AMAA 2017: African filmmakers’ night of glory in Lagos

IT was a befitting Night of glamour and celebration for practitioners in the motion picture industry across Africa and the Diaspora at the 13th edition of Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) which took place Saturday July 15th, 2017 at the Eko Hotel.

The awards officially hosted by the Lagos State Government had over 4000 people in attendance and delegates from 40 countries within and outside Africa was broadcast live on both the Lagos Television (LTV) and Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) and scores of international and local media organisations in attendance.

It was a night of high stake networking among celebrities, business and public sector leaders in Lagos.

The host Governor, Mr. Akinwumi Ambode who was represented by his Deputy, Dr. Idiat Adebule, expressed his joy and that of the government and people of the state in hosting the continental event adding that Lagos under his leadership believes in the power of the creative and film industry as a potent force to positively project the image of Africa beyond the negative stereotype of western media.

The governor in his address delivered by his deputy showered encomium on the founder of AMAA, Ms. Peace Anyiam-Osigwe for her tenacity and hard-work that have sustained the AMAA brand for 13 years.

“We are happy that AMA Awards returned to Lagos 5 years after it held here in 2012. I congratulate the nominees for being considered worthy of the honours,” Mr. Ambode said in his address.
Ms. Anyiam-Osigwe in her brief remarks expressed her gratitude and that of her team to the Government of Lagos State and to the awards’ Jury members who have ensured the integrity of the awards remains unassailable.
“Thank you to His Excellency, Governor Ambode for making this year’s AMAA possible. I say very big thank you from my heart. To my colleagues in the film industry I want to say we should continue to use our films to promote integration and socio-economic progress of our continent. We are one as Africans and our governments should make it easy for us to move within Africa for more collaboration without restrictions.”

At the awards night, Felicite from Senegal — a movie about a nightclub singer who grapples to pay for her son’s treatment after a road accident — snagged awards in three of the six major categories. It won best film, best actress in a leading role, and best supporting actor.
Nigerian historical drama, ’76, won three awards from its eight nominations. The Izu Ojukwu-directed flick won best production design, achievement in production and Lagos state award for best Nigerian film.

Vaya, a South African film directed by a Nigeria and the film with highest nominations (ten) picked up three awards, which include best director for Akin Omotoso and best screenplay while Queen of Katwe,from Uganda starring Oscar winning actress Lupita Nyong’o, won two of its eight nominations.
In total, Nigeria won nine awards, inclusive of the lifetime achievement honour given to veteran comic-actor Nkem Owoh.

The event had in attendance several celebrities including Olu Jacobs, Bimbo Akintola, Ramsey Nouah, among others. Celine Loader, a Cameroonian and an oil industry executive in Lagos was also given Special Recognition Award for her contribution to the growth of the film industry in Africa and Nigeria in particular.
Ykee Bender, a Ugandan pop star, Nigerian Highlife Musician, Paul Play Dairo, Maestro Band and Afro Juju Music legend Sir. Shina Peters performed at the award ceremony.

LIST OF AMAA 2017 NOMINEES AND WINNERS

1. THE NOMINEES FOR THE EFERE OZAKO AMAA 2017 AWARD FOR BEST SHORT FILM ARE:

2. Bout – Nigeria

3. On Monday Last Week – Ghana/USA
4. A Place for Myself – Rwanda
5. Silence – Nigeria
6. Kieza – Angola
7. Yemoja: Rise of the Orisa- Nigeria/UK
8. Marabout – Senegal
9. A Place in the Plane – Senegal

WINNER: IT IS A JOINT AWARD AND THE AWARD GOES TO: ‘A PLACE FOR MYSELF’ (RWANDA) AND ‘A PLACE IN THE PLANE’ (SENEGAL)

1. THE NOMINEES FOR THE AMAA 2017 AWARD FOR BEST ANIMATION ARE:

2. Black Barbie – Ghana

3. Got Flowers – Nigeria
4. Gyrow – Nigeria
5. Pull – Nigeria

WINNER: AND THE WINNER IS ‘GOT FLOWERS’ – (NIGERIA)

