Nollywood Stars Give Verdict On AMAA

The African Movie Academy Awards (AMAA), has come a long way since its inception five years ago. It is today regarded by many as the African version of the American OSCAR Awards and enjoys international recognition for its laudable achievements.

In the last edition held at the Cultural Centre Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, on Saturday April 4th, some of the Nollywood Stars spoke with our Correspondent on their impression about the continental events; Excerpts:

Hakeem Rahman: National Vice President, Actors Guild of Nigeria, (AGN) 

- AMAA is one of the best things that has happened to the African Movie Industry as it affords movie makers and marketers the opportunity to come together every year. It has also encouraged excellence, hardwork and competition. Nollywood has not done much in terms of producing films that can compete favourably with that of other African countries in terms of production of films of international standards. This is probably why most of the awards were carted away by other African countries like Kenya, but we hope to get better in future.

Andy Chukwu (Actor)

AMAA has really done well over the years and the organisers have succeeded in bringing us together every year, particularly our counterparts in Nigeria and Africa. In terms of the choice of winners, they are doing well, that is why the number of participants continue to increase every year. AMAA improves every year, this is why this year’s event is better than last year.

Tom Njemanze (Actor)

Nollywood is a great thing that has happened to Africa. Without Nollywood, no African Magic we are going to do more great things to show our people of Africa that we are one. In terms of choice of winners, the judges follow due process, there is no bias in their choice of winners.

Gloria Young (Actress)

For AMAA, I will say so far so good, it is something that is bringing some kind of unity in Africa and Africa in diaspora.

Abiola Akande (Madam Kofo) Actress

AMAA is a welcome development, at least we have something to look up to every year and we have not been disappointed.

Ejike Asiegbu (President AGN)

AMAA has grown from strength to strength, but it can get better. We are happy that the governors of Bayelsa, from Alamesiegha, who started the event to the present administration have been very supportive.

The relevance is to bring Stars together which translates to rapid development of the tourism sector in the States. We have to sustain the tempo.

Kate Henshaw – Nuttall: (African Best Actress 2008)

AMAA has been good. It is the best thing that has happened to Nigeria and we will keep doing it because we have the talents here in this country.

Grace Amah -(Actress)

AMAA is simply great, it is a name that has come to stay and I am happy for the organizers of the vent for the good job they are doing.

Colins Mcdon:  (Actor)

AMAA has exposed Nigeria and Africa in diaspora to the world. AMAA has gone beyond Nigeria. In the next five years when you will be talking of the Grammy awards, you will also be talking about AMAA. The choice of winners has been fair so far, we have college of judges who are men and women of intergrity, I feel their choice is strictly on merit. Those who have been chosen deserve the Awards.

Stephanie Okereke (Actress)

AMAA has helped to expose movie practitioners the more. It has also helped to encourage those involved in movie making by rewarding excellence and hardwork. The Bayelsa State government deserves commendation for encouraging AMAA. 

(Culled from The Tide Online)

The Result of the AMAA 2009

 BEST DOCUMENTARY (SHORT SUBJECT) 

a. Per Second Killer (Nigeria)

b. Coming of Age (Kenya)

c. Santos the survivor (Kenya)

d. Lost in the South (Rwanda)

e. Congo my foot (FAR) 


BEST DOCUMENTARY (FEATURE) 

1. Private Files – Egypt

2. Shit on the Rock – Nigeria

3. Grandma’s not Home – South Africa

4. For the Best and for the Onion – Niger (Joint winners)

5. Malcom’s Echo – Dami Akinnusi 



BEST SHORT FILM 

1. Pamela – Kenya

2. Who is Best? -Zimbabwe

3. The Sharing day – Cameroun 

4. Love Is …..

5. Killer Necklace 


No winner announced


BEST ANIMATION 

1. kono (Burkina Faso)

