2011 AMAAs: Sinking Sands wins 3; Ama K Abebrese is Best Actress

Ama K Abebrese won Best Actress In Leading Role for her role in Sinking Sands

Ghanaian movie Sinking Sands directed by Leila Djansi has won three awards at the 7th Annual African Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) ceremony held at the Gloryland Cultural Centre, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, Nigeria Sunday night.

The movie won awards for Best Screenplay, Best Make-Up with the movie's lead actress, Ama K Abebrese also picking up the award for Best Actress In Leading Role.

The night's biggest winner was Viva Riva from Congo which won six awards after leading with a total of twelve nominations.

The movie won Best Film, Best Actress In Supporting Role (Marlene Longage), Best Actor In Supporting Role (Hoji Fortuna), Best Cinematography, Best Production Design and Best Director (Congo's Djo Tunda Wa Munga).

Other winners on the night included; Izulu Lami which won Best Film In African Language. Interestingly, three actors from that movie; Sobahle Mkhabase (Thembi), Tschepang Mohlomi (Chili-Bite) and Sibonelo Malinga (Khwezi) together won the Best Child Actor award.

This year's Best Actor Award was won by Themba Ndaba for the movie Hopeville with Edward Kagutuzi from the movie, Mirror Boy winning The Best Young Actor.

Shirley Adams from South Africa won Best Achievement In Sound. It also received AMAA Special Jury Award.

Nigerian film, Aramotu won Best Nigerian Film and Best Costume Design.

Below is the detailed list of winners at the 2011 AMAAs

Sinking Sands won three awards at this year's awards

Best Film
Viva Riva – Djo Tunda Wa Munga (Congo)
Best Director
Viva Riva – Djo Tunda Wa Munga
Best Actress In Leading Role
Ama K Abebrese - Sinking Sands
Best Actor In Leading Role
Themba Ndaba – Hopeville
Best Actress In Supporting Role
Marlene Longage – Viva Riva
Best Actor In Supporting Role
Hoji Fortuna – Viva Riva
Best Young Actor
Edward Kagutuzi – Mirror Boy
Best Child Actor
Sobahle Mkhabase (Thembi), Tschepang Mohlomi (Chili-Bite) And Sibonelo Malinga (Khwezi) – Izulu Lami

Best Film In African Language
Izulu Lami – Madoda Ncayiyana (South Africa)
Best Nigerian Film
Aramotu – Niji Akanni
Best Screenplay
Sinking Sands
Best Editing
Soul Boy
Best Cinematography
Viva Riva
Best Achievement In Sound
Shirley Adams
Best Visual Effects
A Small Town Called Descent
Best Soundtrack
Inale
Best Make Up
Sinking Sands
Best Costume Design
Aramotu
Best Production Design
Viva Riva
Best Film For African Abroad
In America: The Story Of The Soul Sisters - Rahman Oladigbolu (Nigeria/USA)

Best Diaspora Short Film
Precipice – Julius Amedume (UK)
Best Diaspora Documentary
Stuborn As A Mule – Miller Bargeron Jr & Arcelous Deiels (USA)

Best Diaspora Feature
Suicide Dolls – Keith Shaw (USA)
Best Documentary
Kondi Et Le Jeudi Nationale – Ariana Astrid Atodji (Cameroun)

Best Short Documentary
After The Mine – Diendo Hamadi & Dinta Wa Lusula (DRC)

Best Short Film
Dina – Mickey Fonseca (Mozambique)
Story by Ernest Dela Aglanu/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana