The Africa Movie Academy Awards are back and Kenya is poised to scoop a major share of the spoils writes, STEVENS MUENDO
After posting a gloomy showing during last year’s edition of the Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA), Kenya seems to have schemed a major comeback on Africa’s big cinema boys South Africa and Nigeria.
It may be nothing to warrant song and dance much, but it is a sign of hope renewed for the emerging Riverwood industry as local films reclaimed their share in the inaugural continental film show case with 14 nominations going to Kenya at the expense of someone else.
Leading the onslaught in the Kenyan venture is the Rugged Priest, which has bagged six nominations, two of then being the coveted Best Film and Best Cinematography accolade.
Bob Nyanja, the director of the successful film, has been nominated in the Best Director category, and Lwanda Jawar getting a nod in the Best Actor in a Supporting Role for the same film.
The film is also rooting up for the Achievement in Costume Design and Make-Up awards.
Just for a recap, the Rugged Priest delves on the story of the unresolved murder of the American Catholic missionary Fr Anthony Kaiser in 2000.
Look Again, yet another Kenyan gem will battle it out for the Best Short Film glory while How Much is too Much, a local documentary faces seven others in the Best Documentary cue.
Three Kenyan animation films The Legend on Ngong Hills, Chomoka and Climate Change is Real will face it off in the animation category.
Celebrated Nigerian actress Rita Dominic could win the Best Actress in a Leading Role for Kenya by default thanks for her role in Shattered, a film that was shot in Kenya. The film has received two nominations.
Even though Kenya’s presence in the awards may be more superior compared to its neighbours Uganda and Tanzania whose presence is almost incognito, the line up predicts a two horse race finish between Africa’s film powerhouses South Africa and Nigeria.
In the top four lists emerging from the 328 films submitted to the AMAA 2012–up from 220 for AMAA 2011, Nigeria has bagged 52 nominations, South Africa 45, Ghana 17 and Kenya 14.
Also appearing in the list is Algeria, Cameroon, Guinea, Rwanda, Zimbabwe, Tanzania and Uganda.
South African surfing film Otelo Burning leads the pack with a whooping 13 nominations, followed closely by yet another South African film noir How To Steal two Million with 11 nods.
Adesuwa from Nigeria has 10 while Ghana’s civil war film; Somewhere in Africa has seven nominations.
Kenya’s Rugged Priest and the xenophobia inspired Man on the Ground, a Nigerian-South African movie, makes a six all tie.
Last year, the awards were dominated by Viva Riva which won six awards, including the Best Film and Best Director for Congo’s Djo Tunda wa Munga. It also won supporting acting awards after having led in the nominations with 12 nods.
Kenya did not register anything worthy of praise and we can only hope to regain our 2010 courageous run by transforming the numerous nominations into wins, this year.
Here is the selected list of nominees from which the winners shall be picked at a ceremony to be hosted by Heroes star, Jimmy Jean-Louis in Nigeria:
Best Documentary
African Election — Nigeria/Germany
Beyond The Deadly Pit —Rwanda
Awa Ogbe: An African Adventure — Algeria
Dear Mandela — South Africa
White and Black; Crime and Colour — Tanzania
How Much Is Too Much — Kenya
Best Actress in a Leading Role
Nse Ikpe Etim (Mr & Mrs) —Nigeria
Yvonne Okoro (Single Six) — Ghana
Ama K. Abebrese (Ties That Bind) — Ghana
Rita Dominic (Shattered) — Kenya
Uche Jombo (Damage) —Nigeria
Millicent Makheido (48) – South Africa
Kudzai Sevenzo-Nyarai (Playing Warriors) – Zimbabwe
Prize for Best Director
Lancelot Oduwa Imaseun (Adesuwa) — Nigeria
Leila Djansi (Ties That Bind) —Ghana
Bob Nyanja (Rugged Priest) — Kenya
Charlie Vundla (How to Steal to Million) — South Africa
Khalo Matabane (State Of Violence) — South Africa
Akin Omotoso (Man On Ground) — South Africa/Nigeria
Sara Bletcher (Otelo Burning) — South Africa
Prize for Best Film
State of Violence — South Africa
Adesuwa — Nigeria
Otelo Burning — South Africa
Rugged Priest — Kenya
How to Steal 2 Million — SA
Ties That Bind — Ghana
Man on Ground — SA/Nigeria
