AMAA 2015, unraveling new African talents

The 2015 edition of the African Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) was one that brought a lot of African talents in the continent and in the Diaspora to limelight. The event took place last Saturday at The Boardwalk Casino & Entertainment Complex, Port Elizabeth, South Africa. The 2, 000 square metres Tsitsikamma Room, was filled with […]

The 2015 edition of the African Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) was one that brought a lot of African talents in the continent and in the Diaspora to limelight. The event took place last Saturday at The Boardwalk Casino & Entertainment Complex, Port Elizabeth, South Africa.
The 2, 000 square metres Tsitsikamma Room, was filled with celebrities from Nigeria, South Africa and other countries, who managed to secure visas to attend the event, including nominees, supporting business practitioners of the film industry, top government officials and guests.
Keith Shiri, head of the AMAA jury said: “Over the last 11 years, the AMAA Awards has set itself the challenging but rewarding task of celebrating the best of our continent and its Diaspora’s filmmaking.”
He added that: “It is significant that this year for the first time in AMAA’s history, the nominations event was held in the African Diaspora, in Los Angeles: and that the awards themselves are held outside of Nigeria, here in South Africa.”
Every year, hundreds of films from across Africa and the Diaspora arrive at the AMAA offices. This year about 800 movie entries from around 60 countries were received.
For many who attended, a special moment was when veteran actor and journalist, Sadiq Daba, received his award as Best Actor for his role in Kunle Afolayan’s ‘October 1.’
Daba summed up his appreciation for the recognition in a few words: “All my years of work have been culminated in this one night with this award.” The award was the first time, the actor known for his role as Bitrus in the 1980s NTA series, ‘Cock crow at dawn,’ has received any such recognition for his work.
With desperate journeys being a front burner issue across the globe, the audience resonated with the Ethiopian production, by Theodros Teshome Kebede ‘Triangle: Going to America,’ and applauded its wins for Best Actor in a Supporting Role and Achievement in Soundtrack.
For the first time in AMAA’s history, there were more awards collected on behalf of the winners. It was impossible for the several of them who wanted to be physically present at the event because of the difficulties they encountered processing visas from the various South African high commissions in their respective countries.
Previous events held in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, had more global representation than did this year’s outing. A point which Peace Anyiam-Osigwe, founder of AMAA stressed should be improved upon especially considering the fact that AMAA is an initiative for the whole of Africa whether on the continent or in the Diaspora.
“For the first time in history of 11 years of AMAA many of our nominees cannot attend because of the difficult process and delays in getting South Africa visa whereas Britons, Americans, French and Germans do not require visas to enter South Africa,” She noted.
The Europeans who gave us borders have removed theirs for free movement. We are one and the theme of AMAA and our other initiatives this year is AFRICAONE. We will be going on tour of Africa with our creative artistes in music, film, comedy, visual arts and fashion with this message. The creative sector can employ millions of African youths and our governments must support and invest in this sector,’’ said Anyia-Osigwe who received thunderous applause.
Two movies, ‘Le President’ by Jean-Pierre Bekolo of Cameroon and ‘Triangle: Going to America of Ethiopia,’ were awarded the special jury prizes.
Below is the list of winners:
Efere Ozako AMAA 2015 Award For Best Short Film
Twaaga – Burkina Faso
AMAA 2015 Award For Best Animation
The Legacies of Rubies – Nigeria
 AMAA 2015 Award For Best Documentary
Egypt’s Modern Pharaohs – Egypt
OUSMANE SEMBENE AMAA 2015 Award For Best Film In An African Language
Timbuktu – Mauritania
Michael Anyiam-Osigwe AMAA 2015 Award For Best Film By An African Living Abroad:
Fevers – Morocco
AMAA 2015 Award For Best Diaspora Short
Sound of Tears – Canada
AMAA 2015 Award For Best Diaspora Documentary
The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution – USA
AMAA 2015 Award For Best Diaspora Feature
Supremacy – USA
AMAA 2015 Award For Achievement In Production Design
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AMAA 2015 Achievement In Costume Design
October 1 – Nigeria
AMAA 2015 Award For Achievement In Make-Up
Njinga: Queen of Angola – Angola
AMAA 2015 Award For Achievement In Soundtrack
Triangle Going to America – Ethiopia
AMAA 2015 Award For Achievement In Visual Effect
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AMAA 2015 Award For Achievement In Sound
Lobraz Kaan – Mauritius
AMAA 2015 Award For Achievement In Cinematography
Lobraz Kaan – Mauritius
AMAA 2015 Award For Achievement In Editing
Timbuktu
AMAA 2015 Award For Achievement In Screen Play
Le President
AMAA 2015 Award For Best Comedy Film
30 Days In Atlanta
AMAA 2015- Bayelsa State Government Endowed Award For Best Nigerian Film
October 1
AMAA 2015 Award For Best Child Actor
Layla Walet Mohammed and Mehdi A.G Mohammed – Timbuktu
AMAA 2015 Award For Best Young/Promising Actor
Kemi Lala Akindoju (Dazzling Mirage) and Hassan Spike Insingoma – (Boda Boda Thieves)
AMAA 2015 Award For Best Actor In A Supporting Role
Samson Tadesse – Triangle Going to America
AMAA 2015 Award For Best Actress In A Supporting Role
Hilda Dokubo – Stigma
AMAA 2015 Award For Best Actor In A Leading Role
Sadiq Daba – October 1
AMAA 2015 Award For Best Actress In A Leading Role
Lesliana Pereira – Njinga: Queen of Angola
AMAA 2015 Award For Best First Feature Film By A Director
Destiny Ekaragha – Gone Too Far
AMAA 2015 Award For Best Director
Abderrahmane Sissako – Timbuktu
AMAA 2015 Award For Best Film
Timbuktu – Mauritania