Daniel Oriahi’s “The Weekend” Leads 2024 AMAA Nominations with 16 Nods

The 20th edition of the Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) is shaping up to be a thrilling event, with Daniel Oriahi’s “The Weekend” leading the nominations list with an impressive 16 nods.

 

Set to take place on November 2, 2024, under the theme “Celebrating African Creativity,” this year’s AMAA nominations were unveiled in a star-studded ceremony hosted by Zimbabwean actress Vimbai Mutinhiri Ekpenyong.

 

“The Weekend”, a psychological thriller directed by Oriahi, has earned top nominations in categories including Best Film, Best Director, and Achievement in Cinematography. The film’s success has made it the most nominated title at this year’s awards, affirming its critical acclaim within the African film circuit.

 

Hot on its heels is South Africa’s “The Queenstown Kings”, which garnered 15 nominations, also competing for Best Film, Best Director, and Best Cinematography. Both films are set to dominate the competition, showcasing the strength of storytelling and technical prowess from Nigeria and South Africa.

 

Other notable contenders include “This is Lagos”, “Under The Hanging Tree”, and “Out of Breath”, each securing nine nominations across various categories.

 

Founded in 2005 by the late Peace Anyiam-Osigwe, the Africa Movie Academy Awards continue to provide a vital platform for promoting African filmmakers and their works.

 

 

See the full list of this year’s nominees below:

 

Efere Ozako Award For Best Short Film

The Last Shoe Maker – Uganda

Seben – Mali

Dear Future Wife – South Africa

Isolated – Nigeria

Jolie – Angola

Strike A Blow And Die – Malawi

Don’t Call Me Beautiful – Ghana

Sins Of A Father – Zimbabwe/USA

 

Jubril Malafia Award For Best Animation

Heavy crown – Libya

Counter punch – Kenya

Journey of the legend – Cameroon

Hadu – Nigeria

Between Paya and Koulou – Senegal

Oya (The goddess of gods) – Nigeria

Set Pieces – Sudan

 

Award For Best Documentary

A Quand L’Afrique – Congo Brazzaville

The Night Still Smells of Gun Powder- Mozambique

The Return Train – Mali

Gateway To Dreams – Cameroon

Rainbow Nation – South Africa

Dela- The Making of EL-Anatsui – Nigeria

Donga – Libya

Rising Up At Night – DRC

 

Ousmane Sembene Award For Best Film By An African Language

Makula -Uganda

Jagun Jagun- Nigeria

The Queenstown Kings – South Africa

Kaka – Nigeria

Eskhalemi Sikantombella- South Africa

Unheard – Uganda

Out of Breath – Nigeria

 

Michael Anyiam Osigwe Award For Best Film By An African Living Abroad

Out Of Breath – Nigeria/UK

Orah – Nigeria/Canada

Isolated – Nigeria/UK

Under The Hanging Tree- Namibia/UK

Kipkemboi – Nigeria/ Canada

 

Award For Best Diaspora Short

The Neigbourhood Alert – USA

Bottled Up – Jamaica

The Golden Boy – USA

Award For Best Diaspora Documentary

The Wu Tang Clan: Live at Red Rocks Amphitheatre – USA

A Rising Tide – USA

Colour – USA

 

Award For Best Diaspora Feature

Outlaw Posse – USA

Mickey Hardaway-USA

Love After Holidays – USA

 

Award For Achievement In Production Design

Orah

The Queenstown kings

The Weekend

Jagun Jagun

Kipkemboi

Makula

Out of Breath

 

Achievement In Costume Design

The beads

The weekend

White and black

Jagun Jagun

The Queenstown Kings

Mai martaba

Out of breath

 

Award For Achievement In Make-Up

The Weekend

Nawi

Letters to Goddo

Out of breath

Jagun Jagun

Anjola

White and black

 

Award For Achievement In Soundtrack

The Weekend

Under the Hanging Tree

The Queenstown Kings

Orah

Boda Love

Mojisola

Red Carpet

 

Award For Achievement In Visual Effect

Kipkemboi

Jagun Jagun

Under The Hanging Tree

The Weekend

Bokwagter

Out of breath

 

Award For Achievement In Sound

A Smile, A wink and a Tear

The Weekend

Under the Hanging Tree

The Queenstown Kings

This is Lagos

Kipkemboi

Boda love

 

Award For Achievement In Cinematography

The Weekend

Nawi

Kipkemboi

Letters to Goddo

This is Lagos

The Queenstown Kings

A Smile, A Wink and A Tear

 

Award For Achievement In Editing

Under The Hanging Tree

The Weekend

This is Lagos

Nawi

Kipkemboi

The Beads

Anjola

 

Award For Achievement In Screen Play

Under The Hanging Tree

The Weekend

Letter To Goddo

This is Lagos

Boda love

The Queenstown King

Out of Breath

 

National Film and Video Censors Board Award For Best Nigerian Film

The Weekend

This is Lagos

Afamefuna

Jagun Jagun

Mai Martaba

A Smile, A Wink and a Tear

Out of Breath

 

Award For Best Young/Promising Actor

Michell Lemuya (Nawi)

Likhona Mgali (The Queenstown Kings)

Agape mngomezulu – Orah

William Dias – Bokwagter

Kofi Adu-Gyamfi -Tejiri

Ruby Akubueze – She

Fatima Muhammed – Mai Martaba

 

Award For Best Actor In A Supporting Role

Sandile Mahlangu – The Queenstown Kings

Ochungo Benson – Nawi

Keppy Ekpeyong Bassey – The Weekend

Ikechukwu Onunaku -Afamefuna

Lucky Ejim – Orah

Solomon Fixon Owoo – Letters to Goddo

Femi Adebayo- Jagun Jagun

 

Award For Best Actress In A Supporting Role

Meg Otanwa – The Weekend

Enhle Mbali Mlotshwa – The Queenstown Kings

Elsie Chidera Abang – Kipkemboi

Tessa Twala – The Queenstown Kings

Bukunmi Oluwashina – White and Black

Somkele Iyamah-Idhalamah – Orah

Chioma Akpotha – Mojisola

 

Award For Best Actor In A Leading Role 

Zolixa Xaluva – The Queenstown Kings

Gabriel Afolayan – This is Lagos

Duncan Murunyu Mungai – Boda Love

Nenesenor Abloso – Letters to Goddo

Bucci Franklyn – The weekend

Femi Jacobs – Anjola

Chidi Mokeme – Out of Breath

 

Award For Best Actress In A Leading Role 

Girley Jazama – Under The Hanging Tree

Oyin Oladejo – Orah

Unati Faku – The Queenstown Kings

Uzoamaka Aniunoh – The Weekend

Laura Pepple – This is Lagos

Jackie Appiah -Red Carpet

Ife Irele- A Smile, A Wink and A Tear

 

Award For Best Debut Feature Film By A Director

Letters To Goddo – Harry Bentil

Rising Up At Night – Nelson Makengo

She – Seun Richards

 

Award For Best Director

Daniel Emeke Oriahi – The Weekend

Kenneth Gyang – This Is Lagos

Jahmil X.T Qubeka – The Queenstown Kings

Perivi Katjavivi – Under The Hanging Tree

Lonzo Nzekwe – Orah

Harry Bentil – Letters To Goddo

Izu Ojukwu- A Smile, A Wink and A Tear

 

Award For Best Film

Under The Hanging Tree

The Weekend

This is Lagos

A Smile, A Wink and A Tear

Orah

Letters to Goddo

The Queenstown Kings