The Africa Movie Academy Awards, popularly known as AMAA and The AMA Awards, is presented annually to recognize excellence among professionals working in, or non-African professionals who have contributed to, the African
film industry
The film industry or motion picture industry comprises the technological and commercial institutions of filmmaking, i.e., film production companies, film studios, cinematography, animation, film production, screenwriting, pre-production, ...
. It was founded by
Peace Anyiam-Osigwe and is run through the Africa Film Academy. The awards are aimed at honouring and promoting excellence in the African movie industry as well as uniting the African continent through arts and culture. The award presentation is attended by numerous media representatives, celebrities, politicians, journalists, actresses and actors from all across the world. The AMA Awards is widely considered to be Africa's most important film event
and the most prestigious film award in Africa.
History
The first Africa Movie Academy Awards was held in
Yenagoa,
Bayelsa State
Bayelsa is one of the states in the South-South region of Nigeria, located in the core of the Niger Delta region. Bayelsa State was created in 1996 and was carved out from Rivers State, making it one of the newest states in the federation. Yena ...
,
Nigeria
Nigeria ( ), , ig, Naìjíríyà, yo, Nàìjíríà, pcm, Naijá , ff, Naajeeriya, kcg, Naijeriya officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a country in West Africa. It is situated between the Sahel to the north and the Gulf o ...
on 30 May 2005.
All other subsequent African Academy Awards before 2012 were held at the same venue, except for the 2008 AMAA Awards which was moved to
Abuja
Abuja () is the capital and eighth most populous city of Nigeria. Situated at the centre of the country within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), it is a planned city built mainly in the 1980s based on a master plan by International Plan ...
,
FCT for security reasons.
In 2012, the awards ceremony was held at
Eko Hotels and Suites
Eko Hotels and Suites is a five-star conference centre hotel in Lagos. 09161518010
History
Established in 1977 as ''Èkó Holiday Inn'' and built on Victoria Island, it is the largest hotel in Nigeria. It was designed by architect Oluwole Olum ...
,
Victoria Island, Lagos in
Lagos State
Lagos State ( yo, Ìpínlẹ̀ Èkó) is a state in southwestern Nigeria. Of the 36 states, it is both the most populous and smallest in area. Bounded to the south by the Bight of Benin and to the west by the international border with Benin ...
. The 9th and 10th edition saw AMAA returning to
Yenagoa, while the 2015 ceremony was held outside Nigeria for the first time.
Categories
Current categories
As of 2017, the Africa Movie Academy Awards have 28 merit categories. They include:
*
Best Short Film: since 2010
*
Best Documentary: since 2006
*
Best Diaspora Feature: since 2011
*
Best Diaspora Documentary: since 2011
*
Best Animation: since 2008
*
Achievement in Production Design: since 2008
*
Achievement in Costume Design: since 2005
*
Achievement in Make-Up: since 2005
*
Achievement in Soundtrack: since 2005
*
Achievement in Visual Effects: since 2005
*
Achievement in Sound: since 2005
*
Achievement in Cinematography: since 2005
*
Achievement in Editing: since 2005
*
Best Film by an African Living Abroad: (2008; 2010–2013; 2015–present)
* Best Comedy Film
*
Best Actor in a Leading Role
Best or The Best may refer to:
People
* Best (surname), people with the surname Best
* Best (footballer, born 1968), retired Portuguese footballer
Companies and organizations
* Best & Co., an 1879–1971 clothing chain
* Best Lock Corporation ...
: since 2005
*
Best Actress in a Leading Role: since 2005
* Best First Feature Film by a Director
* Best Diaspora Short Film
*
Achievement in Screenplay: since 2005
*
Best Nigerian Film: since 2007
*
Best Film in an African Language: since 2005
*
Most Promising Actor: since 2006
* Best Child Actor
*
Best Actor in a Supporting Role: since 2005
*
Best Actress in a Supporting Role: since 2005
*
Best Director: since 2005
*
Best Film
This is a list of categories of awards commonly awarded through organizations that bestow film awards, including those presented by various film, festivals, and people's awards.
