Nigeria and South Africa lead AMAA nominations; Ghana third

Most nominated films include South Africa's Otelo Burning and How to 2 Steal 2 Million; Nigeria's Adesuwa; Ghana's Somewhere in Africa; The Nigerian-South African co-production Man on Ground; and Kenya's Rugged Priest.

Nigeria received 52 nominations on 17 March 2012 in Banjul, Gambia for the Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA), Africa's most prestigious awards for filmmakers.

South Africa was a close second with 45 nominations, followed by Ghana with 17, Kenya with 14, Uganda with 5, Tanzania with 3, and Algeria, Cameroon, Guinea, Rwanda, and Zimbabwe.

There were also nominations for films linked to the Diaspora in America, Canada, France, Germany, Guadalupe, Italy, Jamaica, and the UK.

AMAA received 328 entries from across Africa, up from 220 in 2011. This includes 134 feature films, 88 short films, 57 documentaries and six animations. 43 entries came from Africans in the Diaspora, with the other entries coming from 23 countries across the continent.

South African surfing film Otelo Burningscooped the most nominees (13), followed closely by South African film noir How 2 Steal 2 Million (11) and Nigeria's Benin-set historical epic Adesuwa (10). Ghana's civil war film Somewhere in Africahas seven nominations, as does the Nigerian-South African xenophobia-themedcoproduction Man on Ground, whileKenya's Rugged Priest has six.

Dr. Asantewa Olantunji, director of programming of The Pan African Film Festival, headed this year's jury, which included June Giavanni, programmer for Planet Africa at The Toronto International Film Festival; Keith Shiri, founder and film curator at the London festival, Africa at The Pictures; Dorothee Wenner, a curator at The Berlin Film Festival; Shaibu Husseini, an actor, dancer and The Nigerian Guardian arts journalist; Steve Ayorinde, editor-in-chiefof The Daily Mirror; Ayoko Babu, executive director of The Pan African Film Festival; Dr. Hyginus Ekwuazi, a film scholar and critic; and directors Berni Goldblat and John Akomfrah, OBE.

Only films produced and released between December 2010 and December 2011 were eligible.

The winners will be announced at a glittering ceremony on 22 April 2012, hosted by Heroes star Jimmy Jean-Louis. For the first time, the awards will be held in Lagos rather than Bayelsa in Nigeria.

“Our theme this year is Africa Rising,” says founder Peace Anyiam-Osigwe. “Africa's economies are consistently growing faster than those of almost any other region of the world and our film industries are following suit. With the success of last year's AMAA winner, Viva Riva!, all of a sudden there's this great excitement about the potential of the African film industry, which isclearly demonstrated in this year's diverse nominees.”

For more information, keep an eye on http://www.ama-awards.com/.

AMAA founder Peace Anyiam-Osigwe is available to discuss the nominations, the upcoming awards, and the power and potential of African cinema.

Please watch and embed the key trailers:
Otelo Burning

How 2 Steal 2 Million

Adesuwa

Somewhere in Africa

Man on Ground

Rugged Priest

AMAA 2012 NOMINATION LIST

AMAA 2012 PRIZE FOR BEST SHORT FILM
1. Jamaa – Uganda
2. Look Again – Kenya
3. Maffe Tiga – Guinea
4. Braids On Bald Head – Nigeria
5. Hidden Life – South Africa
6. Mwansa The Great - Zimbabwe
7. Chumo – Tanzania
8. The Young Smoker - Nigeria

AMAA 2012 PRIZE FOR BEST DOCUMENTARY
1. African Election – Nigeria/Germany
2. Beyond The Deadly Pit – Rwanda
3. Awa Ogbe: An African Adventure – Algeria
4. Dear Mandela – South Africa
5. White& Black; Crime And Colour – Tanzania
6. The Niger Delta Struggle – Ghana
7. There Is Nothing Wrong With My Uncle –Nigeria

8. How Much Is Too Much – Kenya

AMAA 2012 PRIZE FOR BEST DIASPORA FEATURE
1. Toussanat Louverture -France
2. Ghetta Life -Jamaica
3. High Chicago - Canada
4. Elza - Guadalupe
5. Better Must Come - Jamaica
6. Kinyanrwanda - USA

