All is now set for the highly anticipated 2019 edition of the African Academy Movie Awards (AMAA) scheduled for Landmark Events Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos on Sunday, October 27, 2019.
According to AMAA CEO, Ms Peace Anyiam-Osigwe, the continent’s leading and most glamorous awards event will up the ante with an unforgettable evening of high-calibre entertainment, colour and glamour.
AMAA, she stated, has consistently for 14 years honoured and promoted excellence in the African movie industry and Africans in the diaspora, as well served as a platform to unite Africans from across the globe through arts and culture.
It has also facilitated the convergence and celebration of African movie stars – actors, directors, cinematographers and other professionals while investing in the art of filmmaking.
Speaking during an interactive session with correspondents, she revealed that “Engaging The Narrative”, the theme for this year, was specifically chosen to inspire practitioners to begin to tell the African story in our uniquely special way and in our own language.
She therefore urged governments to invest in practitioners who tell authentic African stories because such stories though impactful may not necessarily make it to the cinemas or festivals.
Ms Anyiam-Osigwe then revealed that the event would be hosted by Lorenzo Menakaya, Lala Akindoju and Chibundu Stanley (Funny Bone).
Another feature of the 2019 edition is the introduction of the Best Nigerian Film which is sponsored by the Nigeria Film and Video Censors Board.
She said that AMAA has earned the respect of industry professionals over the years because of its insistence on integrity, probity and excellence.
She further revealed that the organisers don’t know winners until they are announced and there is usually no pressure on the Jury to favour any film or entry.
She added that another factor that has stood AMAA out is that it is not merely an award but a vehicle that has helped to discover, nurture and expose African talents in all spheres of the industry.
She noted that this year’s AMAA actually began with the Africa Film Academy Workshop and gala night in Enugu.
She told us that many rising and established professionals attended the workshop which had Jim Jermananok, an award-winning writer, director, producer and author as lead facilitator.
While a representative of BVA Consultancy spoke on how to access the creative industry funds from Bank of Industry (BOI).
She went further to explain that the film industry has the potential to solve the problem of youth unemployment because it has the ability to engage assorted professionals.
According to her “on a typical movie hundreds of people made up of 172 different professionals are usually on ground: From electricians, to fashion designers to caterers, to IT experts and even mechanics”
She was full of praise for the Lagos State Commissioner for Toursism, Arts & Culture, Mrs Olufunke Adebolu who she said has started by creating a Film office that has begun to provide advisory services and logistics support to movie makers.
Ms Anyiam-Osigwe noted that after her interaction with the new commissioner, there was no doubt that the industry will witness positive impact if the plans being prepared by the Ministry come to fruition.
Speaking about the Jury, she said that it is made up of time-tested experts.
Members of Jury this year include: Dorothy Wenner, Asantesewa Olatunji, Berni Goldblat, John Akomfrah, Steve Ayorinde, Keith Shiri, June Givanni, Hyginus Ekwuazi, Shaibu Husseini, Ayoku Babu and Filippe Savadogo.
She stated that she was excited about the event because of the intense competition that will ensue among the films that had been entered.
“Though there are more short films, that feature films, the competition this year will be intense because no one has any clue about the leading film, this will increase the excitement and fun of the award night,” she said.
The 15th edition which will feature 26 categories will be aired on the Startimes bouquet and will be covered on all AMAA social media pages.
The event has such sponsors as Lagos State Government, Startimes and Moet & Chandon.
Speaking on behalf of the sponsors, Mr Kumi Balogun of Startimes said his organisation was happy to associate with the AMAA brand.
He revealed that Startimes viewers will enjoy AMAA on channels such as Nollywood Plus and NTA 2 Channel 5, adding that there is every likelihood that this relationship will linger for years.
Africa Movie Academy Awards are presented annually to recognize excellence of professionals in the film industry.
It was founded by Peace Anyiam-Osigwe and run through the Africa Film Academy.
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