1. THE NOMINEES FOR THE AMAA 2017 AWARD FOR BEST DOCUMENTARY ARE:

1, Legacy Of The Hills – Mali
2. Makoko: Future Afloat – Nigeria
3. House in the Field – Morocco
4. Vivre Riche – Cote D’Ivoire
5. House of Nwapa – Nigeria
6. Mama Colonel – DRC
7. The African Who Wanted To Fly – Gabon
8. La Colere Dans Le Vent (Anger in the Wind) – Niger

WINNER: AND THE AWARD FOR THE AMAA 2017 BEST DOCUMENTARY GOES TO- ‘MAMA COLONEL’ – DRC-CONGO

1. THE NOMINEES FOR THE OUSMANE SEMBENE AMAA 2017 AWARD FOR BEST FILM IN AN AFRICAN LANGUAGE ARE:

2. Logun Ofe – Nigeria

3. Call Me Thief – South Africa
4. Félicité – Senegal
5. Vaya – South Africa

WINNER: AND THE AWARD GOES TO ‘Félicité’ – SENEGAL

1. THE NOMINEES FOR THE MICHAEL ANYIAM OSIGWE AMAA 2017 AWARD FOR BEST FILM BY AN AFRICAN LIVING ABROAD ARE:

2. Saving Dreams – Nigeria/Canada

3. While We Live – Burkina Faso/Sweden
4. Theory of Conflict- Nigeria/USA
5. A Mile in My Shoes – Morocco/Canada
6. Hell’s Fury- Nigeria/USA

WINNER: AND THE AWARD GOES TO: ‘WHILE WE LIVE’ – BURKINA FASO/SWEDEN

1. THE NOMINEES FOR THEAMAA 2017 AWARD FOR BEST DIASPORA SHORT ARE:
   1. Kbela – Brazil
2. Ca$h Out – USA
3. The Tale of Four – Curacao
   1. 90 Days – USA

WINNER: AND IT IS A JOINT AWARD. AND THE AWARD GOES TO ’90 DAYS’ (USA) AND ‘KBELA’ (BRAZIL)

1. THE NOMINEES FOR THE AMAA 2017 AWARD FOR BEST DIASPORA DOCUMENTARY ARE:
   1. 13th – USA
   2. Les heritiers du Vietnam (Martinique)
   3. Horace Tapscott, Musical Griot – USA

WINNER: AND THE AWARD FOR THE AMAA 2017 AWARD FOR BEST DIASPORA DOCUMENTARY GOES TO ‘13TH’ (USA)

1. THE NOMINEES FOR THE AMAA 2017 AWARD FOR BEST DIASPORA FEATURE ARE:
   1. West Indies Gang – Guadeloupe
2. Fences – USA
   1. Birth of a Nation – USA
   2. Double play – Curacao
   3. Moonlight – USA

WINNER: AND THE AWARD GOES TO ‘BIRTH OF A NATION’ (USA)

1. THE NOMINEES FOR THE AMAA 2017 AWARD FOR ACHIEVEMENT IN PRODUCTION DESIGN ARE:

2. Call Me Thief – South Africa

3. Félicité- Senegal
4. 76 – Nigeria
5. Queen of Katwe – Uganda
6. The Last of Us- Tunisia

WINNER: AND THE WINNER IS ‘76’ (NIGERIA)

1. THE NOMINEES FOR THE AMAA 2017 ACHIEVEMENT IN COSTUME DESIGN ARE:

2. Queen of Katwe- Uganda

3. Ayamma- Nigeria
4. Keteke – Ghana
5. The Last Of Us – Tunisia
6. Logun Ofe – Nigeria

WINNER: AND THE AWARD GOES TO ‘QUEEN OF KATWE’ (UGANDA)

1. THE NOMINEES FOR THE AMAA 2017 AWARD FOR ACHIEVEMENT IN MAKE-UP ARE:

2. Dora’s Peace – South Africa

3. Oloibiri – Nigeria
4. Ayamma- Nigeria
5. The Last of Us – Tunisia
6. Slow Country- Nigeria

WINNER: AND THE WINNER OF THE AMAA 2017 AWARD FOR ACHIEVEMENT IN MAKE-UP IS ‘OLOIBIRI’ (NIGERIA)

