won a special award at the Pan African Film Festival.

Her next film was Sinking Sands. This movie helped support a campaign by UNiFEM Ghana to stop violence against women.

In 2011, her film Ties That Bind won Best Diaspora Film at the San Diego Black Film Festival. It starred the famous actress Kimberly Elise.

Exploring Difficult Topics

Leila is not afraid to tackle serious subjects in her movies. Her 2016 film Like Cotton Twines tells a challenging story. It is about a 14-year-old girl in a rural Ghanaian village. The girl is forced to become a religious servant to pay for a crime committed by her family. This practice is a form of modern-day slavery. The film helped bring attention to this issue.

Her other movies include Where Children Play, which starred the Grammy-winning singer Macy Gray. She also created the TV show 40 and Single.

A Trailblazer in Film

Leila Djansi is celebrated for using her films to highlight issues that women face. She often hires a diverse group of people to work on her movies, both on-screen and behind the camera.

She is also praised for changing the film industry in Ghana. Her unique storytelling in I Sing of a Well inspired other Ghanaian filmmakers to tell their own African stories.

Awards and Recognition

• 2009: Her first film, Grass Between My Lips, won a WorldFest Platinum Award. It told a story about harmful traditions affecting young girls in a village in northern Ghana.
• 2010: Her movie I Sing of a Well was nominated for 11 Africa Movie Academy Awards and won three, including a Special Jury Award for Best Film.
• 2011: She received the BAFTA/LA Pan African Film Festival Choice Award for I Sing of a Well.
• 2011: Her film Sinking Sands received 10 nominations at the Africa Movie Academy Awards. Its star, Ama Abebrese, won Best Actress.
• 2012: Ties That Bind was nominated for a Black Reel Awards and won Best Diaspora Film at the San Diego Black Film Festival.
• 2016: Like Cotton Twines was nominated for Best World Fiction Film at the Los Angeles Film Festival. It later won Best Narrative Feature at the Savannah Film Festival.