2. Lolo (Burkina Faso)

3. Little Learning is different – Kenya 

4. Manani Ogre – Kenya 

5. Cheprono – Kenya 


AMAA ACHIEVEMENT IN SOUND 

1. From a Whisper 

2. Battle of the Soul

3. Seventh Heaven

4. Gugu and Andile

5. Grey Focus 



AMAA ACHIEVEMENT IN EDITING 

1. Cindy’s Note

2. Reloaded

3. Modupe Temi

4. Battle of the Soul 

5. From a Whisper 


AMAA ACHIEVEMENT IN ART DIRECTION 

1. Small Boy – Michelle Bello

2. Five Apostles – Ifeanyi Onyeabor

3. Agony of the Christ – Jude Odoh

4. Gugu and Andile – Kay Tickerman

5. Revolution – Eddybongo Uka 




AMAA ACHIEVEMENT IN MAKE-UP 

1. Agony of the Christ 

2. Live to Remember 

3. From a whisper 

4. The Assassin 

5. Ase n’tedumare 




AMAA ACHIEVEMENT IN VISUAL EFFECT 

1. Five Apostle 

2. Battle of the Soul

3. Smoke and Mirrors

4. Agony of the Christ

5. Revolution 





BEST ORIGINAL IN SOUNDTRACK 

1. Arugba 

2. Beautiful Soul

3. From a whisper 

4. Agony of the Christ

5. Jenifa 



MOST PROMISING ACTOR 

1. Litha Booi – Gugu and Andile

2. Mavila Anthana Keriario – Battle of the Soul

3. Ruffy Samuel – Dead End 

4. Segun Adefila – Arugba

5. Sherrif Ramzy – Seventh Heaven 




MOST PROMISING ACTRESS 

1. Bhaira Mcwizu – Cindy’s Note

2. Bukola Awoyemi – Arugba

3. Lydia Farson – Scorned 

4. Lungelo Dhladha – Gugu and Andile

5. Mfouemon Bea. Flore – Ma Saah Sah 




BEST PERFORMANCE BY A CHILD ACTOR 

1. Celia Greenwoood - The Assasin 

2. Richard Chukwuma - Small Boy 

3. Shanlar Kirunga – Battle of the Soul

4. Samara Milgwi – From a whisper 




BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE 

1. Godfrey Odhiamba – From a whisper 

2. Mike Ezuruonye – The Assasin

3. Michel Majid – Agony of the Christ

4. Peter Badejo – Arugba

5. Farouk Alfishawi – Seventh Heaven 




BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE 

1. Stephanie Okereke and Nse Etim – Reloaded

2. Stella Damasus-Aboderin – State of the Heart

3. Corine Onyango – From a whisper 

4. Nadia Buari – Agony of the Christ 

5. Funke Akindele – Jenifa 




BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE 

1. Femi Adebayo – Apaadi

2. Abubakar Mvenda and Ken Ambani – From a Whisper 

3. Neil Mc Carthy – Gugu and Andile

4. Yemi Blaq – Grey Focus 

5. Joel Okuyo Prynce – Battle of the Soul 



BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE 

1. Aggie Kebirungi – Battle of the Soul

2. Mercy Johnson – Live to Remember 

3. Mosunmola Filani – Jenifa

4. Daphney Hlomoku – Gugu and Andile 

5. Chika Ike – The Assassin 



BEST FILM IN AFRICAN LANGUAGE 

1. Gugu and Andile – South Africa

2. Arugba – Nigeria

3. Mah Saah Sa – Cameroun 

4. Uyai – Nigeria

5. Apaadi – Nigeria 




AMAA ACHIEVEMENT IN CINEMATOGRAPHY 

1. From a Whisper – Marius Van Graan

2. Seventh Heaven - Ramses Marzouk

3. Cindy’s Note – Izu Ojukwu

4. Gugu and Andile –Greg Heimann

5. Battle of the Soul – Stephen Njero and Tony Matomi 



AMAA ACHIEVEMENT IN COSTUME 

1. Agony of the Christ

2. Apaadi

3. Live to Remember 

4. Arugba

5. Seventh Heaven 



HEART OF AFRICA AWARD FOR BEST FILMS FROM NIGERIA 

1. Cindy’s Note – Izu Ojukwu

2. Arugba – Tunde Kelani

3. Beautiful Soul – Tchidi Chikere

4. State of the Heart – Kingsley Omoife and Richard Mofe-Damijo

5. Jenifa – Funke Akindele 



BEST SCREENPLAY 

1. From a Whisper – Matt Bish

2. Seventh Heaven – Zainab Aziz

3. Through the Glass – Stephanie Okereke

4. Reloaded – Emem Isong

5. Beautiful soul – Tchidi Chikere 



BEST PICTURE 

1. From a Whisper – Kenya 

2. Arugba – Nigeria

3. Gugu and Andile – South Africa

4. Battle of the Soul - Uganda

5. Seventh Heaven - Egypt 



BEST DIRECTOR 

1. Wanuri Kahiu – From a Whisper (Kenya)

2. Tunde Kelani – Arugba (Nigeria)

3. Minky Schlesinger – Gugu and Andile (South Africa)

4. Math Bish – Battle of the Soul (Uganda)

5. Saad Hendawy – Seventh Heaven (Egypt)

African Movie Academy Award (AMAA) 2009 was a success!!

