Nigeria lead in the 2012 Africa Movie Academy Awards nominations

Nigeria received 52 nominations on 17 March 2012 in Banjul, Gambia for the Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA), Africa’s most prestigious awards for filmmakers.

South Africa was a close second with 45 nominations, followed by Ghana with 17, Kenya with 14, Uganda with 5, Tanzania with 3, and Algeria, Cameroon, Guinea, Rwanda, and Zimbabwe.

There were also nominations for films linked to the Diaspora in America, Canada, France, Germany, Guadalupe, Italy, Jamaica, and the UK.

AMAA received 328 entries from across Africa, up from 220 in 2011. This includes 134 feature films, 88 short films, 57 documentaries and six animations. 43 entries came from Africans in the Diaspora, with the other entries coming from 23 countries across the continent.

South African surfing film Otelo Burning scooped the most nominees (13), followed closely by South African film noir How 2 Steal 2 Million (11) and Nigeria’s Benin-set historical epic Adesuwa (10).  Ghana’s civil war film Somewhere in Africa has seven nominations, as does the Nigerian-South African xenophobia-themedcoproduction Man on Ground, whileKenya’s Rugged Priest has six.

 

Dr. Asantewa Olantunji, director of programming of The Pan African Film Festival, headed this year’s jury, which included June Giavanni, programmer for Planet Africa at The Toronto International Film Festival; Keith Shiri, founder and film curator at the London festival, Africa at The Pictures; Dorothee Wenner, a curator at The Berlin Film Festival; Shaibu Husseini, an actor, dancer and The Nigerian Guardian arts journalist; Steve Ayorinde, editor-in-chiefof The Daily Mirror;  Ayoko Babu, executive director of The Pan African Film Festival; Dr. Hyginus Ekwuazi, a film scholar and critic; and directors Berni Goldblat and John Akomfrah, OBE.

Only films produced and released between December 2010 and December 2011 were eligible.

The winners will be announced at a glittering ceremony on 22 April 2012, hosted byHeroes star Jimmy Jean-Louis. For the first time, the awards will be held in Lagos rather than Bayelsa in Nigeria.

“Our theme this year is Africa Rising,” says founder Peace Anyiam-Osigwe. “Africa’s economies are consistently growing faster than those of almost any other region of the world and our film industries are following suit. With the success of last year’s AMAA winner, Viva Riva!, all of a sudden there’s this great excitement about the potential of the African film industry, which isclearly demonstrated in this year’s diverse nominees.”

For more information, keep an eye on http://www.ama-awards.com/.

AMAA founder Peace Anyiam-Osigwe is available to discuss the nominations, the upcoming awards, and the power and potential of African cinema.  

 

The Following are Key Trailers:

Otelo Burning

How 2 Steal 2 Million

Adesuwa

Somewhere in Africa

Man on Ground

Rugged Priest

 

AMAA 2012 NOMINATION LIST

AMAA 2012 PRIZE FOR BEST SHORT FILM

Jamaa – Uganda

Look Again – Kenya

Maffe Tiga – Guinea

Braids On Bald Head – Nigeria

Hidden Life – South Africa

Mwansa The Great – Zimbabwe

Chumo – Tanzania

The Young Smoker – Nigeria

 

AMAA 2012 PRIZE FOR BEST DOCUMENTARY

African Election – Nigeria/Germany

Beyond The Deadly Pit – Rwanda

Awa Ogbe: An African Adventure – Algeria

Dear Mandela – South Africa

White& Black; Crime And Colour – Tanzania

The Niger Delta Struggle – Ghana

There Is Nothing Wrong With My Uncle –Nigeria

How Much Is Too Much – Kenya

 

AMAA 2012 PRIZE FOR BEST DIASPORA FEATURE

Toussanat Louverture -France

Ghetta Life -Jamaica

High Chicago – Canada

Elza – Guadalupe

Better Must Come – Jamaica

Kinyanrwanda – USA

 

