The organizers of the Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) have unveiled the list of nominees for the 19th edition of the awards ceremony, and Nigerian films have dominated the Best Nigerian Film category.
The event was hosted by actor, singer, and voice-over star Segun Arinze in Ikeja, Lagos.
A one-minute silence was also held to honor the late founder and CEO of AMAA, Peace Ogechi Anyiam-Osigwe.
The AMAA Awards are one of Africa’s most prestigious awards ceremonies, celebrating excellence in filmmaking from across the continent. The 2023 AMAA Awards will be held on October 29th in Lagos, Nigeria.
Notable Nigerian films that have been nominated in the highly anticipated Best Nigerian Film category include Gangs of Lagos, Brotherhood, Anikulapo, Mami Wata, 4-4-44 (Four Four Forty-Four), L.I.F.E, and The Trade
See the full list below:
AMAA 2023 Nomination List
- 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
- Bashorum Gaa – Nigeria
- Best Documentary
- Africa Cradle of Humanity and Modern CivilizaHon – Senegal/Canada
- Nightlife in Lasgidi – Nigeria
- Maayo Wonaa Keerol – The River is not a Border – Senegal
- Ifine (Beauty) – Sierra Leone
- LeSpectre de Boko Haram – Cameron
- 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
- Fifty-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
- 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
- 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
- Kunle Afolayan – Anikulapo – Nigeria
- Eve Martin – Omen – DRC
- Sira – Burkina Faso
- Antoine Nshimiyimana – Fight Like a Girl – DRC
- Chantel Carter – Gereza – South Africa
- Best Achievement in Costume Design
- Bunmi Demilola Fashina – Mami Wata – Nigeria
- Toyin Bifrain 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 – Anikulapo – Nigeria
- Lila Vander Elst – Omen – DRC
- Our Lady of the Chinese Shop – Angola
- Omowunmi Okungbure – Gangs of Lagos – Nigeria
- 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 – DRC
- 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 – DRC
- Best Actor in a Leading Role
- Richard Mofe Demalo – 4-4-44 (Four Four Forty-Four) – Nigeria
- Marc Zinga – 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 – Four Walls – South Africa
- Nafissatou Cissé – Sira – Burkina Faso
- Adesua Etomi – Gangs of Lagos – Nigeria
- Nse Ikpe Etim – 4-4-44 (Four Four Forty-Four) – Nigeria
- Bimbo Ademoye – Anikulapo – Nigeria
- Ama Qamata – Fight Like a Girl – DRC
- 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 – Burkina Faso
- 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 – Four Walls
- Best Film
- Xalé- Senegal
- Mami Wata – Nigeria
- 4-4-44 (Four Four Forty-Four) Nigeria
- Omen – DRC
- Four Walls – South Africa
- Sira – Burkina Faso
- Anikulapo – Nigeria
