Abraham Attah’s role in the movie ‘Beasts of No Nation’ has earned him the ‘Rising Star Award’ by Black Film Critics Circle (BFCC).

The award scheme called Attah’s role as “one of the strongest and most phenomenal we have ever seen” and added that he had “a very bright future ahead of him”.

BFCC recognizes achievements in theatrical motion pictures.

It’s his second award after winning Marcello Mastroianni Award for Best Young Actor at Venice Film Festival 2015.

He has also been nominated for three awards so far: ‘Best Male Lead’ at the Spirit Awards 2015, ‘Outstanding Actor In a Motion Picture’ at the 47th annual National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People (NAACP) Image Awards and ‘Young Actor/Actress’ category at the 21st Annual Critics’ Choice Awards.

Attah played the lead role of Agu, who when civil war tears his family apart, is forced to join a unit of mercenary fighters and transformed into a child soldier.

Idris Elba played the commander of the mercenary unit.

Based on the 2005 novel of the same title by Uzodinma Iweala, it was partly shot in Ghana and also stars David Dontoh, Fred Amugi and Grace Omaboe.

Directed by Emmy Award-winning Cary Fukunaga, it is the first fictional feature produced and distributed by Streaming Service Netflix.

The movie was premiered in Ghana two weeks ago. Before that, it premiered on Netflix and in selected Theaters in The United States of America on October 16.

It was screened at a number of prestigious film festivals including Venice, BFI London and Toronto International Film Festival.