By Benjamin Njoku

The Africa Film Academy (AFA), producers of the prestigious Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA), unveiled the nominations for the highly anticipated 20th edition of the awards on Wednesday night.

The event took place at the Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos, with key members of the jury, the screener college, and the AFA board in attendance.

Representing the AFA board were Mr. Raymond Anyiam-Osigwe, Chief Operating Officer of AMAA, Mr. Tony Anih, and Mr. Kingsley James, producer of the AMAA gala night.

This year’s AMAA, themed “Celebrating African Creativity,” is being held in partnership with the Lagos State government.

During the unveiling, Anyiam-Osigwe outlined some of the key activities planned for the 2024 edition of AMAA, including the launch of the AMAA Coffee Book, the AMAA Africa Night of Legends, AMAA Meets Nollywood, the AMAA Africa Fashion Show and Exhibition, and the grand AMAA Gala Night.

The activities for the 20th edition commenced with the unveiling of nominees and award categories, as selected by the AMAA college of screeners and the jury. The AMAA Coffee Book launch is scheduled for October 25, with other events to follow. The AMAA Africa Night of Legends will take place on November 1, leading up to the awards ceremony and gala night on Saturday, November 2, 2024, at the Balmoral Convention Centre, Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja GRA, Lagos.

The unveiling event was hosted by popular show host Vimbai Mutinhiri Ekpenyong. Notable attendees included Mr. George Anyiam-Osigwe and his wife Chinyere Anyiam-Osigwe, Mr. Kennedy Anyiam-Osigwe, Mr. Raymond Anyiam-Osigwe, NFVCB Executive Director Dr. Shaibu Husseini, Mr. Steve Ayorinde, Nobert Young, Segun Arinze, Francis Onwochei, Sunny McDon, Alex O, Cordelia Okpei, Charles Novia, Iyke and Florence Okechukwu, and Dr. Queen Blessing Ebigieson.

See AMAA 2024 nominations list

1. Efere Ozako Award for Best Short Film

The Last Shoe Maker – Uganda
Seben – Mali
Dear Future Wife – South Africa
Isolated – Nigeria
Jolie – Angola
Strike A Blow And Die – Malawi
Don’t Call Me Beautiful – Ghana
Sins Of A Father – Zimbabwe/USA

2. Jubril Malaifia Award for Best Animation

Heavy crown – Libya
Counter punch – Kenya
Journey of the legend – Cameroon
Hadu – Nigeria
Between Paya and Koulou – Senegal
Oya (The goddess of gods) – Nigeria
Set Pieces – Sudan

3. Best Documentary

A Quand L’Afrique – Congo Brazzaville
The Night Still Smells of Gun Powder- Mozambique
The Return Train – Mali
Gateway To Dreams – Cameroon
Rainbow Nation – South Africa
Dela- The Making of EL-Anatsui – Nigeria
Donga – Libya
Rising Up At Night – DRC

4. Ousmane Sembene Award for Best Film in an African Language

Makula -Uganda
Jagun Jagun- Nigeria
The Queenstown Kings – South Africa
Kaka – Nigeria
Eskhalemi Sikantombella- South Africa
Unheard – Uganda
Out of Breath – Nigeria

5. Michael Anyiam Osigwe Award for Best Film by an African-Born Director Living Abroad

Out Of Breath – Nigeria/UK
Orah – Nigeria/Canada
Isolated – Nigeria/UK
Under The Hanging Tree- Namibia/UK
Kipkemboi – Nigeria/ Canada

6. Best Diaspora Short Film

The Neigbourhood Alert—USA
Bottled Up – Jamaica
The Golden Boy—USA

7. Best Diaspora Documentary

The Wu Tang Clan: Live at Red Rocks Amphitheatre – USA
A Rising Tide – USA
Colour – USA

8. Best Diaspora Narrative Feature

Outlaw Posse – USA
Mickey Hardaway-USA
Love After Holidays – USA

9. Best Achievement in Production Design

Orah
The Queenstown kings
The Weekend
Jagun Jagun
Kipkemboi
Makula
Out of breath

10. Best Achievement in Costume Design

The Beads
The Weekend
White and Black
Jagun Jagun
The Queenstown Kings
Mai Martaba
Out of Breath

