Shirley Frimpong-Manso (born 16 March 1977) is a

Ghana Ghana (; tw, Gaana, ee, Gana), officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country in West Africa. It abuts the Gulf of Guinea and the Atlantic Ocean to the south, sharing borders with Ivory Coast in the west, Burkina Faso in the north, and To ...

ian film director, writer, and producer. She is the founder and CEO of Sparrow Productions, a film, television and advertising production company. She won

Best Director Best Director is the name of an award which is presented by various film, television and theatre organizations, festivals, and people's awards. It may refer to: Film awards * AACTA Award for Best Direction * Academy Award for Best Director * BA ...

at the 6th Africa Movie Academy Awards. Frimpong-Manso is also a principal of Sparrow Station, a video streaming service for African entertainment from Sparrow and other African film producers. In 2013, she was ranked the 48th most influential person in

according to

E.tv Ghana e.tv Ghana also known as ETV Ghana is a free-to-air terrestrial television network broadcasting 24-hours a day from Accra since its launch in October 2009. As of December 2011 it will also commence terrestrial transmissions in Kumasi. Beyond Ac ...

. Frimpong-Manso is described as one who "seeks to raise the standard of film production in Ghana and Africa by telling progressive African stories as seen through the eyes of Africans." Changing the way Ghana was portrayed also motivated her career choice. Her films are also known for their "fierce female leads," as they portray African women with agency who can be breadwinners and lead complex lives. In December 2019, her movie ‘

Potato Potahto Potato Potahto is a 2017 Ghanaian-Nigerian romantic comedy film which tells a story of divorce in West African society and how tricky it is. Plot Potato Potahto is a Ghanaian-Nigerian comedy movie which follows the life of two partners who are ...

’ started streaming on

Netflix Netflix, Inc. is an American subscription video on-demand over-the-top streaming service and production company based in Los Gatos, California. Founded in 1997 by Reed Hastings and Marc Randolph in Scotts Valley, California, it offers a fil ...

Biography

left, Her awards Frimpong-Manso is from Kwahu Pepease in the Eastern Region of Ghana. As a child she organized plays, which "felt a lot more fun than playing with sand and dolls." She graduated in 2000 from the National Film and Television Institute popularly known as NAFTI in Ghana and worked as a presenter at

Radio Gold Radio Gold is a privately owned radio station in Accra, the capital of Ghana Ghana (; tw, Gaana, ee, Gana), officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country in West Africa. It abuts the Gulf of Guinea and the Atlantic Ocean to the south, ...

, a private station in

Accra Accra (; tw, Nkran; dag, Ankara; gaa, Ga or ''Gaga'') is the capital and largest city of Ghana, located on the southern coast at the Gulf of Guinea, which is part of the Atlantic Ocean. As of 2021 census, the Accra Metropolitan District, , ...

, and then went on to start Sparrow Productions in 2003. Her husband and business partner is Ken Attoh, and they have a child together.

Works

With producer and actress Juliet Asante, Frimpong-Manso helped produce the TV show ''Heart to Heart'' for two years shortly after school. She has also produced: * ''Different Shades of Blue'' - a television series about five university girls who share a dormitory in a university hostel. * ''Personalities Kitchen'' - a cooking programme that hosts two personalities and challenges them to a rice meal of their choice. * ''The

Miss Ghana Miss Ghana is a national beauty pageant in Ghana. The current Miss Ghana 2020 is Monique Mawulawe Agbedekpui Titleholders ::''Ghana debuted at Miss World 1959 with Star Nyaniba Annan. However, there have been two candidates (1990 and 1991) wh ...

Pageant'' - she produced two semifinalists at the

Miss World Miss World is the oldest existing international beauty pageant. It was created in the United Kingdom by Eric Morley in 1951. Since his death in 2000, Morley's widow, Julia Morley, has co-chaired the pageant. Along with Miss Universe, Miss Int ...

event within five years during her time.

Filmography

Awards

* 6th Africa Movie Academy Awards - Best Director of the Year * 6th Africa Movie Academy Awards - ''

A Sting in a Tale ''A Sting in a Tale'' is a 2009 Ghanaian thriller film written and directed by Shirley Frimpong-Manso and produced by Ken Attoh. The film won five awards at the Ghana Movie Awards in 2010, including the awards for ''Best Director'', ''Best Writing ...

'' won the '' Best Soundtrack'' award * 18th Annual Pan African Film & Arts Festival - ''A Sting In A Tale'' took home the award for ''Audience Favorite-Narrative Feature'' *

2014 Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards The 2014 Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards was held on March 8, 2014 at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria. Osas Ighodaro, IK and Vimbai were the hosts of the event. References {{Africa Magic Viewers Choice A ...

- Best Movie Director, Best Video Editor, and (jointly with Hertey Owusu) Best Writer (Drama),

Contract A contract is a legally enforceable agreement between two or more parties that creates, defines, and governs mutual rights and obligations between them. A contract typically involves the transfer of goods, services, money, or a promise to tran ...

won Best Movie. * In March 2021, she was awarded the Film Director of the Year in the Citi TV Entertainment Achievement Awards.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Frimpong-Manso, Shirley Ghanaian film directors Ghanaian women film directors Ghanaian film producers Ghanaian women film producers Ghanaian writers Ghanaian women writers Best Director Africa Movie Academy Award winners Living people 1977 births