Nigeria: 2011 Presidential elections sends AMAA date to 26th March
By Peterking Quaye – The 2011 AMAA is slated for Saturday ,March 26 at Gloryland Cultural Centre, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State. Traditionally held in April, this year’s AMAA is happening in March because of the forthcoming April polls. A nomination night and concert in Nairobi, Kenya on February 25 and 26 will however proceed the awards night.
Organisers have announced that the awards, due to hold between March 21 to 27 in Yenagoa, will incorporate many activities, making for a rounded event that will have something for everyone. The broadening of the AMAA finale is a departure from the six previous editions of the awards .
Speaking during an interactive session, the chief executive officer of AMAA, Peace Anyiam-Osigwe, disclosed that Egypt’s participation will strengthen the relationship between Nigerian filmmakers and their counterparts in North Africa. Amongst others, filmmakers Mahmood Ali-Balogun and Victor Okhai have at various times served on the jury of the Cairo International Film Festival.
Reports from Nigeria says, that, Egypt’s participation will also stress the importance of the awards to other North African countries and make them realise it’s for the whole of Africa and not just parts of the continent.
On the judging of entries, Anyiam-Osigwe disclosed that organizers “put a lot of effort into trying to make the AMAA one of the most transparent” out there. She added that winning an AMAA gong is a lifeline to the international film circuit.
President of AMAA presenting award 2010
Aki and Bobo in 2011 awards
The filmmaker who equated the AMAA to the BAFTAS and Oscars in the United Kingdom and United States however decried the apathy of corporate Nigeria to the awards. She canvassed both public and private support for the awards and filmmaking in Nigeria.
AMAA can be describe as a home grown brand that projects Nigeria positively across the world, noted that once government supports the awards, corporate Nigeria will follow suit. The AMAA boss also said that an art and craft exhibition is included in the package to encourage local craftsmen, painters, sculptors, and artists. She disclosed that the AMAA edition of ‘Experience Bayelsa 2011” will also include a book fair featuring 42 writers from across Nigeria. All the events, including a boat regatta and traditional wrestling at Oxbow Lake, Yenagoa, will climax with the awards night on March 27 at the Gloryland Cultural Centre.
Jackie Appiah and Lydia Forson from Ghana 2010 AMAA award winners
For example of when actors of Ghana won awards last year they were hosted by the country’s president, this encourages the artiste to perform well as he or she sees himself respected and attracts industry stakeholders easily. She however commended the United Bank for Africa (UBA) which supported AMAA for three years. She disclosed that the bank will still play a role in the nomination night holding in Kenya.
The filmmaker who premiered her TV series, ‘GRA Women’ last year also advised her colleagues to take their art more seriously and improve on it to get public and private support. She said, “If we take ourselves seriously, government and corporate Nigeria will take us seriously.”
AMAA Nominations 2011
| Category | Nominated Films | Winners |
| Best Short Film | BOUGFEN – PETRA BANINLA SUNJO (CAMEROUN) WEAKNESS – WANJIRU KAIRU (KENYA) NO JERSEY NO MATCH – DANIEL ADEMINOKAN (NIGERIA) DUTY – MAK KUSARE (NIGERIA) BONLAMBO – ZWE LESIZWE NTULI (SOUTH AFRICA) ZEBU AND THE PHOTOFISH – ZIPPORAH NYARORI (KENYA) DINA – MICKEY FONSECA (MOZAMBIQUE) ALLAHKABO – BOUNA CHERIF FOFANA (TOGO) |
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| Best Short Documentary | SYMPHONY KINSASHA – DIENDO HAMADI & DINTA WA LUSULA (CONGO) NAIJA DIAMOND (Feature on Dr. Rahmat Mohammed) – NFORM LEONARD (NIGERIA) AFTER THE MINE – DIENDO HAMADI & DINTA WA LUSULA (DRC) STEPPING INTO THE UNKNOWN – ROWENA ALDOUS & JILL HANAS-HANCOCK (SOUTH AFRICA) YEABU’S HOMECOMING – JENNY CHU (SIERRALEONE) |
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| Best Documentary | KONDI ET LE JEUDI NATIONALE – ARIANA ASTRID ATODJI (CAMEROUN) HEADLINES IN HISTORY – ZOBBY BRESSON (KENYA) CO-EXIST – ADAM MAZO (RWANDA) STATE OF MIND- DJO TUNDA WA MUNGA (CONGO) NAIJA DIAMONDS- NFROM LEONARD (NIGERIA) |
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| Best Diaspora Feature | SUICIDE DOLLS – KEITH SHAW (USA) TESTED – RUSSELL COSTANZO (USA) NOTHING LESS-WAYNE SAUNDERS (UK) THE VILLAGE -WAYNE SAUNDERS (UK) |
