Credit: danieloriahi/Instagram

The 20th edition of the African Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) took place yesterday, November 2, 2024, at the Balmoral Convention Center in Ikeja, Lagos. This year’s ceremony honored first-time winners and celebrated the best of African cinema, uniting filmmakers from around the world under one roof.

Nollywood actor Segun Arinze and Ghanaian actress Joselyn Dumas Hosted the event featuring the performances of the legendary Afrobeat musician Femi Kuti And Yinka Davies. The night was filled with a live line-up of pan-African artists. Narh Tettey, Bedwei Kwaku, And Adina Thembi.

A distinguished jury led by filmmaker and curator Dorothee WennerHe reviewed the nominated films, appreciating the extraordinary talent and storytelling in African cinema.

One of the biggest winners of the night was the Nigerian-led drama “WeekendIt won the “Best Film Award” in both Nigeria and Africa. Nigerian film producer Femi Adebayo He also received the “Best Actor in a Supporting Role” award for his performance in the historical thriller.Jagun Jagun.” The film, which received seven nominations, also won the Visual Effects and Make-up Achievement awards.

Elsie Abang She won the ‘Best Actress in a Supporting Role’ award for her performance in the movie.KIPKEMBOYI,” during Michell Lemuya He was awarded the “Best Promising Young Actor” award. NAWI.

South Africa in leading role categories Zolisa Xaluva He was awarded the “Best Actor in a Leading Role” award.King of Queenstown”, while Ghana Jackie Appiah She was awarded the “Best Actress in a Leading Role” award for her performance in the movie.Red Carpet.”

“Best Feature Film by Director” awardLetters to Goddo,” governing Harry Bentylduring Jahmil XT Qubeka He was deemed worthy of the “Best Director” award for his work.Queenstown Kings.”

Lifetime Achievement Awards were presented to notable filmmakers Souleymane Cisse from Mali, Nacer Khemir from Tunisia and Haile Gerima from Ethiopia. Alain Gomis With Zimbabwean writer and filmmaker from Senegal and Gabon Tsitsi DangarembgaThey received special recognition awards for their valuable contributions to African cinema.

See the full list of AMAA 2024 winners below:

Efere Ozako Award for Best Short Film

• Last Shoe Manufacturer (Uganda) – WINNER
• Seben (Financial)
• My Dear Future Wife (South Africa)
• Isolated (Nigeria)
• Joia (Angola)
• Strike 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) – WINNER
• Journey of the Legend (Cameroon)
• Hadu (Nigeria)
• Between Paya and Koulou (Senegal)
• Oya (Goddess of the Gods) (Nigeria)
• Set Pieces (Sudan)

Best Documentary

• A Quand L’Afrique (Congo Brazzaville)
• The Night Still Smells of Gunpowder (Mozambique) – WINNER
• Return Train (Fiscal)
• Door to Dreams (Cameroon)
• Rainbow Nation (South Africa)
• The Making of Dela- EL-Anatsui (Nigeria)
• Donga (Libya)
• Rising at Night (DRC)

Best Diaspora Short Film

• Neighborhood Alert (USA) – WINNER
• Bottled (Jamaica)
• Golden Boy (USA)

Best Diaspora Documentary

• Wu Tang Clan: Live at Red Rocks Amphitheater (USA) – WINNER
• Rising Tide (USA)
• Color (USA)

Best Diaspora Narrative Feature

• Outlaw Posse (USA) – WINNER
• Mickey Hardaway (USA)
• Post-Vacation Love (USA)

Michael Anyiam Osigwe Award for Best Film by an African Living Abroad

• Out of breath (Nigeria/England)
• Orah (Nigeria/Canada)
• Isolated (Nigeria/United Kingdom)
• Under the Hanging Tree (Namibia/England) – WINNER
• Kipkemboi (Nigeria/Canada)

Ousmane Sembène Award for Best African Language Film

• Macula (Uganda)
• Jagun Jagun (Nigeria)
• Queenstown Kings (South Africa) – WINNER
• Kaka (Nigeria)
• Eskhalemi Sikantombella (South Africa)
• Unheard of (Uganda)
• Out of breath (Nigeria)

Success in Costume Design

• beads
• Weekend
• White and Black
• Jagun Jagun
• Queenstown Kings
• Mai Martaba – WINNER
• Out of breath

Success in Makeup

• Weekend
• Navi
• Letters to Goddo
• Out of breath
• Jagun Jagun – WINNER
• anjola
• White and Black