AMAA 2012 PRIZE FOR BEST DIASPORA DOCUMENTARY
1. The Education Of Auma Obama - Germany
2. White Wash - USA
3. Almendron Mi Corazon - Guadalupe
4. All Me: The Life And Times Of Winfred Hubert -USA

AMAA 2012 PRIZE FOR BEST DIASPORA (SHORT FILM)
1. John Doe - USA
2. White Sugar In A Black Pot -USA
3. The Lost One -USA

AMAA 2012 PRIZE FOR BEST ANIMATION
1. The Legend on Ngog Hills - Kenya
2. Oba- Nigeria
3. Climate Change is Real – Kenya
4. Egu – South Africa
5. Chomoka - Kenya

AMAA 2012 PRIZE FOR BEST FILM BY AN AFRICAN LIVING ABROAD
1. Mystery Of Birds – USA/Nigeria
2. Housemates – UK/Nigeria
3. Ben Kross – Italy/Nigeria
4. Paparazzi Eye In The Dark – USA/Nigeria/Ghana

AMAA 2012 PRIZE FOR ACHIEVEMENT IN PRODUCTION DESIGN
1. Somewhere in Africa - Ghana
2. Phone Swap - Nigeria
3. Otelo Burning – South Africa
4. Adesuwa - Nigeria
5. How 2 Steal 2 Million - South Africa

AMAA 2012 PRIZE FOR ACHIEVEMENT IN COSTUME DESIGN
1. The Captain Of Nakara - Kenya
2. Adesuwa - Nigeria
3. Rugged Priest -Kenya
4. Somewhere In Africa - Ghana
5. Queens Desire - Nigeria

AMAA 2012 PRIZE FOR ACHIEVEMENT IN MAKE-UP
1. Rugged Priest - Kenya
2. State Research Bureau - Uganda
3. Adesuwa - Nigeria
4. Somewhere In Africa - Ghana
5. Shattered - Kenya

AMAA 2012 PRIZE FOR ACHIEVEMENT IN SOUNDTRACK
1. Otelo Burning – South Africa
2. Alero's Symphony – Nigeria
3. Adesuwa - Nigeria
4. How To Steal 2 Million - South Africa
5. Somewhere In Africa – Ghana

AMAA 2012 PRIZE FOR ACHIEVEMENT IN VISUAL EFFECTS
1. Behind The Mask - Nigeria
2. Somewhere In Africa - Ghana
3. Adesuwa - Nigeria
4. State Research Bureau - Uganda
5. Otelo Burning – South Africa

AMAA 2012 PRIZE FOR ACHIEVEMENT IN SOUND
1. State Of Violence – South Africa
2. Otelo Burning – South Africa
3. How To Steal 2 Million - South Africa
4. Man On Ground - South Africa
5. Algiers Murder - South Africa

AMAA 2012 PRIZE FOR ACHIEVEMENT IN CINEMATOGRAPHY
1. How To Steal 2 Million - South Africa
2. Otelo Burning – South Africa
3. Rugged Priest - Kenya
4. Masquerades - Ghana
5. Man On Ground –South Africa/Nigeria

AMAA 2012 PRIZE FOR ACHIEVEMENT IN EDITING
1. Algiers Murder - South Africa
2. Man On Ground - South Africa/Nigeria
3. Unwanted Guest – Nigeria
4. How To Steal 2 Million- South Africa
5. Otelo Burning – South Africa
6. Alero's Symphony - Nigeria

AMAA 2012 PRIZE FOR ACHIEVEMENT IN SCREENPLAY
1. Ties That Bind - Ghana
2. Mr & Mrs - Nigeria
3. How To Steal 2 Million - South Africa
4. Otelo Burning –South Africa
5. Unwanted Guest -Nigeria
6. Two Brides And A Baby - Nigeria

AMAA 2012 PRIZE FOR BEST NIGERIAN FILM
1. Unwanted Guest -Nigeria
2. Family On Fire - Nigeria
3. Alero's Symphony - Nigeria
4. Adesuwa - Nigeria
5. Phone Swap – Nigeria

