All is set for the prestigious Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) gala as it returns to Rwanda for the second time. Dubbed AMAA 2018, this year’s event is scheduled for October 20, at the Intare Conference Arena in Gasabo District, Kigali. It is the 14 edition of the awards. The wards had earlier been scheduled for September 22, at the Radisson Blu Hotel and Convention Center. AMAA was launched in 2005, by Nigerian filmmaker, and entertainment executive Peace Anyiam-Osigwe, as a platform to recognise excellence of professionals in the African film industry. It has been described as one of the biggest and most credible jury-based reward system for filmmakers and film professionals in the motion picture industry from Africa, and Africans in the diaspora. Organisers unveiled the list of nominees on August 3rd, in Lagos, Nigeria. However, no Rwandan filmmaker made it to the list of nominees in the 27 different award categories. The Government of Rwanda, through the Rwanda Convention Bureau and Rwanda Development Board, agreed to host this year’s edition, in line with its Pan-African and Africa integration agenda. “It remains a fact that AMAA is the longest running Pan-African awards in the whole of Africa. Similar awards in film, music, and the visual arts have come and gone. Since 2005, we have worked to keep and protect the integrity of the awards. This is why we can partner with Rwanda, a country where excellence and professionalism drive business and governance,” remarked AMAA founder Peace Anyiam-Osigwe in a press statement on the AMAA website. Osigwe added that this year, visitors to the awards, especially Africans will not struggle to gain visas as these will be processed on arrival. She further thanked President Paul Kagame and other African leaders that are at the forefront of easing movement of persons within the continent. “We call upon other African countries to adopt a visa on arrival policy if we can’t remove visa completely. Our people will prosper and there will be shared prosperity when we can travel and do business and even for holidays easily within Africa,” she said. A lawyer by training, Osigwe is credited for pioneering the screening of Nigerian (Nollywood) films at international film festivals. Three day affair: This year’s awards will kick off with pre-gala events on October 18, and 19, according to Anny Batamuliza, of New Dawn Associates, a local Tours and Travel agency, that is in charge of organising the event. “We have small round table events of about 200 people (VVIPs) that will be talking about different aspects of film production, hosting different speakers from different movie industry sectors. There is also a makeup session, where top Nigerian makeup artists will be coming to Rwanda to train 40 Rwandans in the art of professional makeup. This will be done in partnership with the Workforce Development Authority (WDA). Recently, AMAA hosted a social media training workshop in Kigali for young people in partnership with the Rwanda Convention Bureau and Ecobank, with tech resource persons drawn from Rwanda and Nigeria. Last year, Lagos hosted the awards at the Eko Hotel Convention Center in Victoria Island. On the choice of Intare Conference Arena for the event, Batamuliza said: “Rwanda is growing its MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions) sector. So we can’t afford to have only one or two prominent venues. The government of Rwanda is looking at unveiling even more conference venues and conference hubs in the future.” Tickets are on sale at $10, $15, $25, and $500 for a corporate table. Sales points are; Nakumatt UTC and Kagugu, and Bourbon Coffee (UTC and MTN Center). Some of the award categories AMAA 2018 Award for Best Film Isoken – Nigeria Five Fingers For Marseilles – South Africa In My Country – Nigeria The Blessed Vost- Algeria Cross Roads – Nigeria Road to Sunshine – Malawi Siembamba – South Africa Hotel Called Memory – Nigeria Sidechic Gang – Ghana Lost Café – Kenneth Gyang Tony Elumelu AMAA 2018 Award for Best Comedy Sidechic Gang – Ghana Banana Island Ghost – Nigeria The Adventures Of Supermama – South Africa Koko: The Box TV – Nigeria AMAA 2018 Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role Kate Henshaw- Roti Reine Swart – Siembamba Okawa Shaznay –In My Country Dakore Egbuson – Isoken Nana Ama McBrown, Lydia Forson and Sika Osei – Sidechic Gang Mariam Phiri – The Road To Sunrise Tunde Aladese – Lost Café Joselyn Dumas – Potato Potahto AMAA 2018 Award for Best First Feature Film by a Director My Mothers Story –Flora Suya- Malawi Ogwuetiti Obiuto – Onyeka Nwelue – Nigeria Five Fingers for Marseilles- Michael Mathews- South Africa Isoken – Jadesola Osiberu- Nigeria 18 Hours – Njue Kevin – Kenya Banana Island Ghost – BB Sasore- Nigeria The Blessed Vost – Sefia Djama – Algeria AMAA 2018 Award for Best Director Jade Osiberu – Isoken Michael Mathews- Five Fingers For Marseilles Frank Rajah Arase – In My Country Safia Djama- The Blessed Vost Oluseyi Siwoku – Cross Roads Shemu Joyah- Road to Sunshine Darrell Roodt- Siembamba Akin Omotosho- Hotel Called Memory Peter Kofi Sedufia – Sidechic Gang The Lost Café – Kenneth Gyang AMAA 2018 Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role Vuyo Dabula – Five Fingers For Marseille Richard Mofe Damijo – Cross Roads Sam Dede – In My Country Sani Bouajla – The Blessed Vost OC Ukeje – Potato Potahto Chris Attoh – Esohe Oros Mampofu – Lucky Specials Frank Donga – Hakkunde Michael Anyiam Osigwe AMAA 2018 Award for Best Film by an African living abroad Minister – Nigeria/Italy Alexandra – Nigeria/USA Low Lifes And High Hopes – Nigeria/Austria AMAA 2018 Award for Best Diaspora Short Torments of Love (Guadeloupe) Baby Steps (USA) Intercept (USA) AMAA 2018 Award for Best Diaspora Documentary Evolutionary Blues (USA) Barrows: Freedom Fighter (Barbados) Sammy Davis Jr. – I’ve Got To Be Me (USA) Efere Ozako AMAA 2018 award for Best Short Film Dem Dem – Senegal/Belgium Zenith – Cameroun/USA It Rains on Ouga – Burkina Faso In Shadows – Kenya Coat of Harm – Nigeria Tikitat Soulima – Morocco Nice, Very Nice – Algeria Visions (Shaitan, Buruja, Brood) – Nigeria Fallou – Senegal Still Water Runs Deep – Nigeria/USA AMAA 2018 Award for Best Animation Group Photo – Nigeria Belly Flop – South Africa Untitled – Ghana Crush – Nigeria AMAA 2018 Award for Best Documentary Bigger Than Africa – Nigeria/USA Winnie – South Africa Boxing Libreville – Gabon Silas – South Africa/Kenya When Babies Don’t Come – South Africa Uncertain Future – Burundi We Came In Sprint Carts – South Africa Ousmane Sembene AMAA 2018 Award for Best Film in an African Language Mansoor – Nigeria Five Fingers For Marseilles – South Africa Icheke Oku – Nigeria Agwaetiti Obiuto – Nigeria Nyasaland – Malawi Tunu – Tanzania. editorial@newtimes.co.rw
