By Ogova Ondego
Published March 8, 2010

The battle for the coveted Africa Movie Academy Awards for 2010 has begun with the selection of what is considered the best films produced in Africa in 2009 in Accra, Ghana, on March 6, 2010. The annual Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA), in its sixth edition, shall be held in Yenagoa, the capital of the oil-rich Bayelsa State, Nigeria, on April 10, 2010. OGOVA ONDEGO reports on the process from Ghana.

The nomination was unveiled in the Ghanaian capital, Accra, on March 6, 2010. The ceremony, held at the Mensvic Grand Hotel in Legon East, brought together the “who-is-who” in Africa cinema in a constellation of the stars who entertain Africa. Film producers and directors, actresses and actors, journalists and critics, and marketing and public relations practitioners mingled with bankers, politicians, fashion designers, art directors and audiovisual media lovers as they sought to celebrate the seventh art in Africa.

AMAA founder and CEO, Peace Anyiam-Osigwe, announced that the nomination for the 7th AMAA will be announced from Nairobi, Kenya, in February/March 2011.

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Unlike previous editions, AMAA has in 2010 introduced a special category for films made by children and youth (10-18-year-olds), the Africa Film Academy (AFA) Youngsters Short Film Competition. Consequently, the nomination for this category was not made on March 6. Anyiam-Osigwe said:”A separate short film competition for youngsters is ongoing and the winners of that will be done separately; we will have that judging done soon as that’s a separate competition instituted by the AFAs to stimulate filmmaking among young people.”

As the music played and lovely women and men showcased their prowess on the catwalk in African designs as guests feasted, Shaibu Husseini, the representative of the jury, announced the list of films to be considered for AMA Awards.

“Of the 280 films from almost all the regions of the continent and the Diaspora submitted for this year’s edition, only 39 made it to the College for screening. Out of these, only 20 were eventually recommended to the Jury for consideration for an award,” Husseini said.

Husseini said 12 criteria are usually used in judging the entries by the three-stage committees of selectors before the nomination and then the awards. The criteria include: Storyline, Screenplay, Picture, Cinematography, Editing, Sound track, Special effects, Setting, Make-Up (Costume), Sound, Directing, and Acting.

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It is now emerging that the tussle for the coveted top prizes–Best Picture, Best Director, Achievement in Cinematography, Achievement in Art Direction, Achievement in Make Up, Achievement in Costume, Achievement in Visual Effect–will not be an easy one. Ghana will be the country to beat in anything related to art direction as the country’s artists appear not just content to be making film but are painting them. The battle in this department is likely to be a West African affair, i.e. between Nigeria and Ghana but the former is unlikely to surrender without a fight of gigantic proportion.

Malawi may be regarded as a minnow when it comes to filmmaking, yet this southern African country is likely to slay the giants in a David versus Goliath-style when the winner of the Best Picture, Best Director, Best Screenplay, and Achievement in Soundtrack is finally announced on April 10.

Though Kenya was the country to beat in 2009, this eastern African nation appears not to have a particularly strong representation in 2010. The situation was made worse for Kenya when Wanuri Kahiu, whose FROM A WHISPER feature grabbed the Best Picture, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Original Soundtrack, and Achievement in Editing statuettes in 2009, opted not to enter PUMZI, her latest futuristic, sci-fi short for AMAA 2010; from all indications, that film would have clinched the AMAA Best Short Film prize in April.

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The country’s flag-bearer, TOGETHERNESS SUPREME, has been nominated for Best Film in an African Language, Best Performance by a Child Actor, Most Promising Actress, and Most Promising Actor.

Ethiopia and Mozambique has one nomination each for Best Film in an African Language and Best Short Film, respectively.

Egypt is in 2010 presenting only one film in the Best Animation category. Will it repeat the feat of 2009 when its sole nominee(SEVENTH HEAVEN by Saad Hendawy)ran off with two AMAA prizes?

