Winners & Highlights from the 19th Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) 2023

 

The 19th edition of the Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) unfolded with much glamour on Sunday, October 29, 2023, at the prestigious Balmoral Convention Centre in Ikeja, Lagos. The event brought together renowned filmmakers, actors, and industry enthusiasts from across the globe to celebrate the very best of African cinema.

 

Aptly hosted by the dynamic trio of Nancy Isime, Rahama Sadau, and Richard Ato Turkson, the awards ceremony dazzled with entertainment, highlighting exceptional achievements in the African film industry.

 

A notable standout of the night was the film “Anikulapo,” a historical epic directed by the illustrious Kunle Afolayan. With an all-star cast featuring Kunle Remi, Sola Sobowale, and Bimbo Ademoye, “Anikulapo” clinched the prestigious Ousmane Sembene Award for Best Film in an African Language.

 

The Michael Anyiam Osigwe Award for Best Film by an African-Born Director Living Abroad went to Jude Idada, the visionary director behind “KOFA,” a remarkable cinematic creation. In the realm of animation, “Jabari,” a captivating animated film produced by the Ghana-based animation studio, stood out, securing the coveted Jubril Malaifia Award for Best Animation.

 

This edition of the AMAA Awards was a testament to the immense talent, creativity, and dedication that permeates the African film industry. With a diverse array of categories and entries, it showcased the depth and breadth of storytelling, technical prowess, and cinematic artistry across the continent.

 

Efere Ozaka Award For Best Short Film

Lions (Ethiopia) – Winner

 

Enmity Djin (Mauritania)

 

Jubril Malaifia (Namibia)

 

Award For Best Animation

Lost (Uganda)

 

Azania Rises (South Africa)

 

Jabari (Ghana) – Winner

 

Bashorum Gaa (Nigeria)

 

Best Documentary

Africa Cradle of Humanity and Modern Civilization (Senegal/Canada)

 

Nightlife in Lasgidi (Nigeria)

 

Maayo Wonaa Keerol – The River is not a Border (Senegal)

 

Ifine (Beauty) (Sierra Leone)

 

Le Spectre de Boko Haram (Cameroon) – Winner

 

Ousmane Sembene Award For Best Film In An African Language

Pusha Pressa Phanda (South Africa)

 

Anikulapo (Nigeria) – Winner

 

The Kitera Chronicle (Uganda)

 

Four Walls (South Africa)

 

Mami Wata (Nigeria)

 

Michael Anyiam Osigwe Award For Best Film By An African-Born Director Living Abroad

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

 

Golden Stripes (Nigeria/UK) – Peace Osigbe

 

KOFA (Nigeria/Canada) – Jude Idada – Winner

 

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 – Winner

 

Best Diaspora Documentary

Sound of the Police (United States) – Directed by Stanley Nelson – Winner

 

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

 

Best Diaspora Narrative Feature

Cheese (Trinidad & Tobago) – directed by Damian Marcano

 

Our Father, The Devil (United States) – Directed by Ellie Foumbi – Winner

 

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

 

Best Achievement in Production Design

Pat Nebo – Anikulapo – Nigeria – Winner

 

Eve Martin – Omen – DRC

 

Sira – Burkina Faso

 

Antoine Nshimiyimana – Fight Like a Girl – Rwanda

 

Chantel Carter – Gereza – South Africa

 

Best Achievement in Costume Design

Bunmi Demilola Fashina – Mami Wata – Nigeria

 

Toyin Bifarin Ogundeji – Anikulapo – Nigeria

 

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

 

Djibril Drame – Xalé – Senegal – Winner

 

Elkehoste and Baloji Omen – DRC

 

Sidi Ouedraogo Sira – Burkina Faso

 

Best Achievement in Make-Up

Campell Precious Arebamen – Mami Wata – Nigeria – Winner

 

Hakeem Effect and Toyin Bifarin Ogundeji – Anikulapo – Nigeria

 

Lila Vander Elst – Omen – DRCOur Lady of the Chinese Shop – Angola

 

