AMAA 2016 Jury Announces Nomination List in Lagos

The nominees in the 28 categories of the African Movie Academy Awards (AMAA), the annual pan-African reward system for motion picture practitioners, were announced recently by Mr. Shaibu Husseini, the President of the Jury. At a media event which took place at the Protea Hotel, GRA Ikeja, Lagos, Mr. Husseini, who also doubles as the Chairman of the College of Screeners, reiterated in his address that AMAA was a jury-based award and not voting-awards where nominees embark on voting campaigns to win any of the categories.

The Jury, however, announced nominees into 26 categories as the Board of Jurors is yet to conclude on the remaining two categories. According to Mr. Husseini, “The remaining categories are special Jury awards and before the awards ceremony we would have decided on the nominees and eventual winners and by that time we would have the full Jury members on ground.”

The Jury President also revealed that quality of movies that came into the competition have improved greatly, adding that more young people across the continent were coming into the industry as film makers with over 150 short film entries.

“Our film makers only need to pay attention to details, especially in the technical areas. We have the stories already, particularly of those producing films in African languages. Truth is, we can only compete at the Oscars with our indigenous language films and to do this we must improve on our photography, sound, editing and other technical areas.

“We are very happy about the quality of works that came into the competition this year and it gladdens our heart that every year the objectives of the awards are being achieved with film makers in Africa and beyond, upping their game,” added Husseini.

The Board of Jurors of AMAA, which has members that include academics, film makers, critics and Film Festival curators from Nigeria, Germany, United States, Zimbabwe, Jamaica and Burkina Faso will decide on which film and individual talents that will emerge eventual winners at a glamorous Awards Night, which will take place on Saturday June 11, 2016 in the Garden City, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.