African film practitioners including actors, cinematographers, producers, costumiers, and set designers among others shone like a million stars, winning a total of 26 awards at this year’s Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) held at Sheraton Hotel, Lagos on Saturday, November 2.
Ghanaian screen diva, Jackie Appiah, emerged the winner of the most coveted Best Actress in a Leading Role award. She won the award for her role in the movie, Red Carpet while The Weekend, a Nigerian production directed by Daniel Oriahi and starring Bucci Franklin, Uzoamaka Aniunoh, Meg Otanwa and Keppy Ekpenyong went home with the Best Film, as well as Best Achievement in Screenplay, and Best Cinematography awards.
South African Jahmil X.T Qubeka won Best Director for Netflix’s sports drama, The Queenstown Kings; Femi Adebayo won Best Supporting Actor award for his role as Ogundiji in JagunJagun, with the same flick winning Best Makeup and Best Visual Effect Awards.
The 5-hour long ceremony – co-produced by Kingsley James and Raymond Anyiam-Osigwe – had over 700 guests from different parts of Africa converging at the venue to celebrate a memorable night dedicated to honouring the brilliance, talent and creativity of African cinema.
AMAA CEO, Raymond Anyiam-Osigwe, reiterated the need for African creatives to remain united while leveraging on platforms like AMAA as a springboard to global fame. He also promised that the family would continue with the legacy of the late founder of AMAA, Peace Anyiam-Osigwe, who impacted on the African film industry and filmmakers before her death.
Nigeria’s Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Creative Economy, Barrister Hannatu Musawa, led to the event a long list of dignitaries that included captains of industries and film practitioners across Africa and beyond.
With breath-taking headline performances from Afrobeat star, Femi Kuti and velvet voice Yinka Davies, the night was brightened up by a coterie of pan-African artistes including Narh Tettey, Bedwei Kwaku and Adina Thembi.
The winners:
- Efere Ozako AMAA 2024 Award For Best Short Film
The Last Shoe Maker – Uganda
- Jubril Malafia AMAA 2024 Award For Best Animation
Counter Punch – Kenya
- AMAA 2024 Award For Best Documentary
The Night Still Smells of Gun Powder – Mozambique
- Ousmane Sembene AMAA 2024 Award For Best Film In An African Language
The Queenstown Kings – South Africa
- Michael Anyiam-Osigwe AMAA 2024 Award For Best Film By An African Living Abroad
Under The Hanging Tree- Namibia/UK
- AMAA 2024 Award For Best Diaspora Short
Neigbourhood Alert
- AMAA 2024 Award For Best Diaspora Documentary
The Wu Tang Experience: Live At Red Rocks Amphitheatre
- AMAA 2024 Award For Best Diaspora Narrative Feature
Outlaw Posse
- AMAA 2024 Award For Achievement In Production Design
Out of Breath
- AMAA 2024 Achievement In Costume Design
Mai Martaba
- AMAA 2024 Award For Achievement In Make-Up
Jagun Jagun
- AMAA 2024 Award For Achievement In Soundtrack
Boda Love
- AMAA 2024 Award For Achievement In Visual Effect
Jagun Jagun
- AMAA 2024 Award For Achievement In Sound
The Queenstown Kings
- AMAA 2024 Award For Achievement In Cinematography
The Weekend
- AMAA 2024 Award For Achievement In Editing
Under the Haning Tree
- AMAA 2024 Award For Achievement In Screen Play
The Weekend
- AMAA 2024 National Film and Video Censors Board Award For Best Nigerian Film
The Weekend
- AMAA 2024 Award For Best Young/ Promising Actor
Michelle Lemuya – Nawi
- AMAA 2024 Award For Best Actor In A Supporting Role
Femi Adebayo – Jagun Jagun
- AMAA 2024 Award For Best Actress In A Supporting Role
Elsie Chidera Abang – Kipkemboi
- AMAA 2024 Award For Best Actor In A Leading Role
Zolixa Xaluva – The Queenstown Kings
- AMAA 2024 Award For Best Actress In A Leading Role
Jackie Appiah – Red Carpet
- AMAA 2024 Award For Best Debut Feature Film By A Director
Letters To Goddo – Harry Bentil
- AMAA 2024 Award For Best Director
Jahmil X.T Qubeka – The Queenstown Kings
- AMAA 2024 Award For Best Film
The Weekend