The Africa Film Academy (AFA) and the Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) have recently announced the nominees for the 19th edition of their awards ceremony.
Scheduled for October 29, 2023, the event will be held at the prestigious Balmoral Hall, located in the Sheraton Hotels of Ikeja, Lagos.
This year’s theme, “The Renaissance, Legacy In Motion,” promises to set the tone for future editions of the continental awards ceremony.
The Chairman of AFA, Mr. Raymond Anyiam-Osigwe, along with the AMAA jury headed by Zimbabwean curator Keith Shiri, have unveiled the exciting line-up of activities, highlighting the best of African film and cinema.
During the nomination unveil, Mr. Steve Ayorinde, a member of the jury representing Keith Shiri, unveiled the nominees for the 26 categories, showcasing the best of African cinema.
Shiri shared that the jury engaged in a rigorous and steadfast selection process to arrive at the nominees for each category.
The selection process started with a call for entry submission, followed by screenings conducted by the College of Screeners led by Dr. Shaibu Husseini.
The nominations were then passed on to the jury for final selection, resulting in the official nomination list.
Shiri emphasized that the nomination process was transparent, unbiased, and open to all. The nominees for the 19th edition of the awards include some of Nigeria’s best movies, such as Gangs of Lagos, Anikulapo, The Trade, Mami Wata, Obara’m, and Bashoru Gaa.
The Jubril Malaifia Award for Best Animation nominees includes Lost from Uganda, Azania Rises from South Africa, Jabari from Ghana, and Bashorum Gaa from Nigeria.
The Best Film in an African Language nominees include Pusha Pressa Phanda from South Africa, Anikulapo from Nigeria, The Kitera Chronicle from Uganda, Four Walls from South Africa, Mami Wata from Nigeria, and many more.
The 2023 AMAA nomination unveil was hosted by actor, singer, and voice-over star Segun Arinze, creating an atmosphere that was both convivial and formal.
A one-minute silence was observed to honour the late founder and Chief Executive Officer of AFA and AMAA, Peace Ogechi Anyiam-Osigwe.
According to Anyiam-Osigwe, the awards ceremony will be held on Sunday, October 29, 2023, at The Balmoral event centre situated inside Sheraton Hotels, Ikeja GRA, Lagos.
He also announced the theme of 2023 AMAA as ‘The Renaissance,’ which aims to redefine the continental awards ahead of future plans and the 20th edition.
Ayorinde, who represented the president of the AMAA jury, Keith Shiri, unveiled the nominees of the 26 categories.
He stressed that the selection process, which has always been credited as very transparent by industry leaders, began with a call for entry submission, followed by screenings by the college of screeners headed by Dr. Shaibu Husseini.
The official nomination list was unveiled after the jury made their final selection.
In attendance were the Chief Operating Officer of AMAA, Tony Anih, a member of the AMAA working team, Kite Anyiam-Osigwe, AMAA technical director, Kingsley James, Dr. Shola Animashaun, and Tony Chukwuma.
The Chief Operating Officer of AMAA and Technical Director assured guests that the 19th edition of AMAA will be unforgettable, with the best of African cinema showcased.
AMAA 2023 Full Nomination List
Jury Members
Keith Shiri – President
Members: Dorothee Wenner, June Giviani, Berni Goldblat, Phillipe Savadego, John Akomfrah, Steve Ayorinde, Charles Brunnet, Dr. Shaibu Husseini, Asantewa Olatunji, Ayuko Babu and Professor Hyginus Ekwuazi.
- Efere Ozako Award for Best Short Film
- Lions – Ethiopia
- Riel – Namibia
- Enmity Djin – Mauritania
- Jubril Malaifia Award for Best Animation
- Lost – Uganda
- Azania Rises – South Africa • Jabari – Ghana
- Bashorum Gaa – Nigeria
- Best Documentary
- Africa Cradle of Humanity and Modern Civilization – Senegal/Canada
- Nightlife in Lasgidi – Nigeria
- Maayo Wonaa Keerol – The River is not a Border –Senegal
- Ifine (Beauty) – Sierra Leone
- LeSpectre de Boko Haram – Cameroun
- Ousmane Sembene Award for Best Film in an African Language
- Pusha Pressa Phanda – South Africa • Anikulapo – Nigeria
- The Kitera Chronicle – Uganda
- Four Walls – South Africa
- Mami Wata – Nigeria
- Michael Anyiam Osigwe Award for Best Film by an African-Born Director Living Abroad
- Talia’s Journey – Christophe Rolin (Senegal/Belgium)
- Golden Stripes – Peace Osigbe (Nigeria/UK)
- KOFA – Jude Idada (Nigeria/Canada)
- Best Diaspora Short Film
- We Were Meant To – (United States) – directed by Tari Wariebi
- The Ballad of Olive Morris – (United Kingdom) – directed by Alex Kayode-Kay
- FiWy-Four Days – (United Kingdom) – directed by Cat White and Phoebe Torrance