1. THE NOMINEES FOR THE AMAA 2017 AWARD FOR ACHIEVEMENT IN SOUNDTRACK ARE:

2. Vaya – South Africa

3. 93 Days- Nigeria
4. A Mile in My Shoes- Morocco
5. 76 – Nigeria
6. Félicité – Senegal
7. While We Live- Burkina Faso/Sweden

WINNER: AND THE AWARD GOES TO ‘Félicité’ (SENEGAL)

1. THE NOMINEES FOR THE AMAA 2017 AWARD FOR ACHIEVEMENT IN VISUAL EFFECT ARE:

2. Wulu – Mali

3. Oloibiri- Nigeria
4. Whale Caller – South Africa
5. Queen of Katwe – Uganda
6. Slow Country – Nigeria

WINNER: AND THE AWARD GOES TO ‘WULU’ (MALI)

1. THE NOMINEES FOR THE AMAA 2017 AWARD FOR ACHIEVEMENT IN SOUND ARE:

2. 93 Days – Nigeria

3. Félicité – Senegal
4. Vaya – South Africa
5. Wulu- Mali
6. Dora’s Peace – South Africa

WINNER: AND THE WINNER IS ‘VAYA’ (SOUTH AFRICA)

1. THE NOMINEES FOR THE AMAA 2017 AWARD FOR ACHIEVEMENT IN CINEMATOGRAPHY:

2. The Last of Us – Tunisia

3. The Whale Caller – South Africa
4. Félicité- Senegal
5. Vaya- South Africa
6. A Mile in My Shoes – Morocco

WINNER: AND THE AWARD GOES TO – ‘THE LAST OF US’ –(TUNISIA)

1. THE NOMINEES FOR THE AMAA 2017 AWARD FOR ACHIEVEMENT IN EDITING ARE:

2. Call Me Thief- South Africa

3. Vaya – South Africa
4. While We Live – Burkina Faso/Sweden
5. CEO – Nigeria
6. Félicité- Senegal

WINNER: AND THE WINNER IS ‘Félicité’ (SENEGAL)

1. THE NOMINEES FOR THE AMAA 2017 AWARD FOR ACHIEVEMENT IN SCREEN PLAY ARE:

2. Oloibiri – Nigeria

3. Dora’s Peace- South Africa
4. Félicité – Senegal
5. While We Live- Burkina Faso/Sweden
6. Vaya – South Africa

WINNER: AND THE AWARD FOR SCREENPLAY FOR AMAA 2017 GOES TO ‘VAYA’ (SOUTH AFRICA)

1. THE NOMINEES FOR THE AMAA 2017- LAGOS STATE AWARD FOR BEST NIGERIAN FILM

2. Green White Green

3. 93 Days
4. CEO
5. 76
6. Ayamma
7. Oloibiri

WINNER: AND THE WINNER OF THE AMAA 2017 LAGOS STATE AWARD FOR BEST NIGERIAN FILM IS ‘76’ (NIGERIA)

1. THE NOMINEES FOR THE AMAA 2017 AWARD FOR BEST YOUNG/ PROMISING ACTOR ARE:

2. Pabillo Koza – Dora’s Peace

3. Medina Molanga – Queen of Katwe
4. Azwille Shanane-Madiba – Vaya
5. Austin Rose – Call Me Thief
6. Adam Kanyama– While We Live

WINNER: AND THE AWARD GOES TO ‘ MEDINA MOLANGA’ (QUEEN OF KATWE)

1. THE NOMINEES FOR THE TONY ELUMELU AMAA 2017 AWARD FOR BEST COMEDY ARE:
   1. Funny Enough (Snaaks Genoeg) – South Africa
   2. Three Wise Men – Nigeria
   3. Keteke – Ghana
   4. A Trip To Jamaica – Nigeria

WINNER: AND THE WINNER OF THE TONY ELUMELU AMAA 2017 AWARD FOR BEST COMEDY FILM IS ‘THREE WISE MEN’- (NIGERIA)

1. THE NOMINEES FOR THE AMAA 2017 AWARD FOR BEST ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE ARE:

2. Adonijah Owiriwa – 76

3. Warren Matsimola – Vaya
4. Olu Jacobs – Oloibiri
5. Papi Mpaka – Félicité
6. Richard Seruwazi – While We Live
7. Majid Michel – Slow Country

WINNER: AND THE AWARD FOR THE BEST ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE GOES TO ‘PAPI MPAKA’ FOR THE FILM-Félicité- SENEGAL.