AMAA 2012 PRIZE FOR BEST DIASPORA DOCUMENTARY

The Education Of Auma Obama – Germany

White Wash – USA

Almendron Mi Corazon – Guadalupe

All Me: The Life And Times Of Winfred Hubert -USA

 

AMAA 2012 PRIZE FOR BEST DIASPORA (SHORT FILM)

John Doe – USA

White Sugar In A Black Pot -USA

The Lost One -USA

 

AMAA 2012 PRIZE FOR BEST ANIMATION

The Legend on Ngog Hills – Kenya

Oba – Nigeria

Climate Change is Real – Kenya

Egu – South Africa

Chomoka - Kenya

 

AMAA 2012 PRIZE FOR BEST FILM BY AN AFRICAN LIVING ABROAD

Mystery Of Birds – USA/Nigeria

Housemates – UK/Nigeria

Ben Kross – Italy/Nigeria

Paparazzi Eye In The Dark – USA/Nigeria/Ghana

 

AMAA 2012 PRIZE FOR ACHIEVEMENT IN PRODUCTION DESIGN

Somewhere in Africa – Ghana

Phone Swap – Nigeria

Otelo Burning – South Africa

Adesuwa - Nigeria

How 2 Steal 2 Million – South Africa

 

AMAA 2012 PRIZE FOR ACHIEVEMENT IN COSTUME DESIGN

The Captain Of Nakara - Kenya

Adesuwa – Nigeria

Rugged Priest -Kenya

Somewhere In Africa - Ghana

Queens Desire – Nigeria

 

AMAA 2012 PRIZE FOR ACHIEVEMENT IN MAKE-UP

Rugged Priest – Kenya

State Research Bureau – Uganda

Adesuwa - Nigeria

Somewhere In Africa – Ghana

Shattered - Kenya

 

AMAA 2012 PRIZE FOR ACHIEVEMENT IN SOUNDTRACK

Otelo Burning – South Africa

Alero’s Symphony – Nigeria

Adesuwa - Nigeria

How To Steal 2 Million - South Africa

Somewhere In Africa – Ghana

 

AMAA 2012 PRIZE FOR ACHIEVEMENT IN VISUAL EFFECTS

Behind The Mask - Nigeria

Somewhere In Africa – Ghana

Adesuwa - Nigeria

State Research Bureau - Uganda

Otelo Burning – South Africa

 

AMAA 2012 PRIZE FOR ACHIEVEMENT IN SOUND

State Of Violence – South Africa

Otelo Burning – South Africa

How To Steal 2 Million - South Africa

Man On Ground - South Africa

Algiers Murder - South Africa

 

AMAA 2012 PRIZE FOR ACHIEVEMENT IN CINEMATOGRAPHY

1. How To Steal 2 Million - South Africa

2. Otelo Burning – South Africa

3. Rugged Priest – Kenya

4. Masquerades - Ghana

5. Man On Ground –South Africa/Nigeria

 

AMAA 2012 PRIZE FOR ACHIEVEMENT IN EDITING

1. Algiers Murder – South Africa

2. Man On Ground – South Africa/Nigeria

3. Unwanted Guest – Nigeria

4. How To Steal 2 Million- South Africa

5. Otelo Burning – South Africa

6. Alero’s Symphony - Nigeria

 

AMAA 2012 PRIZE FOR ACHIEVEMENT IN SCREENPLAY

1. Ties That Bind – Ghana

2. Mr & Mrs – Nigeria

3. How To Steal 2 Million – South Africa

4. Otelo Burning –South Africa

5. Unwanted Guest -Nigeria

6. Two Brides And A Baby – Nigeria

 

AMAA 2012 PRIZE FOR BEST NIGERIAN FILM

1. Unwanted Guest -Nigeria

2. Family On Fire – Nigeria

3. Alero’s Symphony – Nigeria

4. Adesuwa – Nigeria

5. Phone Swap – Nigeria

 

AMAA 2012 PRIZE FOR BEST FILM IN AN AFRICAN LANGUAGE

1. Chumo - Tanzania

2. State Of Violence – South Africa

3.  Family On Fire – Nigeria

4. Otelo Burning – South Africa

5. Asoni - Cameroon

 

