By Ogova Ondego
Published April 24, 2012
South African thriller, HOW 2 STEAL 2 Million, is the Best Film in Africa and its creator, Charlie Vundla, the Best Director. The film has also produced the Best Editor (Garreth Fradgely) and the Best Supporting Actress (Terry Pheto). Though it had received 10 nominations, HOW 2 STEAL 2 Million turned out to be the most awarded film– Best Film, Best Director, Best Supporting Actress, Best Editing–during the 8th annual Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) Gala Night held at The Expo Centre of Eko Hotel & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria, on April 22, 2012.
ADESUWA, a historical epic from Nigeria, was the second most awarded production, taking home three AMAA statuettes for Costume Design, Visual Effects, and Best Nigerian Film.
Coming in third was South Africa’s crime drama, STATE OF VIOLENCE. Directed by Khalo Matabane, it won Best Film in an African Language and Best Achievement in Sound prizes.
Fourth was MAN ON GROUND, a co-production of Nigeria and South African that won Best Supporting Actor for Fana Mokoena and the Special Jury Award.
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Nigeria’s Rita Dominic was named Best Actress for her role in Kenyan film Shattered, while Ghanaian Majid Michel won Best Actor for his role in Somewhere in Africa. Danny Glover’s TOUSSAINT LOUVERTURE was named Best Diaspora Film.
In what appeared like a contest between South Africa and Nigeria rather than an all-Africa event, the latter beat the former to second place ‘Nigeria took 12 awards compared to South Africa’s 10’ in an event hosted by HEROES star Jimmy Jean-Louis and that was graced by musical performance from Asa, 2Face Idibia and Viviane Ndour.
The jury of AMAA 2012 was chaired by Dr Asantewa Olantunji, director of programming of The Pan African Film Festival, Los Angeles, California, USA. Other members of the jury included June Giavanni, programmer for Planet Africa at The Toronto International Film Festival; Keith Shiri, founder and film curator at Africa at The Pictures, London, England; Dorothee Wenner, a curator at The Berlin Film Festival, Germany; Shaibu Husseini, an actor, dancer and The Nigerian Guardian arts journalist, Nigeria; Steve Ayorinde, editor-in-chief of The Daily Mirror newspaper, Nigeria; Ayoko Babu, executive director of The Pan African Film Festival, Los Angeles, California, USA; Dr Hyginus Ekwuazi, a film scholar and critic, Nigeria; and film directors Berni Goldblat and John Akomfrah, OBE.
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Here is the full list of all the awardees:
1.  Best Film: How 2 Steal 2 Million, South Africa
2.  Best Short Film: Braids On Bald Head, Nigeria
3.  Best Documentary: African Election, Nigeria/Germany
4.  Best Diaspora Feature: Toussaint Louverture, Senegal/Guadalupe
5.  Best Diaspora Documentary: The Education Of Auma Obama, Germany
6.  Best Diaspora Short Film: White Sugar In A Black Pot, USA
7.  Best Animation: The Legend on Ngong Hills, Kenya
8.  Best Film by an African Living Abroad: Mystery Of Birds, USA/Nigeria
9. Achievement in Production Design: Phone Swap, Nigeria
10.  Achievement in Costume Design: Adesuwa, Nigeria
11.  Achievement in Make Up: Shattered, Kenya
12.  Achievement in Soundtrack: Alero’s Symphony, Nigeria
13.  Achievement in Visual Effects: Adesuwa, Nigeria
14. Achievement in Sound: State Of Violence, South Africa
15. Achievement in Cinematography: Otelo Burning, South Africa
16. Achievement in Editing: How 2 Steal 2 Million, South Africa
17.  Achievement in Screenplay: Ties That Bind, Ghana
18.  Best Nigerian Film: Adesuwa, Nigeria
19.  Best Film in an African Language: State Of Violence, South Africa
20.  Best Child Actor: Tshepang Mohlomi (Otelo Burning), South Africa
21.  Best Young/Promising Actor: Ivie Okujaye (Alero’s Symphony), Nigeria
22.  Best Actor in a Supporting Role: Fana Mokoena (Man On Ground), South Africa/Nigeria
23.  Best Actress in a Supporting Role: Terry Pheto (How 2 Steal 2 Million), South Africa
24.  Best Actor in a Leading Role: Majid Michel (Somewhere In Africa), Ghana
25.  Best Actress in a Leading Role: Rita Dominic (Shattered), Nigeria
26.  Best Director: Charlie Vundla (How 2 Steal 2 Million), South Africa
27.  Special Jury Prize: Man on Ground, South Africa/Nigeria
