The Africa Movie Academy Awards, popularly known as AMAA and The AMA Awards, are presented annually to recognize excellence among professionals working in, or non-African professionals who have contributed to, the African film industry. It was founded by Peace Anyiam-Osigwe and is run through the Africa Film Academy. The awards are aimed at honouring and promoting excellence in the African movie industry as well as uniting the African continent through arts and culture. The award presentation is attended by numerous media representatives, celebrities, politicians, journalists, actresses and actors from all across the world. The AMA Awards are widely considered to be Africa's most important film event and the most prestigious film award in Africa. The 2016 ceremony was held in June 2016 and took place at Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria.
History
The first Africa Movie Academy Awards were held in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, Nigeria on 30 May 2005. All other subsequent African Academy Awards before 2012 were held at the same venue, except for the 2008 AMAA Awards which was moved to Abuja, FCT for security reasons. In 2012, the awards ceremony was held at Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos in Lagos State. The 9th and 10th edition saw AMAA returning to Yenagoa, while the 2015 ceremony was held outside Nigeria for the first time.
Categories
Current categories
As of 2014, the Africa Movie Academy Awards have approximately 26 categories. Some of these include:
Discontinued categories
Several categories have been renamed, retired, or merged. Below is a list of some of the retired categories.
Special categories
- Lifetime Achievement Awards (2006-2007; 2013-present)
- Special Recognition of Pillars of Nollywood (2013 only)
- Special Jury Award (2012-present)
- Madiba Africa Vision Awards (2014 only)
- Best Film for Women Empowerment (2014 only)
Jury members
- Berni Goldblat 2007â€"present
- John Akomfrah
- Steve Ayorinde 2005â€"2015
- Keith Shiri
- June Givanni
- Hyginus Ekwuazi
- Shaibu Husseini
- Ayoku Babu
- Asantewa Olatunji
- Dorothee Wenner 2005â€"present
- Charles Burnett 2014 - present
- Filippe Savadogo 2014â€"present
- Amaka Igwe 2005
Awards statistics
The statistics below are valid as of the 12th edition.
Most nominations
By a film
10 and up
By a director
Twice and more:
By an actress
Twice and more:
By an actor
Twice and more:
Most wins
By a film
Five times and more:
By country
The "Best Film" category has been won by a Nigerian film for a record five times.
By an actress
By an actor
Other notable records
- Egyptian actor Farouk Al-Fichawi was the first non-Nigerian actor to win an award. He did so for his role in Seventh Heaven
- Ghanaian actress Jackie Appiah was the first non-Nigerian actress to win an award.
See also
Lists
- List of Africa Movie Academy Awards ceremonies
General:
- AACTA Awards (Australian equivalent)
- Academy Awards (American equivalent)
- Amanda Award (Norwegian equivalent)
- Argentine Film Critics Association (Argentine equivalent)
- Ariel Awards (Mexican equivalent)
- BAFTA (British equivalent)
- Canadian Screen Awards (Canadian equivalent)
- César Awards (French equivalent)
- David di Donatello Awards (Italian equivalent)
- Golden Horse Film Festival and Awards (Chinese/Taiwanese equivalent)
- Goya Awards (Spanish equivalent)
- Guldbagge Awards (Swedish equivalent)
- Japanese Academy Awards (Japanese equivalent)
- Lola Awards (German equivalent)
- Magritte Awards (Belgian equivalent)
- National Film Awards (Indian equivalent)
References
External links
- Official website