- Raw Materials – (Jamaica) – directed by Sosiessia Nixon-Kelly
- Best Diaspora Documentary
- Sound of the Police – (United States) – directed by Stanley Nelson
- FantasHco Negrito – Have You Lost Your Mind Yet – (United States) – directed by Yvan Iturriaga and Francisco Nuñez
- Black Rio – (Brazil) directed by Fernando Sousa and Gabriel Barbosa
- Best Diaspora Narrative Feature
- Chee$e – (Trinidad & Tobago) directed by Damian Marcano
- Our Father, The Devil – (United States) directed by Ellie Foumbi
- The Pastor and the RevoluHonary – (Brazil) directed by José Eduardo Belmonte
- Best Achievement in Production Design
- Kunle Afolayan – Anikulapo – Nigeria
- Eve Martin – Omen – DRC
- Sira – Burkina Faso
- Antoine Nshimiyimana – Fight Like a Girl – DRC• Chantel Carter – Gereza – South Africa
- Best Achievement in Costume Design
- Bunmi Demilola Fashina – Mami Wata – Nigeria
- Toyin Bifrain Ogundeji – Anikulapo – Nigeria
- Millicent Jack – 4-4-44 (Four Four Forty-Four) – Nigeria
- Djibril Drame – Xalé – Senegal
- Elkehoste and Baloji Omen – DRC
- Sidi Ouedraogo Sira – Burkina Faso
- Best Achievement in Make-Up
- Campell Precious Arebamen – Mami Wata – Nigeria
- Hakeem Effect – Anikulapo – Nigeria
- Lila Vander Elst – Omen – DRC
- Our Lady of the Chinese Shop – Angola
- Omowunmi Okungbure – Gangs of Lagos – Nigeria
- Best Achievement in Soundtrack
- Fight Like a Girl – DRC
- L’Axe Lourd (The Highway) – Cameroon
- Gereza – South Africa
- Omen – DRC
- Obinna Arua – 4-4-44 (Four Four Forty-Four) – Nigeria
- Best Achievement in Visual Effects
- Andrej Gregori, Voranc Kumar, Ziga Radulji -Omen – DRC
- Alexandre Dachkevitch – Mami Wata – Nigeria
- Josh Borrill – The Trade – Nigeria
- Emmanuel Bassey – Gangs of Lagos – Nigeria
- Best Achievement in Sound
- Juliana Oswald – Our Lady of the Chinese Shop – Angola
- Vianney Aube Sira – Burkina Faso
- Erik Griekspoor – Omen – DRC
- Samy Bardet – Mami Wata – Nigeria
- Michel Tsagli – Xalé – Senegal
- Best Achievement in Cinematography
- Lilis Soares – Mami Wata – Nigeria
- Joachim Philippe – Omen – DRC
- Richard Henkels – Fight Like a Girl – Rwanda
- Thomas Wilski – Talia’s Journey – Senegal/Belgium
- Eduardo Kropotkine – Our Lady of the Chinese Shop – Angola
- Best Achievement in Editing
- Nathan Delannoy – Mami Wata – Nigeria • Bertrand Conard – Omen – DRC
- Sylvie Gadner – Sira – Burkina Faso
- Layla Swart – Gereza
- Madhew Leutwyler – DRC
- Best Achievement in Screenplay
- C.J. ‘Fiery’ Obasi – Mami Wata – Nigeria
- Ufuoma MeHHri – 4-4-44 (Four Four Forty-Four) – Nigeria
- Moussa Sene Absa, Pierre Magny, Ben Diogay Beye – Xalé – Senegal
- Madhew Leutwyler – Fight Like a Girl – DRC
- National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVB) Award for Best Nigerian Film
- Mami Wata
- Anikulapo
- 4-4-44 (Four Four Forty-Four)
- Gangs of Lagos
- The Trade
- L.I.F.E.
- Brotherhood
- Best Young/Promising Actor
- Maleek Sanni – Gangs of Lagos
- Ewube -L’axe Lourd (The Highway)
- Darisimi Nadi – Obara’m
- Sanou Titiama – Le chant des fusils (The Song of the Rifle)
- Eyiyemi Afolyan – Anikulapo
- Best Actor in a Supporting Role
- Francis Onwuchei – The Trade – Nigeria
- Jeff Jackson – Four Walls – South Africa
- Hakeem Kae-Kazim – Fight Like a Girl – DRC
- Jimmy-Jean Louis -Rise
- Best Actress in a Supporting Role
- Uzoamaka Aniunoh – Mami Wata – Nigeria
- Rokhaya Niang – Xalé – Senegal
- Clarck Natmbwe – Fight Like a Girl – DRC
- Best Actor in a Leading Role
- Richard Mofe Demalo – 4-4-44 (Four Four Forty-Four) – Nigeria
- Marc Zinga – Omen – DRC
- Fenando Kamugisha – The Fallen Advocate –Uganda
- Tobi Bakre – Brotherhood – Nigeria
- Justine Murichii – Shimoni – Kenya
- Mike Danon – Sira – Burkina Faso
- Best Actress in a Leading Role
- Lucie Debay – Omen – DRC
- Ehle Mbali Mlotshwa – Four Walls – South Africa
- Nafissatou Cissé – Sira – Burkina Faso
- Adesua Etomi – Gangs of Lagos – Nigeria
- Nse Ikpe Etim – 4-4-44 (Four Four Forty-Four) – Nigeria
- Bimbo Ademoye – Anikulapo – Nigeria
- Ama Qamata – Fight Like a Girl – DRC
- First Debut Feature by a Director
- Baloji – Omen – DRC
- Ery Claver – Our Lady of the Chinese Shop – Angola
- Jean Elliot Ilboudo (le Chant des fusils)The Song of the Riffle – Burkina Faso
- Best Director
- Moussa Sene Absa – Xalé
- C. J. ‘Fiery’ Obasi – Mami Wata
- Baloji – Omen
- Apolline Traore – Sira
- Izu Ojukwu – 4-4-44 (Four Four Forty-Four)
- Kunle Afolayan – Anikulapo
- Kgosana Monchusi, Menzi Mzimela, Juvaiś Dunn – Four Walls
- Best Film
- Xalé- Senegal
- Mami Wata – Nigeria
- 4-4-44 (Four Four Forty-Four) Nigeria
- Omen – DRC
- Four Walls – South Africa
- Sira – Burkina Faso
- Anikulapo – Nigeria