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| Best Diaspora Documentary | STUBORN AS A MULE – MILLER BARGERON JR & ARCELOUS DEIELS (USA) MOMENTUM- ZEINABU IRENE DAVIS (USA) IF NOT NOW – LOUIS HAGGART (USA) MOTHERLAND – OWEN ALIK SHAHADAH (USA) CHANGEMENT – CHIARA CAVALLAZI (ITALY) |
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| Best Diaspora Short Film | CYCLE- ROY CLOVIS (USA) UNDER TOW – MILES ORION FELD (USA) HABITUAL AGGRESSION – TEMI OJO (USA) LITTLE SOLDIER – DALLAS KING (USA) THE NEW N WORD – SOWANDE TICHAWONNA (USA) PRECIPICE – JULIUS AMEDUME (UK) |
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| Best Film for African Abroad | ANCHOR BABY – LONZO NZEKWE (NIGERIA/CANADA) IN AMERICA: THE STORY OF THE SOUL SISTERS- RAHMAN OLADIGBOLU (NIGERIA/USA) MIRROR BOY – OBI EMELONYE (NIGERIA/UK) AFRICA UNITED – DEBS GARDNER-BROOK (RWANDA/UK) |
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| Best Production Design | TANGO WITH ME VIVA RIVA HOPEVILLE 6 HOURS TO CHRISTMAS MAAMI |
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| Best Costume Design | INALE YEMOJA SINKING SANDS ARAMOTU ELMINA |
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| Best Make Up | INALE SINKING SANDS A PRIVATE STORM VIVA RIVA A SMALL TOWN CALLED DESCENT |
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| Best Soundtrack | VIVA RIVA AFRICA UNITED IZULU LAMI INALE A SMALL TOWN CALLED DESCENT |
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| Best Visual Effects | ARAMOTU NANI WHO OWNS DA CITY INALE A SMALL TOWN CALLED DESCENT |
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| Best Achievement in Sound | SINKING SANDS SHIRLEY ADAMS IZULU LAMI VIVA RIVA TANGO WITH ME |
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| Best Cinematography | SINKING SANDS MAAMI IZULU LAMI HOPEVILLE VIVA RIVA |
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| Best Screenplay | SOUL BOY SINKING SANDS HOPEVILLE SHIRLEY ADAMS IZULU LAMI |
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| Best Nigerian Film | MAAMI – TUNDE KELANI ARAMOTU – NIJI AKANNI TANGO WITH ME – MAHMOOD ALI- BALOGUN INALE – JETA AMATA A PRIVATE STORM – LANCELOT ODUWA IMASEUN/IKECHUKWU ONYEKA |
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| Best Film in African Language | ARAMOTU – NIJI AKANNI (NIGERIA) IZULU LAMI – MADODA NCAYIYANA (SOUTH AFRICA) SOUL BOY- HAWA ESSUMAN (KENYA) SUWI – MUSOLA CATHERINE KASEKETI (ZAMBIA) FISHING THE LITTLE STONE – KAZ KASOZI (UGANDA) |
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| Best Child Actor | SOBAHLE MKHABASE (THEMBI), TSCHEPANG MOHLOMI (CHILI-BITE) AND SIBONELO MALINGA(KHWEZI) – IZULU LAMI ERIYA NDAYAMBAJE- DUDU IN AFRICA UNITED JORDAN NTUNGA- ANTO IN VIVA RIVA AYOMIDE ABATTI- YOUNG KASHI IN MAAMI BENJAMIN ABEMIGISHA- ZEBU IN ZEBU AND THE PHOTOFISH SHANTEL MWABI- BUPE IN SUWI |
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| Best Young Actor | YVES DUSENGE (CHILD SOLDIER) AND ROGER NSENGIYUMUA (FOOTBALLER)- AFRICA UNITED SAMSON ODHIAMBO AND LEILA DAYAN OPOU – SOUL BOY EDWARD KAGUTUZI – MIRROR BOY DONOVAN ADAMS – SHIRLEY ADAMS JUNIOR SINGO – HOPEVILLE |
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| Best Actor in Supporting Role | OSITA IHEME – MIRROR BOY HOJI FORTUNA – VIVA RIVA MPILO VUSI KUNENE – A SMALL TOWN CALLED DESCENT JOHN DUMELO – A PRIVATE STORM DESMOND DUBE- HOPEVILLE |
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| Best Actress in Supporting Role | MARY TWALA – HOPEVILLE JOYCE NTALABE – THE RIVALING SHADOW MARLENE LONGAGE- VIVA RIVA TINA MBA -TANGO WITH ME YVONNE OKORO – POOL PARTY |
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| Best Actor in Leading Role | THEMBA NDABA – HOPEVILLE PATSHA BAY -VIVA RIVA JIMMY JEAN-LOUIS – SINKING SANDS EKON BLANKSON – CHECKMATE ANTAR LANIYAN – YEMOJA MAJID MICHAEL – POOL PARTY |
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| Best Actress in Leading Role | IDIAT SHOBANDE -ARAMOTU OMONI OBOLI- ANCHOR BABY MANIE MALONE – VIVA RIVA AMAKE ABEBRESE- SINKING SANDS DENISE NEWMAN -SHIRLEY ADAMS GENEVIEVE NNAJI – TANGO WITH ME |
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| Best Director | SOUL BOY – HAWA ESSUMAN SHIRLEY ADAMS – OLIVER HERMANUS VIVA RIVA – DJO TUNDA WA MUNGA ARAMOTU – NIJI AKANNI A SMALL TOWN CALLED DESCENT – JAHMAIL. X. T QUBEKA SINKING SANDS – LEILA DJANSI |
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| Best Film | VIVA RIVA – DJO TUNDA WA MUNGA (CONGO) SINKING SANDS – LEILA DJANSI (GHANA) ARAMOTU – NIJI AKANNI (NIGERIA) SOUL BOY – HAWA ESSUMAN (KENYA) HOPEVILLE – JOHN TRENGOVE (SOUTH AFRICA) A SMALL TOWN CALLED DESCENT – JAHMIL X.T QUBEKA (SOUTH AFRICA) |
