• 03 Oct, 2024
• Tobi Sangotola
• No comment

Africa Film Academy Unveils 2024 Africa Movie Academy Awards Nominees

The Africa Film Academy has announced the nominees for the 2024 Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA), marking the 20th edition of the prestigious event. The announcement was made during a press briefing at the Sheraton Hotel in Ikeja, Lagos, where organizers revealed the nominations across various categories. This year’s event will celebrate African filmmaking under the theme, “Celebrating African Creativity,” and will take place on November 2, 2024, in Lagos, in collaboration with the Lagos State government.

Top Nominees

Nigerian films are leading the nominations, with Uche Okocha’s The Weekend receiving an impressive 16 nods. Femi Adebayo’s Jagun Jagun follows closely with seven nominations, further emphasizing the dominance of Nigerian cinema in the African film industry.

AMAA’s Social Media Announcement

In anticipation of the event, the Africa Movie Academy Awards posted an exciting announcement on its X (formerly Twitter) handle, expressing enthusiasm for unveiling the nominees. The post read:

“The Day Has Arrived! Today, we unveil the nominees for the 20th Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA)! Join us in celebrating the incredible talent and creativity that define African cinema. Stay tuned for the big reveal! #AMAATurns20 #AMAA2024Nominations.”

Notable Nominees Across Categories

The 2024 edition sees films from across the continent, spanning short films, feature films, documentaries, and more. Below are some of the key nominations:

• 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

• 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

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

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

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

Special Categories

Best Diaspora Short Film

• The Neighbourhood Alert – USA
• Bottled Up – Jamaica
• The Golden Boy – USA

Best Diaspora Documentary

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

Best Achievement in Costume Design

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

Recognizing Excellence in African Cinema

The AMAA continues to be a pivotal event in recognizing and celebrating African talent in the film industry. Founded by the late Peace Anyiam-Osigwe in 2005, the awards aim to promote excellence in African filmmaking and have evolved from a televised event into a year-long platform for filmmakers.

The inaugural ceremony was held in Yenagoa, Nigeria, and remained there for subsequent editions until the first international event in 2015. Over the years, the AMAA has become the premier accolade in African cinema, honoring professionals from various fields in filmmaking and bringing African stories to a global stage.

Best Film and Best Director Categories

This year’s Best Film category features some of the most talked-about movies in African cinema, including Under The Hanging Tree, The Weekend, This is Lagos, A Smile, A Wink and A Tear, Orah, Letters to Goddo, and The Queenstown Kings. The Best Director category will see stiff competition, with notable names such as Daniel Emeke Oriahi (The Weekend), Kenneth Gyang (This Is Lagos), Jahmil X.T Qubeka (The Queenstown Kings), Perivi Katjavivi (Under The Hanging Tree), and Lonzo Nzekwe (Orah) all vying for the top honor.