11. Best Achievement in Make-Up

The Weekend
Nawi
Letters to Goddo
Out of Breath
Jagun Jagun
Anjola
White and Black

12. Best Achievement in Soundtrack

The Weekend
Under the Hanging Tree
The Queenstown Kings
Orah
Boda Love
Mojisola
Red Carpet

13. Best Achievement in Visual Effects

Kipkemboi
Jagun Jagun
Under The Hanging Tree
The Weekend
Bokwagter
Out of breath

14. Best Achievement in Sound

A Smile, A Wink and a Tear
The Weekend
Under the Hanging Tree
The Queenstown Kings
This is Lagos
Kipkemboi
Boda Love

15. Best Achievement in Cinematography

The Weekend
Nawi
Kipkemboi
Letters to Goddo
This is Lagos
The Queenstown Kings
A Smile, A Wink and A Tear

16. Best Achievement in Editing

Under The Hanging Tree
The Weekend
This is Lagos
Nawi
Kipkemboi
The Beads
Anjola

17. Best Achievement in Screenplay

Under The Hanging Tree
The Weekend
Letter To Goddo
This is Lagos
Boda Love
The Queenstown King
Out of Breath

18. National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVB) Award for Best Nigerian Film

The Weekend
This is Lagos
Afamefuna
Jagun Jagun
Mai Martaba
A Smile, A Wink and a Tear
Out of Breath

19. Best Young/Promising Actor

Michell Lemuya (Nawi)
Likhona Mgali (The Queenstown Kings)
Agape mngomezulu – Orah
William Dias – Bokwagter
Kofi Adu-Gyamfi -Tejiri
Ruby Akubueze – She
Fatima Muhammed – Mai Martaba

20. Best Actor in a Supporting Role

Sandile Mahlangu – The Queenstown Kings
Ochungo Benson – Nawi
Keppy Ekpeyong Bassey – The Weekend
Ikechukwu Onunaku -Afamefuna
Lucky Ejim – Orah
Solomon Fixon Owoo – Letters to Goddo
Femi Adebayo- Jagun Jagun

21. Best Actress in a Supporting Role

Meg Otanwa – The Weekend
Enhle Mbali Mlotshwa – The Queenstown Kings
Elsie Chidera Abang – Kipkemboi
Tessa Twala – The Queenstown Kings
Bukunmi Oluwashina – White and Black
Somkele Iyamah-Idhalamah – Orah
Chioma Akpotha – Mojisola

22. Best Actor in a Leading Role

Zolixa Xaluva – The Queenstown Kings
Gabriel Afolayan – This is Lagos
Duncan Murunyu Mungai – Boda Love
Nenesenor Abloso – Letters to Goddo
Bucci Franklyn – The Weekend
Femi Jacobs – Anjola
Chidi Mokeme – Out of Breath

23. Best Actress in a Leading Role

Girley Jazama – Under The Hanging Tree
Oyin Oladejo – Orah
Unati Faku – The Queenstown Kings
Uzoamaka Aniunoh – The Weekend
Laura Pepple – This is Lagos
Jackie Appiah -Red Carpet
Ife Irele- A Smile, A Wink and A Tear

24. First Debut Feature by a Director

Letters to Goddo – Harry Bentil
Rising Up At Night – Nelson Makengo
She – Seun Richards

25. Best Director

Daniel Emeke Oriahi – The Weekend
Kenneth Gyang – This Is Lagos
Jahmil X.T Qubeka – The Queenstown Kings
Perivi Katjavivi – Under The Hanging Tree
Lonzo Nzekwe – Orah
Harry Bentil – Letters To Goddo
Izu Ojukwu- A Smile, A Wink and A Tear

26. Best Film

Under The Hanging Tree
The Weekend
This is Lagos
A Smile, A Wink and A Tear
Orah
Letters to Goddo
The Queenstown Kings

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