The fifth edition of the annual African Movie Academy Award (AMAA), which ended last Saturday night, April 4, in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, sprang up surprises among the audience. Many least expected the outcome of the award ceremony. The fiesta saw films from other African nations dominating their Nigerian colleagues. Stakeholders in the entertainment industry were in agreement that the awardees deserved the feat, given their hard work and commitment.

However, the hosting of the event had attracted negative comments from concerned Bayelsans, who alleged that the 'project' was a waste of government funds. They argued that the N70m used for the function would have been channelled into paying teachers salary and other meaningful ventures. But, Director General of the State's Tourism Bureau and Publicity, Nathan Egba, dismissed this view, insisting that the hosting of AMAA would go a long way in showcasing the rich cultural heritage and tourist potentials in the state. Egba maintained that the state would reap the benefits of AMAA in future.

At least, artistes and producers from 11 African countries, including the Nollywood members such as Olu Jacobs, Joke Silva, Ejike Asiegbu, and other numerous guests thronged the expansive auditorium of the Gloryland Cultural Centre situated on Ovom to grace the award ceremony. Night crawlers from Bayelsa and neighbouring states also besieged the venue to experience what they knew best. 

Stand-up comedian, Julius Agwu and Kate Henshaw-Nattall were co-comperes of the function, attended by Governor Timipre Sylva and other top government functionaries. Agwu as usual, displayed his ingenuity with rib-cracking jokes that arrested the audience. Selected musicians were not left out at the function.

Interestingly, the AMAA jury included celebrated players such as American festival designer, Ayoku Babu, German Film programmer, Dorothy Wenner, Kenyan-born British festival director, Keith Shiri and Editor, The Punch, Steve Ayorinde. A total of 25 categories were nominated for the prestigious award.

At the award ceremony, A Kenyan film, From a whisper directed by Wannri Kaliu won five choice prizes, even as the Nigerian entries that had earlier dominated the nominees' list crumbled to the surprise of Nigerian spectators. The movie won the best director, screenplay, picture, original soundtrack and AMAA achievement in editing in categories that had Nigerian entries such as Tunde Kelani in the film Arugba, Tchidi Chikere Beautiful soul and Modupe Teni. Incidentally, nobody won the best-shut film.

Again, South African film, Gugu and Andile, Egyptian film Seventh Heaven and Ugandan film Battle of the soul floored Nollywood entries, as best performance actor in a leading role and best performance actor in a supporting role, including AMAA achievement in visual effect. There was reprieve among Nigerian audience when Funke Akindele won the best female actress in Jenifa film, while Tunde Kelani won the AMAA achievement in costume and non-continental best for Nigeria scenes.

Best performance actor and male actor was clinched by Egyptian-born artiste, Farouk Alfishawi in a film titled Seventh Heavens. Izu Ojukwu, defeating Stephenie Okereke, Stella Damasus, and other artistes, won the best cinematography in Cindy. Nigerian filmmakers may likely redouble their efforts in winning choice prizes in the next edition of AMAA. Analysts say their performance in the recent award was not quite encouraging.

In his comments, Governor Timipre Sylva tasked filmmakers in the country and beyond, to take advantage of the state's rich cultural heritage and tourist potentials by investing in the area. Sylva said films could be shot at several locations that are many in the state, to showcase its rich culture and tourism potentials.

While arguing that the state depicts a typical African setting with fine beaches and rich mangrove forests, the governor said the move would go a long way in promoting the state tourism potentials, as well as providing employment for the people. Sylva observed that the movie industry was a vibrant business, saying that AMAA was a veritable platform in uniting the people of African descents in the Diaspora.

The Governor assured that the hosting of next edition of the movie academy award would be better, as government would have put in place the necessary infrastructure to make it more successful.

"With the issue of militancy coming to an end, Bayelsa will witness unprecedented development. I commend President Umaru Yar'Adua for granting amnesty to all militants," he said.

