AMAA organisers unveil plans, calls for entries ahead of 19th edition

The Africa Film Academy, the organisers of the Africa Movie Academy Awards, AMAA, has unveiled plans and activities ahead of the 19th edition.

The plans and activities were made known to members of the media in a media parley that was held at the Radisson Hotel on Isaac John Street, GRA, IKeja, Lagos on Thursday, December.

The event had in attendance, Peace Anyiam-Osigwe, founder and president of AMAA, Kingsley James, Chief Operating Officer of AMAA, and Dr. Shaibu Husseni, head of AMAA’s College of Screeners.

According to Anyiam-Osigwe, the decision to unveil the plans and activities ahead of the 19th edition of the continental film awards was deliberate and a move to involve every film practitioners in Africa and the diaspora.

The organisers also announced a call for entry ahead of the 2023 edition of the AMAAs.

The early call for entry, Anyiam-Osigwe said, is to enable more film practitioners across Africa and the diaspora to submit and participate in the 19th edition.

Anyiam-Osigwe said: “This is an avenue to officially rest the 18th edition of the AMAAs under the supervision of the Africa Film Academy and begin the journey to 2023. We are currently calling for entries in all categories and this will last till March 2023.

“We are now accepting submissions for the 19th Africa Movie Academy Awards. The Africa Film Academy invites filmmakers to submit their feature, short, animation, and documentary work for consideration in nearly 30 film categories of the awards.”

She further reiterated that AMAA is not a popularity contest form of award ceremony but a professional contest that rewards professionalism across Africa.

“One of the aims for creating AMAA is to provide and create a networking platform and avenue for African filmmakers and practitioners to interact while getting rewarded for their creativity, uniqueness, authenticity and professionalism. We are not a popularity contest, we are a professional contest that rewards professionalism, hence, why AMAA has two faces to it, which is the critical look and judgment of professionalism and the glamorous part. I continue to hold dear the critical arm working behind the scene while our COO, James handles the glamorous part, which is the look and feel of the awards ceremony,” she said. 

On his part, the awards show producer, Kingsley James reiterated that the Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu will return as the host for the 19th edition, while other activities that include human capacity building by the AFA, jury’s session, nomination unveil, and one week-long festivities that will herald the 2023 edition will be unchanged.

Husseini, who spoke on behalf of AMAA’s Jury, and College of screeners, said: “We look forward to getting great films from African film practitioners. We look forward to feature films, animations, documentaries and more. I would like to reiterate that the country of film is different from the origin of film. We don’t encourage films that don’t have Africans or filmmakers of African descent. Films can be uploaded on film freeway.”

Speaking further, Dr Husseini noted that the team plans to increase the number of college screeners as well as the jurors. 

The event is coming after a successful 18th edition that was held at the Jewel Aeida hall in the Lekki area of Lagos on Sunday, October 30.

The 18th edition, which had Nigerian filmmakers and films winning several awards, also had scintillating performances from music stars that include King Sunny Ade, P-Square, Young Jon Zadok, Yinka Davies, and Candy Bleakz.

The 2022 edition of the continental film awards ceremony had Funnybone, Chigul, and Kachi Offia taking the host position.