Umu Barrie wins 3rd edition of the Sierra Leone Next Movie Star reality TV show

Former NMS winner (in yellow) standing next to current WINNER Umu Barrie

The President of the Sierra Leone Film Council, Michael Kargbo, who was also the Chief Judge of the 3rd edition of the Sierra Leone Next Movie Star (NMS) announced Umu K. Barrie winner of the 2019/2020 NMS show in the final eviction night held at the Miatta Conference Centre in Freetown on the 4th January 2020. Umu took home a cash prize of 50 Million Leones and a movie contract in the United States of America. She will also involve in a “fundraising program to give back to society.”

About 20 contestants/housemates entered the NMS house in December 2019 after several auditions held at Tees Mall in Freetown. After weeks of evictions, 11 contestants made it to the final eviction night which ushered Umu as a winner.

Umu Kultumy Barrie is a 22 year old Information Communications Technology (ICT) student at the Limkokwing University of Creative Technology, who entered the house as one of the favourite contestants to win the just concluded NMS reality TV show. She joined previous winners, Kai Bockarie Saquee who won the 1st edition in 2017, and Sia Comfort Ediener Nyukeh who won the 2nd edition in 2018, both winners were in attendance in this year’s event.

The Sierra Leone Next Movie Star is the first ever reality TV show in Sierra Leone, designed to scout acting talents across the country. Successful applicants go through series of trainings and coachings relating to film making, until a winner emerges. Every other contestants come out of the show empowered to start a career in acting.

The CEO of NMS, M.J Sessy Kamara promised to keep the show alive. “The Next Movie Star would be sustained and continues to empower young people in Sierra Leone,” adding that the other contestants will also involve “in a national movie project.”

Umu receiving prize from the Tourism Minister, Dr. Memunatu Pratt

In attendance were the Minister of Tourism, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, and other top stakeholders in the entertainment industry, who all pledged to support the Next Movie Star reality TV show. The show was however streamed online but couldn’t get the needed attention or followings due to poor production which the organisers promised to fix in subsequent events.

Th following contestants made it to the final eviction night:
Mariam Sheriff, Augusta Dora Tucker, Evalyn H.H. Cole, Winnifred E. Johnson, Mariama Bah, Winston S. Kamara, Umu K. Barrie, Isatu Bangura, Mohamed Sillah, Prince Kasim Koroma and Daniel L. Sesay, made it to the finals, and Evalyn H. H Cole as second runner-up, Mariama Bah as first runner-up and finally Umu K. Barrie as the 2019/2020 NMS winner. Sierra Leone’s top model, Daniel Law Sesay aka Black Panther who was the favourite of many fans, took the 6th position.