The Africa Film Academy (AFA) has unveiled the nominations for the 20th edition of the Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA), one of the continent’s most prestigious film awards. The announcement was made on Wednesday night during a high-profile event held at the Sheraton Hotel in Ikeja, Lagos. Key members of the AFA, including Mr. Raymond Anyiam-Osigwe, Chief Operating Officer, Mr. Tony Anih, and Mr. Kingsley James, producer of the AMAA gala night, were in attendance. Their presence emphasized the significance of the landmark 20th anniversary of the awards, which are dedicated to celebrating excellence in African cinema.
This year’s AMAA, themed “Celebrating African Creativity”, is being held in collaboration with the Lagos State government. The 20th edition promises a series of exciting events leading up to the gala night, including the launch of the AMAA Coffee Table Book, the AMAA Africa Night of Legends, AMAA Meets Nollywood, and the AMAA Africa Fashion Show and Exhibition. These events aim to highlight the achievements of African filmmakers and bring together top industry professionals from across the continent.
The official unveiling of the nominations included categories such as Best Film, Best Director, Best Actor, and Best Actress, as well as awards for achievements in various technical aspects of filmmaking. The event, hosted by Vimbai Mutinhiri Ekpenyong, featured appearances from industry figures like Dr. Shaibu Husseini, Steve Ayorinde, Segun Arinze, and Queen Blessing Ebigieson.
Nominees in top categories include “Under the Hanging Tree”, “The Weekend”, “This is Lagos”, “A Smile, A Wink and A Tear”, “Orah”, and “The Queenstown Kings” for Best Film. In the Best Director category, standout names such as Daniel Emeke Oriahi, Kenneth Gyang, and Jahmil X.T. Qubeka are among those competing for the prestigious honor.
The 20th AMAA celebrations will culminate in a grand awards ceremony scheduled for November 2, 2024, at the Balmoral Convention Centre in Lagos, Nigeria.