The nomination list for the highly-anticipated 19th edition of the Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) is out.
C.J. 'Fiery' Obasi's Mami Wata takes the lead with 12 nominations including Best Film in an African Language, Best Cinematography, Best Sound, Best Screenplay and Best Director.
Kunle Afolayan's Netflix Original, Anikulapo, comes in second with nine nominations followed by Izu Ojukwu’s period drama, 4:4:44, with eight nods.
According to Raymond Anyiam-Osigwe, the award ceremony will hold on Sunday, October 29, 2023 at The Balmoral event centre situated inside Sheraton Hotels, Ikeja GRA, Lagos.
Themed The Renaissance, the 2023 AMAA will be redefining the continental awards ahead of future plans and the 20th edition.
Here is the list of nominations for the 2023 AMAA:
Efere Ozako Award for Best Short Film
• Lions – Ethiopia
• Riel – Namibia
• Enmity Djin - Mauritania
Jubril Malaifia Award for Best Animation
• Lost – Uganda
• Azania Rises – South Africa
• Jabari – Ghana
• Bashorun Gaa – Nigeria
Best Documentary
• Africa Cradle of Humanity and Modern Civilisation – Senegal/Canada
• Nightlife in Lasgidi - Nigeria
• Maayo Wonaa Keerol – The River Is Not a Border - Senegal
• Ifine (Beauty) – Sierra Leone
• LeSpectre de Boko Haram – Cameroon
Ousmane Sembene Award for Best Film in an African Language
• Pusha Pressa Phanda – South Africa
• Anikulapo – Nigeria
• The Kitera Chronicle – Uganda
• Four Walls – South Africa
• Mami Wata - Nigeria
Michael Anyiam Osigwe Award for Best Film by an African-Born Director Living Abroad
• Talia’s Journey – Christophe Rolin (Senegal/Belgium)
• Golden Stripes – Peace Osigbe (Nigeria/UK)
• KOFA – Jude Idada (Nigeria/Canada)
Best Diaspora Short Film
• We Were Meant To – (United States) – directed by Tari Wariebi
• The Ballad of Olive Morris – (United Kingdom) - directed by Alex Kayode-Kay
• FiWy-Four Days – (United Kingdom) – directed by Cat White and Phoebe Torrance
• Raw Materials – (Jamaica – directed by Sosiessia Nixon-Kelly
Best Diaspora Documentary
• Sound of the Police – (United States) – directed by Stanley Nelson
• FantasHco Negrito – Have You Lost Your Mind Yet – (United States) – directed by Yvan Iturriaga and Francisco Nuñez
• Black Rio – (Brazil) directed by Fernando Sousa and Gabriel Barbosa
Best Diaspora Narrative Feature
• Chee$e – (Trinidad & Tobago) directed by Damian Marcano
• Our Father, The Devil – (United States) directed by Ellie Foumbi
• The Pastor and the Revolutionary - (Brazil) directed by José Eduardo Belmonte
Best Achievement in Production Design
• Pat Nebo - Anikulapo – Nigeria
• Eve Martin - Omen – DRC
• Sira - Burkina Faso
• Antoine Nshimiyimana - Fight Like a Girl – Rwanda
• Chantel Carter - Gereza - South Africa
Best Achievement in Costume Design
• Bunmi Demilola Fashina - Mami Wata - Nigeria
• Toyin Bifarin Ogundeji - Anikulapo - Nigeria
• Millicent Jack - 4-4-44 (Four Four Forty-Four) - Nigeria
• Djibril Drame - Xalé – Senegal • Elkehoste and Baloji Omen - DRC
• Sidi Ouedraogo Sira – Burkina Faso
Best Achievement in Make-Up
• Campell Precious Arebamen - Mami Wata – Nigeria
• Hakeem Effect and Toyin Bifarin Ogundeji - Anikulapo – Nigeria
• Lila Vander Elst - Omen – DRC
• Our Lady of the Chinese Shop – Angola
• Omowunmi Okungbure - Gangs of Lagos - Nigeria
Best Achievement in Soundtrack