While Tanzania has a nomination in the Best Documentary category, Uganda has received several nods with her two entries, THE PAINTER by Winnie Gamisha and IMANI by Caroline Kamya. But it is the latter that is to be watched closely in the various categories it is nominated. It may be the weakest of all the films based on its score, but things do not always turn out as we see them when it comes to the critical appreciation of creativity. So, one does well to watch this film from the Pearl of Africa.

Malawi’s SEASONS OF A LIFE shall seek to take the following statuettes back to Blantyre: Best Director, Best Picture, Achievement in Sound, Achievement in Editing, Best Original Soundtrack, Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role, Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role, and Best Screenplay.

THE PERFECT PICTURE of Ghanaian Shirley Frimpong-Manso has nominations for Best Director, Best Picture, Achievement in Sound, Achievement in Editing, Achievement in Editing, Achievement in Cinematography, and Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role. A STING IN THE TALE another film directed by Frimpong-Manso, has nominations for Best Original Soundtrack, Achievement in Visual Effect, and Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role. Frimpong-Manso is an exciting young director who, if given the chance, has a bright future. All based on her work.

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Two Ghanaians; Frimpong-Manso and Leila Jewel Djansi, shall try to wrestle the Best Director Award from each other. But for the trophy to go to Accra, the Ghanaians will first have to beat two equally strong Nigerian opponents. Kunle Afolayan of THE FIGURINE and Lucky Ejim of THE TENANT. But Malawi’s Charles Shemu Joyah cannot be under-rated as he has already bagged several international awards for his debut feature, SEASONS OF A LIFE.

Below is the list of the 6th Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) 2010 Nominations:

I. Best Documentary
1. Mwamba Ngoma, Tanzania
2. Peace Wanted Alive, Kenya
3. Bariga Boys, Nigeria
4. En quette d’identite, Burkina Faso
5. Innovating for Africa, Nigeria

II. Best Short Film
1. Mahala, Mozambique
2. The Abbys Boys, South Africa
3. The Painter, Uganda
4. Suara La, Nigeria
5. The Camera, Nigeria

[showmyads]

III. Best Animation
1. Honyan’s Shoe, Egypt
2. Adventure of Alayo, Nigeria
3. Zoodo, Burkina Faso
4. Lyrics, Algeria
5. One Step of Love, Algeria

IV. Best Film by An African in the Diaspora
1. Soul Diaspora
2. Okra Principle
3. China Wahala
4. Crunch

V. Best Film in an African Language
1. Omo Iya Kan, Nigeria
2. Aldewolem, Ethiopia
3. Togetherness Supreme, Kenya
4. Imani, Uganda
5. Game of my Life, South Africa

VI. Heart of Africa Award for Best Film from Nigeria
1. The Child
2. High Blood Pressure
3. Nnenda
4. Lillies of the Ghetto
5. The Figurine

VII. AMAA Achievement in Sound
1. The Tenant, Nigeria
2. Season of a Life, Malawi
3. The Perfect Picture, Ghana
4. I sing of a well, Ghana
5. Soul Diaspora, Diaspora

VIII. AMAA Achievement in Editing
1. Season of a Life, Malawi
2. The Child, Nigeria
3. The Perfect Picture, Ghana
4. Heart of Men, Ghana
5. Lilies of the Ghetto, Nigeria

[showmyads]

IX. AMAA Achievement in Art Direction
1. I sing of a well, Ghana
2. Fulani, Nigeria
3. The Child, Nigeria
4. The Figurine, Nigeria
5. Imani, Uganda

X. AMAA Achievement in Make Up
1. Heart of Men, Ghana
2. The Child, Nigeria
3. The King is Mine, Ghana
4. I sing of a well, Ghana
5. Fulani, Nigeria

XI. AMAA Achievement in Costume
1. The Perfect Picture, Ghana
2. Prince’s Bride, Ghana
3. The Child, Nigeria
4. I sing of a Well, Ghana
5. Lilies of the Ghetto, Nigeria