Success in Visual Effects

• Kipkemboi
• Jagun Jagun- WINNER
• Under the Hanging Tree
• Weekend
• Bokwagter
• Out of breath

Success in Soundtrack

• Weekend
• Under the Hanging Tree
• Queenstown Kings
• Orah
• mojisola
• Red Carpet
• Boda Love – WINNER

Success in Sound

• A Smile, A Wink and A Tear
• Weekend
• Under the Hanging Tree
• Queenstown Kings – WINNER
• Boda Love
• Kipkemboi
• Boda Love

• Orah
• Queenstown Kings
• Weekend
• Jagun Jagun
• Kipkemboi
• macula
• Out of breath – WINNER

Success in Cinematography

• Weekend – WINNER
• Navi
• Kipkemboi
• Letters to Goddo
• This is Lagos
• Queenstown Kings
• A Smile, A Wink and A Tear

Success in Editing

• Under the Hanging Tree – WINNER
• Weekend
• This is Lagos
• Navi
• Kipkemboi
• beads
• anjola

Success in Scenario

• Under the Hanging Tree
• Weekend – WINNER
• Letter to Goddo
• This is Lagos
• boda love
• Queenstown Kings
• Out of breath

National Film and Video Censor Board (NFVCB) Award for Best Nigerian Film

• Weekend – WINNER
• This is Lagos
• Afamefuna
• Jagun Jagun
• Mai Martaba
• A smile, a wink and a tear
• Out of breath

Best Young/Promising Actor

• Michell Lemuya (Nawi) – WINNER
• Likhona Mgali (Kings of Queenstown)
• Agape mngomezulu (Orah)
• William Dias (Bokwagter)
• Kofi Adu-Gyamfi (Tejiri)
• Ruby Akubueze (Female)
• Fatima Muhammad (Mai Martaba)

Best Actor in a Supporting Role

• Sandile Mahlangu (Queenstown Kings)
• Ochungo Benson (Nawi)
• Keppy Ekpeyong Bassey (Weekend)
• Ikechukwu Onaku (This is Lagos)
• Lucky Ejim (Orah)
• Solomon Fixon Owoo (Letters to Goddo)
• Femi Adebayo (Jagun Jagun) – WINNER

• Meg Otanwa (Weekend)
• Enhle Mbali Mlotshwa (Queenstown Kings)
• Elsie Chidera Abang (Kipkemboi) – WINNER
• Tessa Twala (Kings of Queenstown)
• Bukunmi Oluwashina (White and Black)
• Somkele Iyamah-Idhalamah (Orah)
• Chioma Akpotha (Mojisola)

Best Actor in a Leading Role

• Zolixa Xaluva (Queenstown Kings) – WINNER
• Gabriel Afolayan (This is Lagos)
• Duncan Murunyu Mungai (Boda Love)
• Nenesenor Abloso (Letters to Goddo)
• Bucci Franklin (Weekend)
• Femi Jacobs (Anjola)
• Chidi Mokeme (Breathing)

• Girley Jazama (Under the Hanging Tree)
• Oyin Oladejo (Orah)
• Unati Faku (Kings of Queenstown)
• Uzoamaka Aniunoh (Weekend)
• Laura Pepple (This is Lagos)
• Jackie Appiah (Red Carpet)- WINNER
• Efe Irele (A Smile, A Wink and A Tear)

Best First Feature Film by a Director

• LETTERS TO GODDO (Harry Bentil) – WINNER
• GETTING UP AT NIGHT (Nelson Makengo)
• WOMAN (Seun Richards)

Best Director

• Daniel Emeka Oriahi (Weekend)
• Kenneth Gyang (This is Lagos)
• Jahmil XT Qubeka (Queenstown Kings) – WINNER
• Perivi Katjavivi (Under the Hanging Tree)
• Lonzo Nzekwe (Orah)
• Harry Bentil (Letters to Goddo)
• Izu Ojukwu (A Smile, A Wink and A Tear)

Best Movie

• Under the Hanging Tree
• Weekend – WINNER
• This is Lagos
• A Smile, A Wink and A Tear
• Orah
• Letters to Goddo
• Queenstown Kings

Lifetime Achievement Award

• Souleymane Cisse (Mali)
• Nacer Khemir (Tunisia)
• Haile Gerima (Ethiopia)

Special Recognition

• Alain Gomis (Senegal/Gabon)
• Tsitsi Dangarembga (Zimbabwe)