[sws_blockquote_endquote align=”” cite=”” quotestyle=”style03″]Our theme this year is Africa Rising. 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 is clearly demonstrated in this year’s diverse nominees. -Peace Anyiam Osigwe[/sws_blockquote_endquote]
Africa’s most prestigious awards for filmmakers – the Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) – announced its nominations for the 2012 AMAA ceremony. Only films produced and released between December 2010 and December 2011 were eligible. Mark your calendars: the winners will be announced on April 22, 2012.
The show will be hosted by Heroes star Jimmy Jean-Louis. For the first time, the awards will be held in Lagos rather than Bayelsa in Nigeria.
Nigeria received 52 nominations. 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.
South African surfing film Otelo Burning, directed by Sara Blecher, 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) (trailers below). Ghana’s civil war film Somewhere in Africa has seven nominations, as does the Nigerian-South African xenophobia-themed co-production Man on Ground. Kenya’s Rugged Priest, Ghana’s Ties That Bind and South Africa’s State of Violence all have six.
See the nominations:
AMAA 2012 PRIZE FOR BEST SHORT FILM
1. Jamaa – Uganda
2. Look Again – Kenya
3. Maffe Tiga – Guinea
4. Braids On Bald Head – Nigeria
5. Hidden Life – South Africa
6. Mwansa The Great – Zimbabwe
7. Chumo – Tanzania
8. The Young Smoker – Nigeria
AMAA 2012 PRIZE FOR BEST DOCUMENTARY
1. African Election – Nigeria/Germany
2. Beyond The Deadly Pit – Rwanda
3. Awa Ogbe: An African Adventure – Algeria
4. Dear Mandela – South Africa
5. White & Black: Crime And Colour – Tanzania
6. The Niger Delta Struggle – Ghana
7. There Is Nothing Wrong With My Uncle –Nigeria
8. How Much Is Too Much – Kenya
AMAA 2012 PRIZE FOR BEST DIASPORA FEATURE
1. Toussanat Louverture -France
2. Ghett’a Life – Jamaica
3. High Chicago – Canada
4. Elza – Guadalupe
5. Better Must Come – Jamaica
6. Kinyanrwanda – USA
AMAA 2012 PRIZE FOR BEST DIASPORA DOCUMENTARY
1. The Education Of Auma Obama – Germany
2. White Wash – USA
3. Almendron Mi Corazon – Guadalupe
4. All Me: The Life And Times Of Winfred Hubert – USA
AMAA 2012 PRIZE FOR BEST DIASPORA (SHORT FILM)
1. John Doe – USA
2. White Sugar In A Black Pot -USA
3. The Lost One -USA
AMAA 2012 PRIZE FOR BEST ANIMATION
1. The Legend on Ngong Hills – Kenya
2. Oba – Nigeria
3. Climate Change is Real – Kenya
4. Egu – South Africa
5. Chomoka – Kenya
AMAA 2012 PRIZE FOR BEST FILM BY AN AFRICAN LIVING ABROAD
1. Mystery Of Birds – USA/Nigeria
2. Housemates – UK/Nigeria
3. Ben Kross – Italy/Nigeria
4. Paparazzi Eye In The Dark – USA/Nigeria/Ghana
AMAA 2012 PRIZE FOR ACHIEVEMENT IN PRODUCTION DESIGN
1. Somewhere in Africa – Ghana
2. Phone Swap – Nigeria
3. Otelo Burning – South Africa
4. Adesuwa – Nigeria
5. How 2 Steal 2 Million – South Africa
AMAA 2012 PRIZE FOR ACHIEVEMENT IN COSTUME DESIGN
1. The Captain Of Nakara – Kenya
2. Adesuwa – Nigeria
3. Rugged Priest -Kenya
4. Somewhere In Africa – Ghana
5. Queen’s Desire – Nigeria
AMAA 2012 PRIZE FOR ACHIEVEMENT IN MAKE-UP
1. Rugged Priest – Kenya
2. State Research Bureau – Uganda
3. Adesuwa – Nigeria
4. Somewhere In Africa – Ghana
5. Shattered – Kenya
AMAA 2012 PRIZE FOR ACHIEVEMENT IN SOUNDTRACK
1. Otelo Burning – South Africa
2. Alero’s Symphony – Nigeria
3. Adesuwa – Nigeria
4. How 2 Steal 2 Million – South Africa
5. Somewhere In Africa – Ghana
AMAA 2012 PRIZE FOR ACHIEVEMENT IN VISUAL EFFECTS
1. Behind The Mask – Nigeria
2. Somewhere In Africa – Ghana
3. Adesuwa – Nigeria
4. State Research Bureau – Uganda
5. Otelo Burning – South Africa
AMAA 2012 PRIZE FOR ACHIEVEMENT IN SOUND
1. State Of Violence – South Africa
2. Otelo Burning – South Africa
3. How To Steal 2 Million – South Africa
4. Man On Ground – South Africa/Nigeria
5. Algiers Murder – South Africa
AMAA 2012 PRIZE FOR ACHIEVEMENT IN CINEMATOGRAPHY
1. How 2 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 2 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 2 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. Rachel 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 2 Steal 2 Million) – South Africa
2. Fana Mokoena (Man On Ground) – South Africa/Nigeria
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) – Nigeria
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
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-chief of 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.
For more information, keep an eye on the AMAA website.
