AMAA 2023: Mami Wata, Anikulapo, 4-4-44 Top As Organisers Unveil Nomination

FUNSHO AROGUNDADE

Mami Wata, a 2023 Nigerian black-and-white fantasy film written and directed by C.J. “Fiery” Obasi has topped the nomination chart as the Board of the Africa Film Academy (AFA), the organisers of the Africa Movie Academy Awards, AMAA, announced the nominees for the 19th edition of the continental awards ceremony.

The movie scooped a total of 12 nominations with Anikulapo, a 2022 Nigerian epic fantasy film produced by multiple award-winning Kunle Afolayan and celebrated director, Izu Ojukwu’s 4-4-44 trailed with 8 nominations apiece.

The board represented by Mr. Raymond Anyiam-Osigwe and the AMAA jury represented by Hon. Steve Ayorinde revealed the line up of activities for the 2023 edition of the film and movie awards ceremony at a media briefing in Lagos on Thursday, 21 September.

According to Anyiam-Osigwe, the awards ceremony will be held on Sunday, October 29, 2023 at The Balmoral Event Centre situated inside Sheraton Hotels, Ikeja GRA, Lagos.

He also announced the theme of 2023 AMAA as ‘The Renaissance.’

Anyiam-Osigwe further stressed that the 2023 AMAA will be redefining the continental awards ahead of future plans and the 20th edition.

On his part, Ayorinde, who represented the president of the AMAA jury, Keith Shiri, while unveiling the nominees in the 26 categories, stressed that the jury went through a tedious and steadfast process to arrive at the nominees of each of the 26 categories that are expected to slug it out for the 2023 AMAA coveted plaques.

Ayorinde also said the process, which has always been credited as very transparent by industry heads, began from call for entry submission to screening by the College of Screeners headed by Dr Shaibu Husseini after which it was submitted to the jury for final nomination after which the official nomination list was unveiled.

A one-minute silence was observed to honour the late founder and Chief Executive Officer of AFA and AMAA, Peace Ogechi Anyiam-Osigwe.

The 2023 AMAA nomination unveil was hosted by actor, singer and voice-over star Segun Arinze at a convivial atmosphere.

Also in attendance were the Chief Operating Officer of AMAA, Tony Anih, member of the AMAA working team, Kite Anyiam-Osigwe, AMAA technical director, Kingsley James, Dr Shola Animashaun, and Tony Chukwuma.

The Chief Operating Officer of AMAA and Technical Director assured guests that the 19th edition of AMAA will be memorable.

AMAA 2023 Nomination List

Jury Members

Keith Shiri – President

Members: Dorothee Wenner, June Giviani, Berni Goldblat, Phillipe Savadego, John Akomfrah, Steve Ayorinde, Charles Brunnet, Dr. Shaibu Husseini, Asantewa Olatunji, Ayuko Babu and Professor Hyginus Ekwuazi.

1. Efere Ozako Award for Best Short Film

• Lions – Ethiopia

• Riel – Namibia

• Enmity Djin – Mauritania

2. Jubril Malaifia Award for Best Animation

• Lost – Uganda

• Azania Rises – South Africa

• Jabari – Ghana

• Bashorun Gaa – Nigeria

3. Best Documentary

• Africa Cradle of Humanity and Modern CivilizaHon – Senegal/Canada

• Nightlife in Lasgidi – Nigeria

• Maayo Wonaa Keerol – The River is not a Border -Senegal

• Ifine (Beauty) – Sierra Leone

• LeSpectre de Boko Haram – Cameron

4. Ousmane Sembene Award for Best Film in an African Language

• Pusha Pressa Phanda – South Africa

• Anikulapo – Nigeria

• The Kitera Chronicle – Uganda

• Four Walls – South Africa

• Mami Wata – Nigeria

5. Michael Anyiam Osigwe Award for Best Film by an African-Born Director Living Abroad

• Talia’s Journey – Christophe Rolin (Senegal/Belgium)

• Golden Stripes – Peace Osigbe (Nigeria/UK)

• KOFA – Jude Idada (Nigeria/Canada)

6. Best Diaspora Short Film

• We Were Meant To – (United States) – directed by Tari Wariebi

• The Ballad of Olive Morris – (United Kingdom) – directed by Alex Kayode-Kay

• Fifty-Four Days – (United Kingdom) – directed by Cat White and Phoebe Torrance

• Raw Materials – (Jamaica) – directed by Sosiessia Nixon-Kelly

7. Best Diaspora Documentary

• Sound of the Police – (United States) – directed by Stanley Nelson

• Fantastico Negrito – Have You Lost Your Mind Yet – (United States) – directed by Yvan Iturriaga and Francisco Nuñez

