AMVCA 2017: A Night For Rita Dominic, Sambasa Nzeribe, Funke Akindele

FUNSHO AROGUNDADE

The movie, ’76, directed by Izu Ojukwu, lived up to its rating and acclaim as it emerged the biggest winner at the just concluded Africa Magic Viewers Choice Award (AMVCA) held in Lagos Saturday night.

The movie, with nominations in 14 categories stole the show as it won five of the coveted awards of the night -Best Overall Movie, Best Actress, Best Costume Designer, Best Art Director and Best Director.

The movie fetched Nollywood diva, Rita Dominic the “Best Actress in a Drama (Movie/TV Series)” diadem.

Very elated Rita, who told the audience and viewers across Africa that nearly two decades in the industry, she could still won such prestigious award, edged out equally talented actresses including inimitable Bimbo Akintola.

She dedicated the award to those she described as “the unsung heroines”, who are the Army Wives.

Young actor Sambasa Nzeribe was another star of the awards night.

This University of Lagos Creative Art graduate and star of the movie “Slow Country,” edged out iconic actors including Olu Jacobs, Richard Mofe-Damijo and Ramsey Nouah to emerged the Best Actor in Africa.

The movie ‘Oloibiri’ won three awards -Best Make Up Artiste, Best Picture Editor and Best Movie West Africa.

Talented Funke Akindele proved her mettle again this year as she won two awards.

Her soar-away hit TV comedy series, Jenifa’s Diary won the Best TV Series as well as fetched her the Best Actress In Comedy statuettes.

Fast rising actress Somkele Idhalama won this year’s AMVCA Trailblazer Award.

While receiving the award, Somkhele, the star of ‘The Arbitration’, ’93 Days’ and ‘The Wedding Party’, acknowledged God as the best script writer she has ever met.

“I have followed the trail of others, but I never thought that this early, I would become a trailblazer,”  she said.

She dedicated the honour to her husband and son, her sisters, mum and also acknowledged the support of her boss, billionaire banker Jim Ovia, who she said allowed her to go for the auditioning for the film “93 Days”.

Somkhele was rewarded with a GAC luxury car.

Iconic comedian and producer, Chika Okpala aka Zebrudaya was bestowed with the AMVCA 2017 Industry Recognition Award.

Okpala. producer of popular TV comedy series, ‘New Masquerade’ was also presented alongside his award, a brand new GAC SUV.

In its fifth edition, this year AMVCA was hosted by Nigeria’s  On air personality, IK Osakioduwa and South African media personality Minenhle ‘Minnie’ Dlamini.

The awards ceremony, with a few glitches, ran smoothly.

The organisers managed every bit of the time from musical performances to the awards presentation.

AMVCA highlights and reward the outstanding achievement of African talents in television and film during the outgone year.

The Full List of Winners:

*Trailblazer Award
Somkele Idhalama

*Best Make Up Artiste (Movies/TV series)
Oloibiri – Hakeem Onilogbo Ajibola, Perekeme Odon

*Best Costume Designer
76 – Pat Egwurube

*Best Art Director
76 – Pat Nebo

*Best Sound Editor (Movies/TV series)
Vaya

*Best Picture Editor (Movie/TV series)
Oloibiri – Nnodim Chigozie, Paula Peterson

*Best Lighthing Designer (Movies/TV series)
93 Days – Elliot Sewape

*Best Cinematographer
Happiness is a Four Letter Word – Lance Gewer

*Best Documentary
Alison

*Best Short Film or Online Video
Cat Face

*Best Actress in an M-Net original comedy series
Deborah Anugwa – Hustle

*Best Actor in an M-Net comedy series
Samuel Ajibola – “The Johnsons”

*Best Actress in an M-Net original drama series
Meg Otanwa – “Hush”

*Best Actor in an M-Net original drama series
David Jones David – “Hotel Majestic”

*Best M-Net original comedy series
The Johnsons

*Best M-Net original drama series
Tinsel

*Best Indigenous Language TV series/movies (Swahili)
Zilizala

*Best Indigenous Language TV series/movies (Hausa)
Yaki Da Zuciya

*Best Indigenous Language TV series/movies (Yoruba)

Somwhere in The Dark – Abiodun Jimoh, Jumoke Odetola

*Best Indigenous Language TV series/movies (Igbo)

Amoye-Bu-Onye

*Best Soundtrack/ Original Score

The Encounter – Michael ‘The Truth’ Ogunlade

*Best TV series

Jenifa’s Diary

*Best Writer

Vaya

*Best Supporting Actress

Ebele Okaro – Four One Love

*Best Supporting Actor In A Drama (Movie/TV series)

Rotimi Salami – Just Not Married

*Best Actor in a Comedy

Imeh Umoh Bishop – The Boss is Mine

*Best Actress In Comedy

Funke Akindele

*Best Movie East Africa

Kati Kati

*Best Movie West Africa

Oloibiri

*Best Movie South Africa

All About Love

*Best Actress in a Drama (Movies/TV Series)

Rita Dominic – 76

*Best Actor in a Drama

Sambasa Nzeribe – Slow Country

*Best Overall Movie
76

*Best Director

76 – Izu Ojukwu