AMAA 2012 PRIZE FOR BEST FILM IN AN AFRICAN LANGUAGE
1. Chumo - Tanzania
2. State Of Violence - South Africa
3. Family On Fire - Nigeria
4. Otelo Burning - South Africa
5. Asoni - Cameroon

AMAA 2012 PRIZE FOR BEST CHILD ACTOR
1. Rahman Junior Bande (Behind The Mask) - Nigeria
2. Tsepang Mohlomi (Otelo Burning) – South Africa
3. Reginna Danies (Bank Job) - Nigeria
4. Benjamin Abemigisha (Jamaa) - Uganda
5. Racheal Nduhukire (Jamaa) - Uganda
6. Ayinla O. Abdulaheem (ZR-7) - Nigeria

AMAA 2012 PRIZE FOR BEST YOUNG/PROMISING ACTOR
1. Neo Ntatleno (State Of Violence) – South Africa
2. Ivie Okujaye (Alero's Symphony) - Nigeria
3. Iyobosa Olaye (Adesuwa) – Nigeria
4. Martha Ankomah (Somewhere In Africa) - Ghana
5. Thomas Gumede (Otelo Burning) – South Africa
6. Sihle Xaba (Otelo Burning) – South Africa

AMAA 2012 PRIZE FOR BEST ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
1. Rapulana Seiphemo (How To Steal 2 Million) – South Africa
2. Fana Mokoena (Man On Ground) – South Africa
3. Hafiz Oyetoro (Phone Swap) - Nigeria
4. Okechukwu Uzoesi (Two Brides And A Baby) - Nigeria
5. Godfrey Theobejane (48) - Nigeria
6. Lwanda Jawar (Rugged Priest) – Kenya

AMAA 2012 PRIZE FOR BEST ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
1. Terry Pheto (How 2 Steal 2 Million) – South Africa
2. Ebbe Bassey (Ties That Bind) - Ghana
3. Empress Njamah (Bank Job) - Nigeria
4. Ngozi Ezeonu (Adesuwa) - Nigeria
5. Thelma Okoduwa (Mr & Mrs) - Nigeria
6. Omotola Jalade Ekeinde (Ties That Bind) -Ghana

AMAA 2012 PRIZE FOR BEST ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE
1. Menzi Ngubane (How 2 Steal 2 Million) – South Africa
2. Majid Micheal (Somewhere In Africa) - Ghana
3. Chet Anekwe (Unwanted Guest) - Nigeria
4. Jafta Mamabolo (Otelo Burning) – South Africa
5. Karabo Lance (48) - Nigeria
6. Wale Ojo (Phone Swap) - Nigeria
7. Hakeem Kae-Kazim (Man On Ground) –Nigeria/South Africa

AMAA 2012 PRIZE FOR BEST ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE
1. Nse Ikpe Etim (Mr & Mrs) - Nigeria
2. Yvonne Okoro (Single Six) - Ghana
3. Ama K. Abebrese (Ties That Bind) - Ghana
4. Rita Dominic (Shattered) - Kenya
5. Uche Jombo (Damage) - Nigeria
6. Millicent Makheido (48) – South Africa
7. Kudzai Sevenzo-Nyarai (Playing Warriors) - Zimbabwe

AMAA 2012 PRIZE FOR BEST DIRECTOR
1. Lancelot Oduwa Imaseun (Adesuwa) - Nigeria
2. Leila Djansi (Ties That Bind) - Ghana
3. Bob Nyanja (Rugged Priest) - Kenya
4. Charlie Vundla (How 2 Steal 2 Million) – South Africa
5. Khalo Matabane (State Of Violence) – South Africa
6. Akin Omotoso (Man On Ground) – South Africa/Nigeria
7. Sara Bletcher (Otelo Burning) – South Africa

AMAA 2011 PRIZE FOR BEST FILM
1. State Of Violence - South Africa
2. Adesuwa - Nigeria
3. Otelo Burning – South Africa
4. Rugged Priest - Kenya
5. How 2 Steal 2 Million - South Africa
6. Ties That Bind - Ghana
7. Man On Ground - South Africa/Nigeria