• Fight Like a Girl – Rwanda
• L’Axe Lourd (The Highway) – Cameroon
• Gereza – South Africa
• Omen – DRC
• Obinna Arua - 4-4-44 (Four Four Forty-Four) – Nigeria
Best Achievement in Visual Effects
• Andrej Gregori, Voranc Kumar, Ziga Radulji -Omen – DRC
• Alexandre Dachkevitch - Mami Wata – Nigeria
• Josh Borrill - The Trade – Nigeria
• Emmanuel Bassey - Gangs of Lagos – Nigeria
Best Achievement in Sound
• Juliana Oswald - Our Lady of the Chinese Shop – Angola
• Vianney Aube Sira – Burkina Faso
• Erik Griekspoor - Omen – DRC
• Samy Bardet - Mami Wata – Nigeria
• Michel Tsagli - Xalé – Senegal
Best Achievement in Cinematography
• Lilis Soares - Mami Wata – Nigeria
• Joachim Philippe - Omen – DRC
• Richard Henkels - Fight Like a Girl - Rwanda
• Thomas Wilski - Talia’s Journey – Senegal/Belgium
• Eduardo Kropotkine - Our Lady of the Chinese Shop – Angola
Best Achievement in Editing
• Nathan Delannoy - Mami Wata – Nigeria
• Bertrand Conard - Omen – DRC
• Sylvie Gadner - Sira – Burkina Faso
• Layla Swart – Gereza
• Madhew Leutwyler – Fight Like a Girl
Best Achievement in Screenplay
• C.J. ‘Fiery’ Obasi - Mami Wata – Nigeria
• Ufuoma MeHHri - 4-4-44 (Four Four Forty-Four) - Nigeria
• Moussa Sene Absa, Pierre Magny, Ben Diogay Beye - Xalé – Senegal
• Madhew Leutwyler - Fight Like a Girl - Rwanda
National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVB) Award for Best Nigerian Film
• Mami Wata
• Anikulapo
• 4-4-44 (Four Four Forty-Four)
• Gangs of Lagos
• The Trade
• L.I.F.E.
• Brotherhood
Best Young/Promising Actor
• Maleek Sanni - Gangs of Lagos
• Ewube -L’axe Lourd (The Highway)
• Darisimi Nadi - Obara’m
• Sanou Titiama – Le chant des fesits (The Song of the Rifle)
• Eyiyemi Afolayan – Anikulapo
Best Actor in a Supporting Role
• Francis Onwuchei - The Trade - Nigeria
• Jeff Jackson - Four Walls - South Africa
• Hakeem Kae-Kazim - Fight Like a Girl - Rwanda
• Jimmy-Jean Louis - Rise
Best Actress in a Supporting Role
• Uzoamaka Aniunoh - Mami Wata - Nigeria
• Rokhaya Niang - Xalé - Senegal
• Clarck Natmbwe -Fight Like a Girl - Rwanda
• Peter Mensah - Rise - United States
Best Actor in a Leading Role
• Richard Mofe Damijo - 4-4-44 (Four Four Forty-Four) - Nigeria
• Marc Zunga – Omen – DRC
• Fenando Kamugisha – The Fallen Advocate – Uganda
• Tobi Bakre – Brotherhood – Nigeria
• Justine Murichii – Shimoni – Kenya
• Mike Danon – Sira - Burkina Faso
Best Actress in a Leading Role
• Lucie Debay – Omen – DRC
• Ehle Mbali Mlotshwa – 4 Walls – South Africa
• Nafissatou Sisse – Sira – Burkina Faso
• Adesua Etomi – Gangs of Lagos – Nigeria
• Nse Ikpe EHm - 4-4-44 (Four Four Forty-Four) - Nigeria
• Bimbo Ademoye – Anikulapo – Nigeria
• Ama Qamata – Fight Like a Girl – Rwanda
First Debut Feature by a Director
• Baloji – Omen - DRC
• Ery Claver - Our Lady of the Chinese Shop – Angola
• Jean Elliot Ilboudo (le Chant des fusils)The Song of the Riffle - Cameroon
Best Director
• Moussa Sene Absa – Xalé
• C. J. ‘Fiery’ Obasi - Mami Wata
• Baloji – Omen
• Apolline Traore – Sira
• Izu Ojukwu - 4-4-44 (Four Four Forty-Four)
• Kunle Afolayan – Anikulapo
• Kgosana Monchusi, Menzi Mzimela, Juvaiś Dunn – 4 Walls
Best Film
• Xalé- Senegal
• Mami Wata - Nigeria
• 4-4-44 (Four Four Forty-Four) Nigeria
• Omen - DRC
• 4 Walls – South Africa
• Sira – Burkina Faso
• Anikulapo - Nigeria