How Nollywood Dominated AMAA Awards

Last Saturday June 11,
marked another milestone in the annals of the African Movie Academy Award AMAA; at Port Harcourt, The Garden City of Nigeria and capital city of Rivers State, the nation’s treasure base hosted the 12th edition of the continental movie awards held at the prestigious Obi Wali International Conference Centre, Elekahia amidst pomp,  glamour, glitz and razzmatazz.
Despite losing two of the major awards of the night, best film of the year and best director of the year awards to Burkina Faso and Ghana respectively, nollywood maintained its solid position as Africa’s Biggest film industry at this year’s continental movie awards, the AMAA. Nigeria carted away 10 out of the 24 awards categories given out this year, beating South Africa which won five awards and fast holding Burkina Faso Film Industry which got four awards, while Ghana came fourth with three awards. The event attracted constellation of movie stars and other entertainers and showbiz personalities as well as government officials and captains of industries among other distinguished guests.
The full list of awardees included:
Efere Ozako AMAA 2016 Award for Best Short Film “Meet The Parents” Nigeria/Canada.
Best Animation -“The Pencil” Burkina Faso
Best documentary-“The Fruitless Tree” Niger
Best Diaspora Short Film “Across the Track” – USA
Award for best film by an African living abroad – “Lambadina” Ethiopia/USA
Best Diaspora feature- “Ben and Ara” –USA
Best Diaspora documentary ‘Agents of Change’ USA
Achievement in costume design- “Eye of the Storm”
Achievement in Production Design “The Cursed One” Ghana play
Achievement in make-up “Soldiers Story”- Nigeria
Achievement in Soundtrack “o-Town” Nigeria
Achievement in Visual effects “Oshiminri” Nigeria
Achievement in Cinematography “The Cursed One”
Achievement in Editing “Hear me Move” AMAA 2016 play.
Achievement in screenplay “Tell Me Sweet Something”
Best film in an African language “Missing God” Nigeria
Best actor in a supporting role. Abidine Dioari “Eye of the storm”
Best actress in supporting role Thishiwe Ziqubu – “Tell me sweet something”
Best actress in a leading role  Fulu Mugovhani – “Ayanda”
Best actor in a leading role – Daniel K. Daniel – “Soldiers story” Nigeria
Best feature film by a director “Beyond Blood” Greg Odutayo
Life time achievement award – Olu Jacobs and Joke Silva (RMD) – Richard Mofe Damijo
Best film – Eye of the Storm – Burkina Faso
Best director – Nana Obiri – Yaboah, “Maximilian clausse”
Best young/promising actor – Zubaidat Ibrahim Fagge – Dry
Rivers State Government endowed for best Nigerian film – “Dry”
Among the dignitaries that graced the occasion included: His Excellency, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, (CON)
Governor  of Rivers State and his wife, Her Excellency Hon. Justice Eberechi Suzzette Nyesom Wike, Hon. Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, her Excellency, Dr. Mrs Ipalibo Harry Banigo, Deputy Governor Rivers State, Rt Hon Adams Dabotorudima, Speaker Rivers State House of Assembly , Chief Judge of Rivers State, Hon Justice A. I Iyaya Lamikarika, Hon Commissioner for Culture and Toursim, Mrs Tonye Briggs Oniyide and other members of the Rivers State executive council.
Also present at the event were founder of AMAA,  Mrs Peace Anyiam Osigwe, his Excellency, Chief S. Dickson Governor, Bayelsa State, Senator David Mark, Prince Uche Secondus, former Rivers State governor, His Excellency. Barr. Celestine Omehia, members of the entertainment profession such as veteran actor, Pete Edochie, RMD, Stephanie Linus, Harrysong, Arinze Baba, Patience Ozokwor, among several others.