Top Nigerian actresses, Stephanie Okereke, Bimbo Akintola and their Ghanaian counterparts, Jackie Apia, Lydia Farson, Naa Ashoku and Mensa Doku are top nominees for the Best Actress Category in this year’s African Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) to be held in Ghana next month. This is as a result of their movie roles in ‘Nnenda,’ “freedom in Chains and “perfect Picture.”

In the Best Actor category are Ramsey Noah, Lucky Ejim, Majid Micheal, Odera Ozoka and John Osie Tutu for their roles in ‘Tenant’ Sin of a soul,’ “The Figurin,’ Soul Diaspora’ and I Sing for a Well.”

While Kunle Afolaye (Figurin), Shemu Joyah, Shirley Frimpong Manso, Leila Juwel Djansi, Jude Idada and Lucky Ejim will slug it out for the Best Director category.

Kunle Afolayan’s ‘Figurine’ and Izu Ojukwu’s ‘Nneda’ were among 30 films that made the nominations for the 2010 Awards out of the over 280 entries received across Africa.

This was announced by the Awards-Chairman of College of Screeners Shuaib Hussein at a colourful ceremony at Mensvic Hotel, East Legon Accra Ghana on March 6, 2010.

Speaking at the event, the CEO of AMAA, Peace Anyiam Osigwe explained the symbolism of holding the nominations in Ghana on the eve of the country’s 53rd Independence Anniversary, stressing that with the awards, Kwame Nkuruma’s quest for oneness of Africa through the Pan African Ideology is being realised.

She noted that the motion picture has projected Africa positively to the world, adding that film makers from the continent should use their works to tell the African story in a more positive and meaningful way.

Meanwhile, Jeff Bridges and Sandra Bullock won the best acting Oscars last week. Bridges won for country music film ‘Crazy Heart’ while Bullock was victorious for the ‘Blind side’ at the 82nd Academy Awards.

Bristish Actress, Dame Helen had been nominated for the ‘Last Station,’ while Carey Mulligan was in the race for “Coming of Age film. An Educationist, Colin Firth had been nominated for the best actor, Oscar for a single man but all three lost out.

Kathrine Bigelow made Oscars history after becoming the first woman to win the Best Director award. The film maker also won the ‘battle of Exes’ at the ceremony with her Iraq war film ‘The Hurt Locker’ also winning Best  film and a total of six awards compared with three for former husband James Cameroun’s 31 epic ‘Avatar.’

Bigelows best director gong was greeted with loud cheers from the star studded audience in Los Angeles. Fighting back tears, she thanked the academy for showing that it can be about the performance and not the politics.