Omowunmi Okungbure – Gangs of Lagos – Nigeria

 

Best Achievement in Soundtrack

Fight Like a Girl – Rwanda – Winner

 

L’Axe Lourd (The Highway) – CameroonGereza – South Africa

 

Omen – DRC

 

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

 

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 – Winner

 

Best Achievement in Sound

Juliana Oswald – Our Lady of the Chinese Shop – Angola

 

Vianney Aube – Sira – Burkina Faso – Winner

 

Erik Griekspoor – Omen – DRC

 

Samy Bardet – Mami Wata – Nigeria

 

Michel Tsagli – Xalé – Senegal

 

Best Achievement in Cinematography

Lilis Soares – Mami Wata – Nigeria – Winner

 

Joachim Philippe – Omen – DRC

 

Richard Henkels – Fight Like a Girl – Rwanda

 

Thomas Wilski – Talia’s Journey – Senegal/Belgium

 

Eduardo Kropotkine – Our Lady of the Chinese Shop – Angola

 

Best Achievement in Editing

Nathan Delannoy – Mami Wata – Nigeria

 

Bertrand Conard – Omen – DRC – Winner

 

Sylvie Gadner – Sira – Burkina Faso

 

Layla Swart – Gereza

 

Madhew Leutwyler – Fight Like a Girl

 

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 – Winner

 

Madhew Leutwyler – Fight Like a Girl – Rwanda

 

National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVB) Award for Best Nigerian Film

Mami Wata – Winner

 

Anikulapo

 

4-4-44 (Four Four Forty-Four)

 

Gangs of Lagos

 

The Trade L.I.F.E.

 

Brotherhood

 

Best Young/Promising Actor

Maleek Sanni – Gangs of Lagos – Winner

 

Ewube -L’axe Lourd (The HighwayDarisimi Nadi – Obara’m)

 

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

 

Eyiyemi Afolyan – Anikulapo

 

Best Actor in a Supporting Role

Francis Onwuchei – The Trade – Nigeria

 

Jeff Jackson – Four Walls – South Africa

 

Hakeem Kae-Kazim – Fight Like a Girl – Rwanda

 

Jimmy-Jean Louis – Rise – Winner

 

Best Actress in a Supporting Role

Uzoamaka Aniunoh – Mami Wata – Nigeria

 

Rokhaya Niang – Xalé – Senegal – Winner

 

Clarck Natmbwe – Fight Like a Girl – Rwanda

 

Best Actor in a Leading Role

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

 

Marc Zunga – Omen – DRC

 

Fenando Kamugisha – The Fallen Advocate –Uganda

 

Tobi Bakre – Brotherhood – Nigeria – Winner

 

Justine Murichii – Shimoni – Kenya

 

Mike Danon – Sira – Burkina Faso

 

Best Actress in a Leading Role

Lucie Debay – Omen – DRC

 

Ehle Mbali Mlotshwa – 4 Walls – South Africa

 

Nafissatou Sisse – Sira – Burkina Faso

 

Adesua Etomi – Guns of Lagos – Nigeria

 

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

 

Bimbo Ademoye – Anikulapo – NigeriaAma Qamata – Fight Like a Girl – Rwanda

 

First Debut Feature by a Director

Baloji – Omen – DRC – Winner

 

Ery Claver – Our Lady of the Chinese Shop – Angola

 

Jean Elliot Ilboudo (le Chant des fusils) The Song of the Riffle – Cameron

 

Best Director

Moussa Sene Absa – Xalé

 

C. J. ‘Fiery’ Obasi – Mami WataBaloji – Omen

 

Apolline Traore – Sira – Winner

 

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

 

Kunle Afolayan – Anikulapo

 

Kgosana Monchusi, Menzi Mzimela, Juvaiś Dunn – 4 Walls

 

Best Film

Xalé- Senegal – Winner

 

Mami Wata – Nigeria

 

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

 

Omen – DRC4

 

Walls – South Africa

 

Sira – Burkina Faso

 

Anikulapo – Nigeria

 

Source: Morebranches