AMAA: Calls For Early Submission Of Entries Ahead Of 19th Edition
By Trek Africa Newspaper
Africa Film Academy, the organisers of the Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA), on Thursday unveiled plans and activities ahead of the 19th edition.
The plans and activities were made known to members of the media in a media parley that was held at IKeja, Lagos.
Peace Anyiam-Osigwe, Founder and President of AMAA said the decision to unveil the plans and activities ahead of the 19th edition of the continental film awards was deliberate and a move to involve every film practitioner in Africa and diaspora.
The organisers also announced a call for entry ahead of the 2023 edition of the AMAAs.
According to Anyiam-Osigwe, the early call was to enable more film practitioners across Africa and the diaspora to submit and participate in the 19th edition.
She said, “This is an avenue to officially rest the 18th edition of the AMAAs under the supervision of the Africa Film Academy and begin the journey to 2023.
“We, therefore, call for entries starting from Dec. 1 in all categories and this will last till March 2023.
“We are now accepting submissions for the 19th Africa Movie Academy Awards.
“The Africa Film Academy invites filmmakers to submit their feature, short, animation, and documentary work for consideration in nearly 30 film categories of the awards.”
Anyiam-Osigwe further reiterated that AMAA is not a popularity contest form of award ceremony but a professional contest that rewards professionalism across Africa.
She noted that one of the aims for creating AMAA was to provide and create a networking platform and avenue for African filmmakers and practitioners to interact while getting rewarded for their creativity, uniqueness, authenticity and professionalism.
“We are not a popularity contest, we are a professional contest that rewards professionalism, hence, why AMAA has two faces to it, which is the critical look and judgment of professionalism and the glamorous part.
“I continue to hold dear the critical arm working behind the scene while our COO, he handles the glamorous part, which is the look and feel of the awards ceremony,” she said.
Speaking, the awards show producer, Kingsley James reiterated that the Lagos state governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu will return as the host for the 19th edition of the AMAAs.
He stated that other activities lined up included human capacity building by the jury’s session, nomination unveil, and a week-long festivities that will herald the 2023 edition will be unchanged.
“For us, our announcement of the lined up activities for AMAA 2023 is a deliberate action from our end.
“We will be having two or three activities every month till the end of the year and these will include human capacity building under AFA, screenings of films and the awards ceremony.
“ We would be screening the five biggest films in AMAA 2022 to the media so they can also understand why these films were nominated and won big.
“We will also be having a monthly dialogue with practitioners and creatives on issues based such as piracy, distribution of films and so on.
“We would also be having another round of film in a box while the nomination unveil will come up in August 2023.
“For the AMAA proper, we will be having a 7-days complete creative week that will encompass music, film, fashion and arts.
Similarly, Dr Shaibu Husseini, who spoke on behalf of AMAA’s Jury, and College of screeners, said they looked forward to getting great films from African film practitioners.
Husseini said the jury looked forward to having feature films animations, documentaries and more while reiterating that the country of film is different from the origin of film.
“We don’t encourage films that don’t have Africans or filmmakers of African descent. Films can be uploaded on film freeway.” said.
Speaking further, Husseini noted that the team plans to increase the number of college screeners as well as the jurors.
“We would be enlarging the scope of our college of screeners from 12 to more this year. These are the people that will screen films for the jury while the president of the jury is responsible for films that get nominated.
“We don’t entertain part two films during screening of films or judging films at AMAA. We are professional and take our roles very professionally,” Husseini said
He emphasised that AMAA do not encourage filmmakers that are not of African Descent while noting that filmakers must be award ready, festival ready and must have good packaging of their films
He advised filmmakers to be deliberate about their films especially the ones put in for entries.
“They should be concerned about quality films, direction, editing and professionalism while those entries for the first time, l advise them to watch past films that had won awards.”
Anyiam-Osigwe also lend credence to Dr Husseini’s points saying, “I have no influence whatsoever on the screening committee, governing body or the jury of AMAA.
“AMAA is a professional niche reward system and you will find out that most of the films that won at AMAA 2022 and in previous years, go on to do very well at globally recognised film festivals and awards,” she said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event is coming after a successful 18th edition which held at the Jewel Aeida hall in the Lekki area of Lagos on Sunday, October 30.
The 18th edition, which had Nigerian filmmakers and films winning several awards, also had scintillating performances from music stars that include King Sunny Ade, P-Square, Young Jon Zadok, Yinka Davies, and Candy Bleakz.
The 2022 edition of the continental film awards ceremony had Funnybone, Chigul, and Kachi Offia taking the host position. (NAN)
