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The Africa Movie Academy Awards celebrated its 19th edition on Sunday, October 29, 2023, at the prestigious Balmoral Convention Centre in Ikeja, Lagos.
Filmmakers from different parts of the world gathered at this grand event to honor and acknowledge the remarkable achievements in African cinema.
This awards ceremony served as a platform to celebrate the extraordinary talents from diverse backgrounds within the industry.
Nancy Isime, Rahama Sadau, and Richard Ato Turkson took on the role of hosts at this prestigious event.
C.J. ‘Fiery’ Obasi’s movie, Mami Wata, took the lead in nominations by securing an impressive 12 nominations. The film received recognition in various categories including Best Film in an African Language, Best Cinematography, Best Sound, Best Screenplay, and Best Director.
Here is a complete list of nominees and winners at the AMAA 2023 awards:
Efere Ozaka Award For Best Short Film
Winner: Lions (Ethiopia)
Riel (Namibia)
Enmity Djin (Mauritania)
Jubril Malaifia Award For Best Animation
Lost (Uganda)
Azania Rises (South Africa)
Winner: Jabari (Ghana)
Bashorum Gaa (Nigeria)
Best Documentary
Africa Cradle of Humanity and Modern Civilization (Senegal/Canada)
Nightlife in Lasgidi (Nigeria)
Maayo Wonaa Keerol – The River is not a Border (Senegal)
Ifine (Beauty) (Sierra Leone)
Winner: Le Spectre de Boko Haram (Cameroon)
Ousmane Sembene Award For Best Film In An African Language
Pusha Pressa Phanda (South Africa)
Winner: 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 (Senegal/Belgium) – Christophe Rolin
Golden Stripes (Nigeria/UK) – Peace Osigbe
Winner: KOFA (Nigeria/Canada) – Jude Idada
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
Fifty-Four Days (United Kingdom) – directed by Cat White and Phoebe Torrance
Winner: Raw Materials (Jamaica) – Directed by Sosiessia Nixon
Best Diaspora Documentary
Winner: Sound of the Police (United States) – Directed by Stanley Nelson
Fantastico 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
Cheese (Trinidad & Tobago) – directed by Damian Marcano
Winner: 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
Winner: 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
Winner: Djibril Drame – Xalé – Senegal
Elkehoste and Baloji Omen – DRC
Sidi Ouedraogo Sira – Burkina Faso
Best Achievement in Make-Up
Winner: 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
Winner: 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
Winner: Emmanuel Bassey – Gangs of Lagos – Nigeria
Best Achievement in Sound
Juliana Oswald – Our Lady of the Chinese Shop – Angola
Winner: Vianney Aube – Sira – Burkina Faso
Erik Griekspoor – Omen – DRC
Samy Bardet – Mami Wata – Nigeria
Michel Tsagli – Xalé – Senegal
Best Achievement in Cinematography
Winner: 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
Winner: 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
Winner: 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
Winner: Mami Wata
Anikulapo
4-4-44 (Four Four Forty-Four)
Gangs of Lagos
The Trade
L.I.F.E.
Brotherhood
Best Young/Promising Actor
Winner: Maleek Sanni – Gangs of Lagos
Ewube – L’axe Lourd (The Highway)
Darisimi Nadi – Obara’m
Sanou Titiama – Le chant des fusils (The Song of the Rifle)
Eyiyemi Afolyan – 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
Winner: Jimmy-Jean Louis – Rise
Best Actress in a Supporting Role
Uzoamaka Aniunoh – Mami Wata – Nigeria
Winner: Rokhaya Niang – Xalé – Senegal
Clarck Natmbwe – Fight Like a Girl – Rwanda
Best Actor in a Leading Role
Richard Mofe Demalo – 4-4-44 (Four Four Forty-Four) – Nigeria
Marc Zunga – Omen – DRC
Fenando Kamugisha – The Fallen Advocate – Uganda
Winner: 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 – Guns of Lagos – Nigeria
Winner: Nse Ikpe Etim – 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
Winner: Baloji – Omen – DRC
Ery Claver – Our Lady of the Chinese Shop – Angola
Jean Elliot Ilboudo (le Chant des fusils)The Song of the Riffle – Cameron
Best Director
Moussa Sene Absa – Xalé
C.J. ‘Fiery’ Obasi – Mami Wata
Baloji – Omen
Winner: 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
Winner: Xalé – Senegal
Mami Wata – Nigeria
4-4-44 (Four Four Forty-Four) Nigeria
Omen – DRC
4 Walls – South Africa
Sira – Burkina Faso
Anikulapo – Nigeria
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