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Africa Movie Academy Awards

African film industry award ceremony

Africa Movie Academy Awards
Summary

African film industry award ceremony

FieldValue
nameAfrica Movie Academy Awards
AMMA
imageAfrica Movie Academy Awards logo.png
captionAfrica Movie Academy Awards logo
presenterAfrica Film Academy
countryNigeria
year
website

AMMA The Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMMA) is an annual entertainment award ceremony, presented to recognize excellence among African and non-African professionals, who have contributed to the African film industry. The award was founded by Peace Anyiam-Osigwe currently run by the Africa Film Academy. It is regarded as one of Africa's most notable film events, and have been sometimes referenced as the "African Oscars".

History

The first Africa Movie Academy Awards was held in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, Nigeria, on 30 May 2005. All other subsequent African Academy Awards before 2012 were held at the same venue, except for the 2008 AMAA Awards, which was moved to Abuja, FCT, for security reasons. In 2012, the awards ceremony was held at Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, in Lagos State. The 9th and 10th edition saw AMAA returning to Yenagoa, while the 2015 ceremony was held outside Nigeria for the first time.

They have been hosted in various Nigerian cities, usually in Lagos, and once internationally in Kigali, Rwanda, in the year 2018. The ceremonies have been held at different venues within these locations, including the Jewel Aeida Hall, Eko Hotels and Suites, Balmoral Center, and the Landmark Event Centre in Lagos. Over time, the AMAA has expanded its reach beyond Nigeria. Though detailed archival venue data is limited, ceremonies have drawn global attention, through strategic host cities and online formats particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. This approach reflects AMAA's evolving commitment to inclusion and accessibility across the African continent and beyond.

Jury members

  • Berni Goldblat 2007–present
  • John Akomfrah
  • Steve Ayorinde 2005–2015
  • Keith Shiri
  • June Givanni
  • Hyginus Ekwuazi
  • Shaibu Husseini
  • Ayoku Babu
  • Asantewa Olatunji
  • Dorothee Wenner 2005–present
  • Charles Burnett 2014–present
  • Filippe Savadogo 2014–present
  • Amaka Igwe 2005

Categories

The AMAA statuette
Best Film by an African Living Abroad

As of 2017, the Africa Movie Academy Awards had 28 merit categories. They include:

  • Best Short Film: since 2010
  • Best Documentary: since 2006
  • Best Diaspora Feature: since 2011
  • Best Diaspora Documentary: since 2011
  • Best Animation: since 2008
  • Achievement in Production Design: since 2008
  • Achievement in Costume Design: since 2005
  • Achievement in Make-Up: since 2005
  • Achievement in Soundtrack: since 2005
  • Achievement in Visual Effects: since 2005
  • Achievement in Sound: since 2005
  • Achievement in Cinematography: since 2005
  • Achievement in Editing: since 2005
  • Best Film by an African Living Abroad: (2008; 2010–2013; 2015–present)
  • Best Comedy Film
  • Best Actor in a Leading Role: since 2005
  • Best Actress in a Leading Role: since 2005
  • Best First Feature Film by a Director
  • Best Diaspora Short Film
  • Achievement in Screenplay: since 2005
  • Best Nigerian Film: since 2007
  • Best Film in an African Language: since 2005
  • Most Promising Actor: since 2006
  • Best Child Actor
  • Best Actor in a Supporting Role: since 2005
  • Best Actress in a Supporting Role: since 2005
  • Best Director: since 2005
  • Best Film: since 2005

Discontinued categories

Several categories have been renamed, retired, or merged. Below is a list of some of the retired categories.

Last awarded yearstyle="width:15%;"Category Namestyle="width:5%;"Last Winner
2006
2006
2006
2008
2010
2008
2013

Special categories

  • Lifetime Achievement Awards (2005–2007; 2013–present)
  • Special Recognition of Pillars of Nollywood (2013 only)
  • Special Jury Award (2012–present)
  • Madiba Africa Vision Awards (2014 only)
  • Best Film for Women Empowerment (2014 only)

Impact

AMAA has cemented its role as a catalyst for African cinema. It brings visibility to films in indigenous languages, supports diaspora narratives, and honours technical excellence. The awards foster cross-continental collaboration, spotlight African talent globally, and inspire the next generation of filmmakers.

References

References

  1. Wenner, Dorothée. (June 10, 2009). "Showtime in Nigeria". [[Georg von Holtzbrinck Publishing Group]].
  2. (30 April 2010). "Stars shine at African Oscars". [[CNN]].
  3. (1 October 2010). "Nigeria @50: Long trek to Nollywood". [[Vanguard Media]].
  4. Tutton, Mark. (30 April 2010). "Stars shine at African Oscars". [[CNN International]].
  5. Krahe, Dialika. "Nollywood's Film Industry Second only to Bollywood in Scale". [[Der Spiegel.
  6. Balogun, Sola. (11 March 2005). "Movie makers storm Bayelsa for awards". Daily Sun.
  7. Folaranmi, Femi. (13 May 2005). "Rhythm of a new world of movies As Nollywood stars storm Yenagoa for AMAA". Daily Sun.
  8. Oluikpe, Nkasiobi. (15 January 2009). "Artistes in Big Dream for 2009". [[AllAfrica.com.
  9. "Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) Lagos, Nigeria".
  10. (23 April 2012). "'And the Winner is….' The results of this year's AFRICA MOVIE ACADEMY AWARDS!".
  11. Jasanya, Olamide. (15 May 2014). "Steve Ayorinde, Keith Shiri, John Akomfrah, June Givanni, Shaibu Husseini, Ayoku Babu, others make AMAA 2014 jury".
  12. (May 4, 2008). "UBA/AMAA 2008: Nkem Owoh, Kate Henshaw Are Africa's Best". thenigerianvoice.com.
  13. "AMAA Jurors in Cannes for Deliberations". nollywoodmindspace.com.
  14. "Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) Jury Members". filmfestivals.com.
  15. "Nigeria: Amaa to Honour Jury Members". allafrica.com.
  16. (28 November 2014). "Charles Burnett, Filippe Savadogo join AMAA Jury". theeagleonline.com.ng.
  17. Folaranmi, Femi. (13 May 2005). "Rhythm of a new world of movies As Nollywood stars storm Yenagoa for AMAA". Daily Sun.
  18. "AMAA Nominees and Winners 2011". Africa Movie Academy Awards.
  19. "AMVCA Impact Report 2013 – 2023".
Wikipedia Source

This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page.

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