Earlier, Chief Executive of AMAA, Peace Anyiam-Osigwe, expressed appreciation to Sylva for taking the annual movie award to the present level. Anyiam-Osigwe remarked that it was imperative for Africans to tell their own stories to the globe, in a bid to change the wrong perceptions before the developed countries of the world.

The AMAA boss paid tribute to the late celebrated musician, Mariam Makeba, Francis Agwu, Kwame Ansah and other moviemakers, who passed on during the period under review.

One of the awardees, Funke Akindele, acknowledged that she attained her feat by dint of hard work. She dedicated the award to God and her crew.

Culled from www.nigeriafilms.com

Funke Akindele (Jenifa) is African's Best Actress AMAA 2009-2010

NIGERIA's Funke Akindele has been named by the jury of the 2009 edition of the African Movie Academy Awards (AMAA), as Africa's best actress in a leading role.

Akindele was the jury's choice out of six other actresses nominated in that category, including a Ghanaian and Kenyan. Although, the actress, who interpreted delightfully the role of Jenifa, the lead character in the movie of same title, was not present at the award ceremony at the Integrated Glory Land Cultural Centre in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, a resounding applause greeted her declaration as the continent's best actress for this year. 

But it was Kenyan's day at the award, which was witnessed by Governor Timipre Silva and members of his cabinet. The Kenyan filmmakers made it up the dais five times to receive the highest number of awards of the evening. 

From a Whisper, the movie by Kenyan Director and Scriptwriter, Wanuri Kahiu, which commemorates the 10th anniversary of the infamous August 7, 1998 terrorist bombing in Kenya in which over 250 people died and 5,000 were injured was adjudged the best African film for 2009. 

The movie, which examines the aftermath of the bombing on the lives of the indirect victims of the blast, also got the award for the best screenplay, best director, best editing and best original soundtrack. 

The award night also featured stand-up comic acts and musical performances. Filmmakers from South Africa, Uganda, Burkina Faso, Rwanda and Niger Republic also got rewarded for their artistry in the make-belief world of the movies.

South Africa's Gugu and Andile got the awards for best promising actress and actor category as well as the best film in African Language. 

Uganda received the award for the best film with visual effect with its only entry Battle of the Soul, while Burkina Faso got garlanded for the best animated film with Justin Zerbo's Kono.

Nominations for this year's African Movie Academy Awards (AMAA)

The African Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) is an offshoot of the African Film Academy. The Academy founded on the best film tradition, is geared towards research, training and propagating film making in Africa. Behind it are film producers, directors, designers, writers, critics and scholars who share in the belief of a renaissant African film.

AMAA is thus conceptualized as an annual celebration of the brightest and the best in African movie. It is about class and style, blitz, glitz and razzmatazz. It is the biggest gathering of movie makers across the African continent and the diaspora. It is to show to the world that the rating of Nollywood (Nigeria) as the third largest producers of movie is real.

The 2009 edition of the awards billed to hold in Yenagoa, the capital of the oil-rich but politically volatile Niger Delta state of Bayelsa on April 4 2009.
1. BEST DOCUMENTARY (SHORT SUBJECT)

• Per Second Killer (Nigeria)
• Coming of Age (Kenya)
• Santos the survivor (Kenya)
• Lost in the South (Rwanda)
• Congo my foot (FAR)

2. BEST DOCUMENTARY (FEATURE)

• Private Files – Egypt
• Shit on the Rock – Nigeria
• Grandma’s not Home – South Africa
• For the Best and for the Onion – Niger
• Malcom’s Echo – Dami Akinnusi

3. BEST SHORT FILM

• Pamela – Kenya
• Who is Best? -Zimbabwe
• The Sharing day – Cameroun
• Killer Necklace
• Love Is …

4. BEST ANIMATION

• Lolo (Burkina Faso)
• Leila (Burkina Faso)
• Little Learning is different – Kenya
• Manani Ogre – Kenya
• Cheprono – Kenya
• Wanuri Kahiu - Kenya

5. AMAA ACHIEVEMENT IN SOUND

• From a Whisper
• Battle of the Soul
• Seventh Heaven
• Gugu and Andile
• Grey Focus

6. AMAA ACHIEVEMENT IN EDITING

• Cindy’s Note
• Reloaded
• Modupe Temi
• Battle of the Soul
• From a Whisper

7. AMAA ACHIEVEMENT IN ART DIRECTION

• Small Boy – Michelle Bello
   
• Five Apostles – Ifeanyi Onyeabor
• Agony of the Christ – Jude Odoh
• Gugu and Andile – Kay Tickerman
• Revolution – Eddybongo Uka