1. THE NOMINEES FOR THE AMAA 2017 AWARD FOR BEST ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE ARE:

2. Inna Moja – Wulu

3. Theresa Edem – Ayamma
4. Taiwo Ajai Lycet – Oloibiri
5. Nmonde Mbusi – Vaya
6. Somkele Idhalama – 93 Days
7. Angelique Kidjo – CEO

WINNER: AND THE AWARD FOR THE AMAA 2017 AWARD FOR BEST ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE GOES TO ‘ANGELIQUE KIDJO’ FOR THE CEO (NIGERIA)

1. THE NOMINEES FOR THE AMAA 2017 AWARD FOR BEST ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE ARE:

2. Sambassa Nzeribe – Slow Country

3. Ibrahim Koma – Wulu
4. Richard Mofe Damijo – Oloibiri
5. Amine Ennaji- A Mile in My Shoes
6. David Oyelowo – Queen of Katwe
7. Dann Jaques Mouton- Call Me Thief
8. Ramsey Noah – 76
9. Jahwar Soudani – Last Of Us

WINNER: AND THE AWARD FOR THE BEST ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE GOES TO ‘JAHWAR SOUDANI’ FOR THE FILM- LAST OF US (TUNISIA)

1. THE NOMINEES FOR THE AMAA 2017 AWARD FOR BEST ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE ARE:

2. Vero Tshanda – Félicité

3. Lydia Forson – Keteke
4. Lupita Nyong’o – Queen of Katwe
5. Bimbo Akintola – 93 Days
6. Josette Bushell-Mingo – While We Live
7. Rita Dominic – 76
8. Khabonina Quebeka – Dora’s Peace
9. Zimkhitha Nyoka – Vaya

WINNER: AND THE AWARD FOR THE BEST ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE GOES TO ‘VERO TSHANDA’ FOR THE FILM ‘Félicité’ (SENEGAL)
25. THE NOMINEES FOR THE AMAA 2017 AWARD FOR BEST FIRST FEATURE FILM BY A DIRECTOR ARE:

1. Happiness is a Four Letter Word –Thabang Molaya- South Africa
2. Green White Green – Abba Makama – Nigeria
3. Wulu – Daouda Coulibaly – Mali
4. Bunjoko – Kizito Samuel – Uganda
5. The Last Of Us – Alaeddine Slim – Tunisia
6. Rain – Daniel Mugerwa – Uganda

WINNER: AND THE AWARD GOES TO ‘WULU’ BY DAOUDA COULIBALY (MALI)

1. THE NOMINEES FOR THE AMAA 2017 AWARD FOR BEST DIRECTOR ARE:

2. Daouda Coulibaly – Wulu

3. Steve Gukas – 93 Days
4. Mira Nair – Queen of Katwe
5. Izu Ojukwu – 76
6. Daryen Joshua- Call Me Thief
7. Akin Omotoso – Vaya
8. Alain Gomis – Félicité
9. Ala Eddine Slim- The Last Of Us
10. Said Khallaf – A Mile in My Shoes

WINNER: AND THE AWARD GOES TO: ‘AKIN OMOTOSO’ (VAYA-SOUTH AFRICA)

1. THE NOMINEES FOR THE AMAA 2017 AWARD FOR BEST FILM ARE:

2. The Last Of Us – Tunisia

3. A Mile in My Shoes – Morocco
4. 76 – Nigeria
5. Vaya- South Africa
6. 93 Days – Nigeria
7. Queen of Katwe – Uganda
8. Félicité – Senegal
9. Wulu – Mali
10. Call Me Thief – South Africa

WINNER: AND THE WINNER OF THE OF THE AMAA 2017 AWARD FOR BEST FILM IS ‘Félicité’- SENEGAL