Best Actor/Best Actress
*See Best Actor#Film awards, Best Actress#F ...
: since 2005
Discontinued categories
Several categories have been renamed, retired, or merged. Below is a list of some of the retired categories.
Special categories
*
Lifetime Achievement Awards
Lifetime achievement awards are awarded by various organizations, to recognize contributions over the whole of a career, rather than or in addition to single contributions.
Such awards, and organizations presenting them, include:
A
* A.C. ...
(2005-2007; 2013–present)
* Special Recognition of Pillars of Nollywood (2013 only)
* Special Jury Award (2012–present)
* Madiba Africa Vision Awards (2014 only)
* Best Film for Women Empowerment (2014 only)
Jury members
*
Berni Goldblat
Berni Goldblat is a Swiss-Zimbabwean filmmaker and critic. He has been a juror at the Africa Movie Academy Awards since 2007.
Career
Born in 1970 in Stockholm, Sweden, Goldblat has been doing video productions centered around West Africa since ...
2007–present
*
John Akomfrah
John Akomfrah (born 4 May 1957) is a British artist, writer, film director, screenwriter, theorist and curator of Ghanaian descent, whose "commitment to a radicalism both of politics and of cinematic form finds expression in all his films".
A ...
*
Steve Ayorinde 2005–2015
*
Keith Shiri
Oluwa Keith Shiri is a Zimbabwean film curator, who has been based in based in Beirut, Lebanon, and in London, UK. He has been an advisor to several film festivals, including London Film Festival, Venice Film Festival, Berlin International Film Fe ...
*
June Givanni
June Givanni is a Guyana, Guyanese-born London-based curator, film curator. She has specialized in African-related movies since 1985, and has worked internationally as a film and television programme consultant and writer.
*
Hyginus Ekwuazi Professor Hyginus Ekwuazi was a former Acting Head of the Department of Theatre Arts in the Faculty of Arts at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria. He was also Director General of the Nigerian Film Corporation.
Ekwuazi currently acts as a jury in ...
*
Shaibu Husseini
*
Ayoku Babu
*
Asantewa Olatunji
*
Dorothee Wenner 2005–present
*
Charles Burnett 2014–present
*
Filippe Savadogo 2014–present
*
Amaka Igwe
Amaka Igwe (2 January 1963 – 28 April 2014) was a Nigerian filmmaker and broadcasting executive. Igwe was the owner oTop Radio90.9 Lagos and Amaka Igwe Studios. She was recognized as one of the second-generation filmmakers who helped begin t ...
2005
Awards statistics
The statistics below are valid as of the 13th edition (2017).
Most nominations
By a film
10 and up
By a director
Twice and more:
By an actress
Twice and more:
By an actor
Twice and more:
Most wins
By a film
Five times and more:
By country
The "Best Film" category has been won by a Nigerian film for a record six times.
By an actress
By an actor
Other notable records
* Egyptian actor
Farouk Al-Fichawi
Farouk al-Fishawy ( ar, فاروق الفيشاوي; 5 February 1952 – 25 July 2019) was an Egyptian film and television actor. He was known for '' Al-Mashbouh'' (1981).
Early life
He was born as Mohamed Farouk al-Fishawy in Sirs El-Layan, ...
was the first non-Nigerian actor to win an award. He did so for his role in ''Seventh Heaven.''
* Ghanaian actress
Jackie Appiah
Jackie Appiah (born 5 December 1983) is a Canadian-born Ghanaian actress. For her work as an actress, she has received several awards and nominations, including the awards for ''Best Actress in a Leading Role'' at the 2010 Africa Movie Academy Aw ...
was the first non-Nigerian actress to win an award.
See also
*
List of Africa Movie Academy Awards ceremonies
References
External links
*
{{Continental film awards
Awards established in 2005
Nigerian film awards