8. AMAA ACHIEVEMENT IN MAKE-UP

• Agony of the Christ
• Live to Remember
• From a whisper
• The Assassin
• Ase n’tedumare

9. AMAA ACHIEVEMENT IN VISUAL EFFECT

• Five Apostle
• Battle of the Soul
• Smoke and Mirrors
• Agony of the Christ
• Revolution

10. Best ORIGINAL IN SOUNDTRACK

• Arugba
• Beautiful Soul
• From a whisper
• Agony of the Christ
• Jenifa

11. MOST PROMISING ACTOR

• Litha Booi – Gugu and Andile
• Mavila Anthana Keriario – Battle of the Soul
• Ruffy Samuel – Dead End
• Segun Adefila – Arugba
• Sherrif Ramzy – Seventh Heaven

12. MOST PROMISING ACTRESS

• Bhaira Mcwizu – Cindy’s Note
• Bukola Awoyemi – Arugba
• Lydia Farson – Scorned
• Lungelo Dhladha – Gugu and Andile
• Mfouemon Bea. Flore – Ma Saah Sah

13. BEST PERFORMANCE BY A CHILD ACTOR

• Celia Greenwoood - The Assassin
• Richard Chukwuma - Small Boy
• Shanlar Kirunga – Battle of the Soul
• Samara Milgwi – From a whisper

14. BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE

• Godfrey Odhiamba – From a whisper
• Mike Ezuruonye – The Assassin
• Michel Majid – Agony of the Christ
• Peter Badejo – Arugba
• Farouk Alfishawi – Seventh Heaven

 

  

15. BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE

• Stephanie Okereke and Nse Etim – Reloaded
• Stella Damasus-Aboderin – State of the Heart
• Corine Onyango – From a whisper
• Nadia Buari – Agony of the Christ
• Funke Akindele – Jenifa

16. BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

• Femi Adebayo – Apaadi
• Abubakar Mvenda and Ken Ambani – From a Whisper
• Neil Mc Carthy – Gugu and Andile
• Yemi Blaq – Grey Focus
• Joel Okuyo Prynce – Battle of the Soul

17. BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

• Aggie Kebirungi – Battle of the Soul
• Mercy Johnson – Live to Remember
• Mosunmola Filani – Jenifa
• Daphney Hlomoku – Gugu and Andile
• Chika Ike – The Assassin

18. BEST FILM IN AFRICAN LANGUAGE

• Gugu and Andile – South Africa
• Arugba – Nigeria
• Mah Saah Sa – Cameroun
• Uyai – Nigeria
• Apaadi – Nigeria

19. AMAA ACHIEVEMENT IN CINEMATOGRAPHY

• From a Whisper – Marius Van Graan
• Seventh Heaven - Ramses Marzouk
• Cindy’s Note – Izu Ojukwu
• Gugu and Andile –Greg Heimann
• Battle of the Soul – Stephen Njero and Tony Matomi
• Saad Hendawy - Egypt

20. AMAA ACHIEVEMENT IN COSTUME

• Agony of the Christ
• Apaadi
• Live to Remember
• Arugba
• Seventh Heaven

21. HEART OF AFRICA AWARD FOR BEST FILMS FROM NIGERIA

• Cindy’s Note – Izu Ojukwu
• Arugba – Tunde Kelani
• Beautiful Soul – Tchidi Chikere
• State of the Heart – Kingsley Omoife and Richard Mofe-Damijo
• Jenifa – Funke Akindele

22. BEST SCREENPLAY

• From a Whisper – Matt Bishanga
• Seventh Heaven – Zainab Aziz
• Through the Glass – Stephanie Okereke
• Reloaded – Emem Isong
• Beautiful soul – Tchidi Chikere

23. BEST PICTURE

• From a Whisper – Kenya
• Arugba – Nigeria
• Gugu and Andile – South Africa
• Battle of the Soul - Uganda
• Seventh Heaven - Egypt

24. BEST DIRECTOR

• Wanuri Kahiu – From a Whisper (Kenya)
• Tunde Kelani – Arugba (Nigeria)
• Minky Schlesinger – Gugu and Andile (South Africa)
• Matt Bish – Battle of the Soul (Uganda)
• Saad Hendawy – Seventh Heaven (Egypt)