THE trip to the ‘Hills’ was not some kind of excursion to Hollywood. Beside the glamour was the strategic desire by organisers of the Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) to push the frontiers of African cinema further, and get Black American Stars involved in the narratives that define their African DNA.
Therefore, as the new CEO of AMAA, Dayo Ogunyemi made his first public appearance on the job, it was to explain to all present the new strategy that redefines the scope of AMAA, as the Award ceremony stages its 11th edition, in Johannesburg, South Africa, on September 29, 2015.
Ogunyemi spoke in glowing terms about the need to advance the works of African filmmakers, through business and social synergy with every Black creative all over the world.
He said that the Africa Film Academy (AFA), an umbrella body of AMAA will play its middleman role in possible co-productions and other forms of partnerships between African filmmakers and their Hollywood counterparts.
Ogunyemi also hinted at a ‘ground-breaking partnership between AMAA and Facebook in Africa,’ saying that AMAA intends to showcase the profile of willing actors, producers and directors to specific countries and relevant establishments with capacity to monetize talent through co-productions.
“Every 5 ‘likes’ on your Facebook page should translate into people buying your video. They should want to know more about you, having excited them with your profile. This is part of the revolution of the social media, and Facebook is changing how people watch your works,” he said, adding that, “The dynamics of being on radio for example, is limited. But online radio has a greater possibility of reaching black people across the world.”
Founder of AMAA, Peace Anyiam-Osigwe mesmerized the gathering with her eloquent speech about the vision of a united Africa, sharing the thoughts of icons like Mariah Makeba and other visionary African leaders on the need to achieve One Africa.
“I don’t want to be apologetic about who I am as a Creative. I don’t want you to describe me as a black filmmaker. We have to rewrite our history by ourselves. I don’t want to know if you are Black American, I don’t want to know if you are African. American, I don’t want to know if you are African Caribbean, I just want you to realise one thing, check your DNA, you are black and we are one,” she said, spurring the crowd into more applause.
The real business of the evening put many on the edge of their seats. The gathering had movie enthusiasts from Nigeria, South Africa, Ghana, Zimbabwe and other parts of Africa and the Diaspora, who wanted to know how well their film submissions had done.
The big deal for AMAA
THE journey towards a Nomination Announcement and Gala of the AMAAs is one of the factors that organisers have hyped as the stronghold of the 11-year-old glamorous award event. And as the unveiling of nominated films, actors, directors, cinematographers and other professional aspects of a motion picture material took place in Los Angeles last Saturday; it was obvious that the entire African continent was awake to the news.
Fans had expected their favourite cinema films, even as festival rats, wanted to know what the choice of the international jury of the AMAAs would look like this time. The over 800 movies had followed five stages of pre-selection process, which included the AMAA College of Screeners, before arriving at the jurors’ decisions of the best few in each of the 28 categories. The jury this year is headed by Zimbabwean curator, Keith Shiri.
There was great elation as films like October 1 from Nigeria; Timbuktu from Mauritania; iNumber Number from South Africa; Run from Cote d’Ivoire; and Triangle Going to America from Ethiopia were announced as films not only with the highest number of nominations, but also adjudged befitting of the Best Director and Best Film’s tiara.
Besides these technical areas, October 1 has lead actor, Sadiq Daba contesting the Best Actor diadem while its second lead and first-timer, Demola Adedoyin aims for the Best Young/ Promising Actor laurel.
Timbuktu, a Boko Haram-like story is otherwise noted for Cinematography, and Child Actors; an area African movies usually experience a dearth. The Mauritarian movie is competing with Nigeria’s A Place with the Stars and Stigma for the Best Child Actor category.
Another notable Nigerian movie, Invasion 1897 would also contest in the Best Nigerian Film and Visual Effects categories.
Chairman of AMAA College of Screeners, Shaibu Husseini, reiterated that a total of 842 films were entered for the award, before reading out the first set of nominations, which included a new category; the Michael Anyiam-Osigwe Best Film by an African Living Abroad, in honour of Michael Anyiam-Osigwe, a patron of the African Film Academy who passed on last year.
In a move that may not surprise pundits, Ghana-born actress, Jocelyn Dumas and her Nigerian counterpart, Ini Edo are once again in big battle for the Best Actress category for their roles in Silver Rain and While You Slept respectively. The two leading female actors were nominated in the same category in 2014.
Two new revelations in the Most Promising Actor/Actress category are Demola Adedoyin for his role in Kunle Afolayan’s October 1 and Kemi Lala Akindoju for her role in Tunde Kelani’s Dazzling Mirage.
At a ceremony attended by the cream of top Hollywood filmmakers and their Nigerian counterparts, Husseini noted the improvement in the quality of films coming to AMAA every year since inception 11 years ago.
”It is gratifying to note that filmmakers from the continent and beyond are investing more into their craft and the evidence of their investments are the quality films we see even though there will always be room for improvements,” he said.
The role call
THE excitement began upon the Stars’ arrival at the prestigious JW Marriot Hotel, Downtown Los Angeles. And with the pleasurable ride in a party bus to Beverly Hills, it only got better.
The show had the likes of Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, Faithia Balogun,O.C Ukeje, Patience Uzokwor, Kingsley Ogoro, Paul Okoli, Chioma Chukwuka, Kunle Afolayan, Emem Isong, Doris Simeon, Ghana’s Lydia Forson and South Africa’s Kim Eagle and Terry Pheto. Others are Hollywood’s Jimmy Jean-Louis, Lynn Withfied, DeMark Thompson, and actress Danielle Lewis.
The evening of glitz and glamour had musician J. Jackson and Grammy-winning American R&B songstress, Chrisette Michele treating guests to great music.