AMAA 2012 PRIZE FOR BEST CHILD ACTOR

1. Rahman Junior Bande (Behind The Mask) - Nigeria

2. Tsepang Mohlomi  (Otelo Burning) – South Africa

3. Reginna Danies (Bank Job) – Nigeria

4. Benjamin Abemigisha (Jamaa) – Uganda

5. Racheal Nduhukire (Jamaa) – Uganda

6. Ayinla O. Abdulaheem (ZR-7) – Nigeria

 

AMAA 2012 PRIZE FOR BEST YOUNG/PROMISING ACTOR

1. Neo Ntatleno (State Of Violence) – South Africa

2. Ivie Okujaye (Alero’s Symphony) – Nigeria

3. Iyobosa Olaye (Adesuwa) – Nigeria

4. Martha Ankomah (Somewhere In Africa) – Ghana

5. Thomas Gumede (Otelo Burning) – South Africa

6. Sihle Xaba (Otelo Burning) – South Africa

 

AMAA 2012 PRIZE FOR BEST ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

1. Rapulana Seiphemo (How To Steal 2 Million) – South Africa

2. Fana Mokoena (Man On Ground) – South Africa

3. Hafiz Oyetoro (Phone Swap) – Nigeria

4. Okechukwu Uzoesi (Two Brides And A Baby) – Nigeria

5. Godfrey Theobejane (48) – Nigeria

6. Lwanda Jawar (Rugged Priest) – Kenya

 

AMAA 2012 PRIZE FOR BEST ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

1. Terry Pheto (How 2 Steal 2 Million) – South Africa

2. Ebbe Bassey (Ties That Bind) – Ghana

3. Empress Njamah (Bank Job) – Nigeria

4. Ngozi Ezeonu (Adesuwa) – Nigeria

5. Thelma Okoduwa (Mr & Mrs) – Nigeria

6. Omotola Jalade Ekeinde (Ties That Bind) -Ghana

 

AMAA 2012 PRIZE FOR BEST ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE

1. Menzi Ngubane (How 2 Steal 2 Million) – South Africa

2. Majid Micheal (Somewhere In Africa) – Ghana

3. Chet Anekwe (Unwanted Guest) – Nigeria

4. Jafta Mamabolo (Otelo Burning) – South Africa

5. Karabo Lance (48) – Nigeria

6. Wale Ojo (Phone Swap) – Nigeria

7. Hakeem Kae-Kazim (Man On Ground) –Nigeria/South Africa

 

AMAA 2012 PRIZE FOR BEST ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE

1. Nse Ikpe Etim (Mr & Mrs) – Nigeria

2. Yvonne Okoro (Single Six) – Ghana

3. Ama K. Abebrese (Ties That Bind) – Ghana

4. Rita Dominic (Shattered) – Kenya

5. Uche Jombo (Damage) – Nigeria

6. Millicent Makheido (48) – South Africa

7. Kudzai Sevenzo-Nyarai (Playing Warriors) – Zimbabwe

 

AMAA 2012 PRIZE FOR BEST DIRECTOR

1. Lancelot Oduwa Imaseun (Adesuwa) – Nigeria

2. Leila Djansi (Ties That Bind) – Ghana

3. Bob Nyanja (Rugged Priest) – Kenya

4. Charlie Vundla (How 2 Steal 2 Million) – South Africa

5. Khalo Matabane (State Of Violence) – South Africa

6. Akin Omotoso (Man On Ground) – South Africa/Nigeria

7. Sara Bletcher (Otelo Burning) – South Africa

 

AMAA 2011 PRIZE FOR BEST FILM

1. State Of Violence – South Africa

2. Adesuwa  – Nigeria

3. Otelo Burning – South Africa

4. Rugged Priest – Kenya

5. How 2 Steal 2 Million – South Africa

6. Ties That Bind – Ghana

7. Man On Ground – South Africa/Nigeria

Afribiz

Related stories: Nollywood humbled as Congo, South Africa rule at the African Movie Academy Awards 

Why Figurine stole the show at AMAA