Academy Unveils Plans For AMAA 2023, Calls For Entries ahead of 19th Edition

FUNSHO AROGUNDADE

Africa Film Academy, the organisers of the Africa Movie Academy Awards, AMAA, has unveiled plans and activities ahead of the 19th edition.

These were revealed Thursday December 1 at a media parley held at the Radisson Hotel in GRA, Ikeja, Lagos.

Speaking at the unveiling event, Peace Anyiam-Osigwe, founder and President, AMAA, said the decision to unveil the plans and activities ahead of the 19th edition of the Continental film awards was deliberate and a move to involve every film practitioner in Africa and those in the Diaspora.

She disclosed that the early call for entry is to enable more film practitioners across Africa and the Diaspora to submit and participate in the 19th edition.

“This is an avenue to officially rest the 18th edition of the AMAAs under the supervision of the Africa Film Academy and begin the journey to 2023. We are currently calling for entries in all categories and this will last till March 2023,”Anyiam-Osigwe said.

While reiterating AMAA is not a popularity contest form of award ceremony but a professional contest that rewards professionalism across Africa, AMAA boss added that, “We are now accepting submissions for the 19th Africa Movie Academy Awards. The Africa Film Academy invites filmmakers to submit their feature, short, animation, and documentary work for consideration in nearly 30 film categories of the awards.

“One of the aims for creating AMAA is to provide and create a networking platform and avenue for African filmmakers and practitioners to interact while getting rewarded for their creativity, uniqueness, authenticity and professionalism. We are not a popularity contest, we are a professional contest that rewards professionalism, hence, why AMAA has two faces to it, which is the critical look and judgment of professionalism and the glamorous part. I continue to hold dear the critical arm working behind the scene while our Chief Operating Officer, Kingsley James handles the glamorous part, which is the look and feel of the awards ceremony,” she said.

Anyiam-Osigwe reaffirmed that she has no influence whatsoever on the screening committee, governing body or the jury of AMAA.

“AMAA is a professional niche reward system and you will find out that most of the films that won at AMAA 2022 and in previous years, go on to do very well at globally recognised film festivals and awards,” she told the audience that included Mr. Kingsley James, AMAA COO and Show Producer, and Dr. Shaibu Husseni, Head of AMAA College of Screeners.

On his part, James reiterated that the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu will return as the host for the 19th edition of the AMAAs while other activities that include human capacity building by the AFA, Jury’s Session, Nominations Unveil, and a week-long festivities that will herald the 2023 edition will be unchanged.

“For us, our announcement of the lined up activities for AMAA 2023 is a deliberate action from our end. We will be having two or three activities every month till the end of the year and these will include human capacity building under AFA, screenings of films and the awards ceremony. We would be screening the five biggest films in AMAA 2022 to the media so they can also understand why these films were nominated and won big. We will be having a monthly dialogue with practitioners and creatives,” James said.

He added, “As I have noted, the awards ceremony will be held in Lagos under the supervision of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, we would also be having another round of film in a box while the nomination unveil will come up in August 2023. For the AMAA proper, we will be having a 7-days complete creative week that will encompass music, film, fashion and arts. So I can tell you it’s a tightly packed year for us at AMAA and we can’t do it all alone without the support of the media.”

Dr. Husseini, who spoke on behalf of AMAA Jury and College of Screeners, said his team is looking forward to receiving great films from African film practitioners.

“We look forward to feature films, animations, documentaries and more. I would like to reiterate that the country of film is different from the origin of film. We don’t encourage films that don’t have Africans or filmmakers of African descent. Films can be uploaded on film freeway,” he said.

The renowned Film scholar noted that the team plans to increase the number of members of the College of Screeners as well as the Jurors.

“We would be enlarging the scope of our College of Screeners from 12 to more this year. These are the people that will screen films for the Jury, while the President of the Jury is responsible for films that get nominated. We don’t do Part Two during screening of films or judging films at AMAA. We are professionals and take our roles very professionally,” Dr. Husseini affirmed.

The media event is coming after a successful hosting of the 18th edition of AMAA at the Jewel Aeida Hall, Lekki, Lagos on Sunday, October 30.

The 2022 edition of the continental film awards ceremony, which had Nigerian filmmakers and films winning several awards, also had scintillating performances from music stars that include King Sunny Ade, P-Square, Young Jon Zadok, Yinka Davies, and Candy Bleakz.

Stand up comedy acts Funnybone and Chigul hosted the ceremony alongside TV Personality, Kachi Offia.

The award ceremony had in attendance Commissioner for Tourism, Arts, and Culture, Pharm. Uzamat Akinbile-Yussuf with her husband; Special Adviser to Lagos State Governor on Education, Hon. Tokunbo Wahab; the AMAA Jury members including Keith Shiri, Dr. Shaibu Husseini, and Steve Ayorinde; as well as hundreds of film practitioners that included Richard Mofe Damijo, Keppy Ekpeyong Bassey, Idowu Phillips, Bimbo Manuel, Jennifer Eliogu, David Akande, Dickson Iroegbu, Wole Ojo, Daniel K. Daniel, Enyinna Nwigwe, Deyemi Okanlawon, Yemi Blaq, Osas Ighodaro, Denrele Edun, Sola Fajobi, Tony Akposeri, Osita Iheme amongst several others.