• Black Rio – (Brazil) directed by Fernando Sousa and Gabriel Barbosa

8. Best Diaspora Narrative Feature

• Chee$e – (Trinidad & Tobago) directed by Damian Marcano

• Our Father, The Devil – (United States) directed by Ellie Foumbi

• The Pastor and the Revolutionary – (Brazil) directed by José Eduardo Belmonte

9. Best Achievement in Production Design

• Kunle Afolayan – Anikulapo – Nigeria

• Eve Martin – Omen – DRC

• Sira – Burkina Faso

• Antoine Nshimiyimana – Fight Like a Girl – DRC

• Chantel Carter – Gereza – South Africa

10. Best Achievement in Costume Design

• Bunmi Demilola Fashina – Mami Wata – Nigeria

• Toyin Bifrain Ogundeji – Anikulapo – Nigeria

• Millicent Jack – 4-4-44 (Four Four Forty-Four) – Nigeria

• Djibril Drame – Xalé – Senegal

• Elkehoste and Baloji Omen – DRC

• Sidi Ouedraogo Sira – Burkina Faso

11. Best Achievement in Make-Up

• Campell Precious Arebamen – Mami Wata – Nigeria

• Hakeem Effect – Anikulapo– Nigeria

• Lila Vander Elst – Omen – DRC

• Our Lady of the Chinese Shop – Angola

• Omowunmi Okungbure – Gangs of Lagos – Nigeria

12. Best Achievement in Soundtrack

• Fight Like a Girl – DRC

• L’Axe Lourd (The Highway) – Cameroon

• Gereza – South Africa

• Omen – DRC

• Obinna Arua – 4-4-44 (Four Four Forty-Four) – Nigeria

13. Best Achievement in Visual Effects

• Andrej Gregori, Voranc Kumar, Ziga Radulji -Omen – DRC

• Alexandre Dachkevitch – Mami Wata – Nigeria

• Josh Borrill – The Trade – Nigeria

• Emmanuel Bassey – Gangs of Lagos – Nigeria

14. Best Achievement in Sound

• Juliana Oswald – Our Lady of the Chinese Shop – Angola

• Vianney Aube Sira – Burkina Faso

• Erik Griekspoor – Omen – DRC

• Samy Bardet – Mami Wata – Nigeria

• Michel Tsagli – Xalé – Senegal

15. Best Achievement in Cinematography

• Lilis Soares – Mami Wata – Nigeria

• Joachim Philippe – Omen – DRC

• Richard Henkels – Fight Like a Girl – DRC

• Thomas Wilski – Talia’s Journey – Senegal/Belgium

• Eduardo Kropotkine – Our Lady of the Chinese Shop – Angola

16. Best Achievement in Editing

• Nathan Delannoy – Mami Wata – Nigeria

• Bertrand Conard – Omen – DRC

• Sylvie Gadner – Sira – Burkina Faso

• Layla Swart – Gereza

• Madhew Leutwyler – DRC

17. Best Achievement in Screenplay

• C.J. ‘Fiery’ Obasi – Mami Wata – Nigeria

• Ufuoma MeHHri – 4-4-44 (Four Four Forty-Four) -Nigeria

• Moussa Sene Absa, Pierre Magny, Ben Diogay Beye – Xalé – Senegal

• Madhew Leutwyler – Fight Like a Girl – DRC

18. National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) Award for Best Nigerian Film

• Mami Wata

• Anikulapo

• 4-4-44 (Four Four Forty-Four)

 • Gangs of Lagos

• The Trade

• L.I.F.E.

• Brotherhood

19. Best Young/Promising Actor

• Maleek Sanni – Gangs of Lagos

• Jennifer Ewube -L’axe Lourd (The Highway)

• Darisimi Nadi – Obara’m

• Sanou Titiama – Le chant des fusils (The Song of the Rifle)

• Eyiyemi Afolyan – Anikulapo

20. Best Actor in a Supporting Role

• Francis Onwuchei – The Trade – Nigeria

• Jeff Jackson – Four Walls – South Africa

• Hakeem Kae-Kazim – Fight Like a Girl – DRC

• Jimmy-Jean Louis -Rise

21. Best Actress in a Supporting Role

• Uzoamaka Aniunoh – Mami Wata – Nigeria

• Rokhaya Niang – Xalé – Senegal

• Clarck Natmbwe – Fight Like a Girl – DRC

22. Best Actor in a Leading Role

• Richard Mofe Damijo – 4-4-44 (Four Four Forty-Four) – Nigeria

• Marc Zinga – Omen – DRC

• Fenando Kamugisha – The Fallen Advocate –Uganda

• Tobi Bakre – Brotherhood – Nigeria

• Justine Murichii – Shimoni – Kenya

• Mike Danon – Sira – Burkina Faso

23. Best Actress in a Leading Role

• Lucie Debay – Omen – DRC

• Ehle Mbali Mlotshwa – Four Walls – South Africa

• Nafissatou Cissé – Sira – Burkina Faso

• Adesua Etomi – Gangs of Lagos – Nigeria

• Nse Ikpe Etim – 4-4-44 (Four Four Forty-Four) – Nigeria

• Bimbo Ademoye – Anikulapo – Nigeria

• Ama Qamata – Fight Like a Girl – DRC

24. First Debut Feature by a Director

• Baloji – Omen – DRC

• Ery Claver – Our Lady of the Chinese Shop – Angola

• Jean Elliot Ilboudo (le Chant des fusils) The Song of the Riffle – Burkina Faso

25. Best Director

• Moussa Sene Absa – Xalé

• C. J. ‘Fiery’ Obasi – Mami Wata

• Baloji – Omen

• Apolline Traore – Sira

• Izu Ojukwu – 4-4-44 (Four Four Forty-Four)

• Kunle Afolayan – Anikulapo

• Kgosana Monchusi, Menzi Mzimela, Juvaiś Dunn – Four Walls

26. Best Film

• Xalé- Senegal

• Mami Wata – Nigeria

• 4-4-44 (Four Four Forty-Four) Nigeria

• Omen – DRC

• Four Walls – South Africa

• Sira – Burkina Faso

• Anikulapo – Nigeria