XII. AMAA Achievement in Visual Effect
1. The Child, Nigeria
2. The Figurine, Nigeria
3. A sting in a Tale, Ghana
4. Fulani, Nigeria
5. Heart of Men, Ghana

XIII. Best Original Soundtrack
1. Seasons of a Life, Malawi
2. Imani, Uganda
3. A sting in a Tale, Ghana
4. The Child, Nigeria
5. The Figurine, Nigeria

XIV. Best Performance by a Child Actor
1. Teddy Onyango and Bill Oloo – Togetherness Supreme, Kenya
2. Tobi Oboli – The Figurine, Nigeria
3. Feyisola Ewulomi – Champions of our Time, Nigeria
4. Treasure Obasi – Champions of our Time, Nigeria
5. Mfanafuthi Magudulela – Game of my Life

XV. Most Promising Actress
1. Martha Kisaka – Togetherness Supreme, Kenya
2. Chelsea Eze – Silent Scandal,
3. Martha Ankomah – Sins of the Soul, Ghana
4. Ashionye Michelle Ugboh – Jungle Ride, Nigeria
5. Rahema Nanfuka – Imani, Uganda

XVI. Most Promising Actor
1. Wilson Maina -Togetherness Supreme, Kenya
2. Wale Ojo -The Child, Nigeria
3. John Dumelo – Heart of Men, Ghana
4. Pethro Tumba Mbole -Game of My Life
5. Sunny Chikezie -Lilies of the Ghetto, Nigeria

XVII. Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role
1. Godwin Kotey -I sing of a well, Ghana
2. Francis Duru -Nnenda, Nigeria
3. Yemi Blaq -High Blood Pressure, Nigeria
4. Adjatey Anang -The Perfect Picture, Ghana

XVIII. Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role
1. Doris Sakitey -A sting in a Tale, Ghana
2. Funlola Aoifeyebi-Raimi -The Figurine, Nigeria
3. Tapiwa Gwaza -Seasons of a Life, Malawi
4. Yvonne Nelson -Heart of Men, Ghana

XIX. Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role
1. Bimbo Akintola -Freedom in Chains, Nigeria
2. Jackie Appiah, Lydia Farson, Naa Ashoku Mensa- Doku -The Perfect Picture, Ghana
3. Stephanie Okereke -Nnenda, Nigeria
4. Flora Suya -Season of a Life, Malawi
5. Akofa Edjeani Asiedu -I sing of a Well, Ghana

XX. Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role
1. Lucky Ejim – The Tenant, Nigeria
2. Majid Michel – Sin of a Soul, Ghana
3. Ramsey Nouah – The Figurine, Nigeria
4. Sadiq Abu – Soul Diaspora, Diaspora
5. John Osie Tutu Agyeman – I Sing of a well, Ghana

XXI. Best Screenplay
1. Seasons of a Life, Malawi
2. The Tenant, Nigeria
3. Freedom In chains,
4. Guilty Pleasure, Ghana
5. I sing of a well, Ghana

XXII. AMAA Achievement in Cinematography
1. The Perfect Picture, Ghana
2. The Figurine, Nigeria
3. I sing of a Well, Ghana
4. The Child, Nigeria
5. The Tenant, Nigeria

XXIII. Best Picture
1. Seasons of a Life, Malawi
2. The Tenant, Canada/Nigeria
3. The Perfect Picture, Ghana
4. The Figurine, Nigeria
5. I sing of a well, Ghana

XXIV. Best Director
1. Charles Shemu Joyah – Seasons of a Life, Malawi
2. Shirley Frimpong-Manso – The Perfect Picture, Ghana
3. Kunle Afolayan – The Figurine, Nigeria
4. Leila Jewel Djansi – I sing of a well, Ghana
5. Lucky Ejim – The Tenant, Nigeria.