AMAA Gists + Happy Easter!

Pic- Forest Whitaker and Danny Glover cheer crew of Kenyan Film, From A Whisper



Nollywood takes the back seat at AMAA

- BY AZUH AMATUS, who was in Yenogoa

The Nigerian motion picture industry, globally known as Nollywood suffered a devastating blow at the just held fifth edition of the annual Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA), which took place in Yenogoa, Bayelsa State, South-south, Nigeria.
Even with a constellation of Nollywood stars and filmmakers, the industry only struggled to win just eight and half awards at the grand gathering that was anchored by the trio of Julius Agwu, Kate Henshaw- Nuttal and Kofi Bucknor.

Unlike the past four editions, where Nollywood actors and filmmakers, had always carted home all the major awards, Kenyan, South African and Egyptian actors and filmmakers took the shine off them this year.
“From A Whisper”, a Kenyan film that vividly x-rays the 1997 terrorist attack at the US embassy in Nairobi, was the star of the glamourous night. It proudly walked away with five major and keenly contested trophies, in the following categories: Best Editing, Soundtrack, Screenplay, Directing and Picture. Coming of Age, another film from Barack Obama’s fatherland, also won in the Best Short Documentary category, thus bringing their total hauls to six that historic night.

Trailing Kenya that eventful night was South Africa, they won three awards in the categories of: Most Promising Actor and Actress as well as Best Film in African Language, with a thought-provoking movie entitled: Gugu and Andile.

Another surprise at the epoch gathering was Seventh Heaven, an Egyptian movie, which fetched the lead act, Farouk Alfishawi, the Best Actor plaque. The movie later added the Best Sound award to its kitty.
Among the face saving awards won by Nigerian actors and filmmakers, whom Peace Anyiam Osigwe, the CEO of AMAA, warned to quickly get out of the arrogance of being the third largest film industry in the world, were: Best Actress, won by Funke Akindele, for her exploits in the hit comedy flick, Jenifa and Best Cinematography won by Izu Ojukwu’s Cindy’s Note.

Other winners included: Michelle Bello, who walked home happily with two diadems, for her efforts in Small Boy. The movie won in the categories of: Best Art Direction and Child Actor, which went to Richard Chukwuma.
Tunde Kelani’s Arugba, also won in two separate categories, namely: Best Costume and Nigerian Film. Another Nigerian movie, Live to Remember, was adjudged the Best in Make Up and Supporting Actress, which went to Mercy Johnson, while Shit on the Rock, shared the prize for the Best Documentary Feature with…

The duo of Zeb Ejiro and Gaston Kabore from Burkina Faso, were decorated with AMAA’s Life Time Achievement Awards, for their immense contributions to the growth of the African film and cinema industries.
Another Burkina Faso movie, also went home with the prize for the Best Animation, while Battle of the Soul, a heart-wrenching flick from Uganda, picked the statuettes for the Best Visual Effect and Supporting Actor, respectively.

Moreover, the Dr. Hyginus Ekwuazi-led broad based jury did not give any award in the Short Film category, based on the fact that all the entries submitted by filmmakers did not meet the required standards.
Perhaps, the major attraction for the night was the presence and coming on stage of two Hollywood legends, Forest Whitaker and Danny Glover. Their intimidating presence was palpable in the capacity filled Glory land hall.
Other side attractions witnessed at the long night included performances from acts such as: African legend, Salif Kaita, Deborah Frazer, J- Martins as well as some cultural displays from the Bayelsan Dance Troupe.


While delivering her welcome address, elated Mrs. Osigwe, who also paid tributes to some AMAA fallen heroes, urged African filmmakers to always do the right films that would help to change the wrong perception about Africa, her people and patrimony.
The event, which began with a red carpet session, eventually ended with a post awards bash cum late night dinner at the Bayelsa State Government House.

Meanwhile, some actors and filmmakers who spoke with us immediately after the awards, hailed AMAA and its judges, for doing a wonderful job and giving the awards the true pan African look that has eluded it since inception five years ago.
“With what has happened, Nollywood filmmakers will definitely sit up and do more challenging films. We will be ready for AMAA next year”, said Tunde Kelani.

Though, better organized this year, the organizers should however, stick to time in subsequent editions, and also desist from allowing the awards to drag late into the night.

Originally publiched in Daily Sun , Friday April 10th

N.B - Happy Easter to all of you out there who have continued to keep a date with azuhamatus.blogspot.com !!! We are upgrading very soon. Wactch out for more juicy stories and new flair and variety!


UBA-AMAA AWARDS 2009 WINNERS LIST
Best Documentary (Short Subject)Coming of Age (Kenya)
Best Documentary (Feature)Joint winners:
For the Best and for the Onion (Niger)
Malcom's Echo (Nigeria)
Best Short FilmNo winner announced
Best AnimationLolo (Burkina Faso)
AMAA Achievement in SoundSeventh Heaven (Egypt)
AMAA Achievement in EditingFrom a Whisper (Kenya)
AMAA Achievement in Art DirectionSmall Boy - Michelle Bello (Nigeria)
AMAA Achievement in Make-UpLive to Remember (Nigeria)
AMAA Achievement in Visual EffectBattle of the Soul (Uganda)
Best Original in SoundtrackFrom a whisper (Kenya)
Most Promising ActorLitha Booi - Gugu and Andile (South Africa)
Most Promising ActressLungelo Dhladha - Gugu and Andile (South Africa)
Best Performance by a Child ActorRichard Chukwuma - Small Boy (Nigeria)
Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading RoleFarouk Alfishawi - Seventh Heaven (Egypt)
Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading RoleFunke Akindele - Jenifa (Nigeria)
Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting RoleJoel Okuyo Prynce - Battle of the Soul (Uganda)
Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting RoleMercy Johnson - Live to Remember (Nigeria)
Best Film in African Language Gugu and Andile (South Africa)
AMAA Achievement in CinematographyCindy's Note - Izu Ojukwu (Nigeria)
AMAA Achievement in Costume
Arugba (Nigeria)

Heart of Africa Award for Best Films from Nigeria
Arugba - Tunde Kelani
Best Screenplay
From a Whisper (Kenya)
Best PictureFrom a Whisper (Kenya)
Best Director
Wanuri Kahiu - From a Whisper (Kenya)