By Ogova Ondego
Published December 10, 2013
Film practitioners in Africa and the Diaspora with works produced, premiered or released between May 2012 and December 2013 have till January 15, 2014 to submit their full length, short and documentary works for consideration for the 10th edition of Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA).
Eligible films are those with a running time not exceeding 120 minutes for full length and not exceeding 40 minutes for shorts, the Nigeria-based motion pictures award system that is said to honour and celebrate the best in the art of filmmaking and the professionals who make the industry the pride of Africa, says.
“Films must be entered online at ama-awards.com. Each completed entry form must be accompanied by all the supporting materials listed on the submission forms, including the synopsis of the film, the list of credits, five DVD copies of the film and proof of the right to submit the work to AMAA.”
Africa Film Academy (AFA), that organises the event, says that the titles of selected and shortlisted works will be announced in the first week of March in 2014.
AFA has from 2014 made some changes on the award categories, discontinuing some and introducing others.
“We have introduced an award that is named after former South African President Nelson Mandela called Madiba Africa Vision Award which will be given at the discretion of the Jury to any film that captures the essence and vision of the category,” says June Givanni of AFA Jury. “The category of Best Film by African Living Abroad has been discontinued.”
“We also renamed two categories after two exceptional Africans who have contributed to the growth and development of the film industry. The Best Film in an African Language will now be called the Sembene Ousmane Award for the Best Film in an African Language while the Best Short Film Award category will now be called Efere Ozako Award for the Best Short Film. AMAA is immortalising the names of these two great men with the awards.”
While Ousmane of Senegal was often referred to as the father—or doyen—of African cinema, Nigerian Ozako was specialising in the arm of law that deals with entertainment at the time of his death in 2013.
Givanni also said that a new category, Best Director of a First Feature Film, has been created “to encourage young or up-and-coming film directors to strive for excellence and best practice.”
“The primary aim of the African Movie Academy Awards,” says AFA founder and Chief Executive Officer, Peace Anyiam-Osigwe, “is to facilitate the development of and showcase the social relevance of film and cinema in Africa through recognition of excellence among professionals besides uniting the African continent through arts and culture.”
