By Our Reporter
The eighth edition of the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCAs) came to a rousing end on Saturday with winners announced on the biggest and most glamorous night to celebrate African film and TV talent.
The movies, Rattlesnake – The Ahanna Story and Amina came tops with four AMVCA honors each with Best Director going to Ramsey Nouah for Rattlesnake – The Ahanna Story and Best Overall Movie to Amina.
In the public voting categories, Stan Nze clinched the award for Best Actor in Drama while Osas Ighodaro won Best Actress in Drama. First time AMVCA nominees, Samuel Perry popularly known as ‘Broda Shaggi’ and Omowunmi Dada won Best Actor in a Comedy and Best Supporting Actress in a Drama respectively.
Producer, Rogers Ofime, also had multiple wins in the categories; Best Television Series for The Mystic River, Best Indigenous Language Movie (Hausa) for Voiceless and Best Africa Magic Original Comedy Series for The Johnsons.
The regional awards saw Collision Course winning Best Movie West Africa, while The Girl in the Yellow Jumper and Hairareb won in the Best Movie East Africa and Best Movie Southern Africa respectively.
Uganda bagged two awards with the Best Movie East Africa and Best MultiChoice Talent Factory award going to Girl in A Yellow Jumper and Engaito respectively.
Speaking on the award of the Best MultiChoice Talent Factory, Daisy Masembe the MTF alumni said, “I thank God for this win because there is no way the odds could have led me here. This win has taught me the value of team work and perseverance. When you keep working on the thing that you love, even in the not-so-glamorous times of the journey, it eventually pays off. I can never pretend that this is a personal win rather it took a great team of people, (who sometimes never get recognized and appreciated) my cast for Jinja and Kampala, my crew and of course MultiChoice as my executive producers. I have these people to thank this AMVCA!” she added.
Joan Semanda Kizza the PR and Communications manager MultiChoice Uganda recognized and appreciated the effort that the Ugandan filmmakers put into their work that was recognized at the awards. “Congratulations to the two winning teams from Uganda at the AMVCA’s. It speaks volumes that out of the four nominees we had – two have emerged winners. Our Ugandan film industry is growing and these wins are proof of it. We applaud you, and recognize your hard work.”
In the special recognition categories, the AMVCA industry Merit award for this edition was given to veteran Nigerian actress, journalist and television presenter, Taiwo Ajai-Lycett (OON) whilst the Trailblazer award, an award given to an outstanding achievement by a young and upcoming act, went to Teni Aladese.
See the full list of winners below.
Best Actor in a Comedy (Movie/TV Series)
Dwindle — Broda Shaggi/Samuel Perry
Best Actor in a Drama (Movie/TV Series)
Rattlesnake – The Ahanna Story — Stan Nze
Best Actress in a Comedy (Movie/TV Series)
Omo Ghetto (The Saga) — Funke Akindele
Best Actress in a Drama (Movie/TV Series)
Rattlesnake – The Ahanna Story — Osas Ighodaro
Best Supporting Actor in a Movie or TV Series
Jankariwo — Odunlade Adekola
Best Supporting Actress in a Movie or TV Series
Country Hard — Omowunmi Dada
Best Short Film or Online Video
I Am The Prostitute Mama Described — Taiwo Ogunnimo
Best Online Social Content Creator
Mr Funny — Oga Sabinus
Best Africa Magic Original Drama Series
The Rishantes — Dimbo Atiya
Best Africa Magic Original Comedy Series
The Johnsons — Rogers Ofime
Best Indigenous Language Movie or TV Series – Hausa
Voiceless — Rogers Ofime
Best Director/Producer Movie
Rattlesnake – The Ahanna Story — Ramsey Nouah
Best Indigenous Language Movie or TV Series – Igbo
Nne-Ka — Uche Nnanna Maduka
Best Indigenous Language Movie or TV Series – Swahili
Obambo — Freddy Feruzi
Best Television Series Drama or Comedy
The Mystic River — Rogers Ofime
Best Sound Track Movie or TV Series
Gold Coast Lounge — Pascal Aka & Raquel
Best Make Up Category
Omo Ghetto (The Saga) — Balogun Abiodun
Best Sound Editor Movie or TV Series
Amina — Jim Lively & James Nelson
Best Documentary
If Objects Could Speak — Saitabao Kaiyare, Mumo Liku, Elena Schilling, Daniella Fritz, Ann Katrina Boberg
Best Lighting Designer In a Movie or TV Series
Nneka The Pretty Serpent — Mathew Yusuf
Best Movie Southern Africa
Hairareb — Dantagos Jimmy – Melani
Best Art Director Movie or TV Series
Amina — Tunji Afolayan
Best Costume Designer Movie or TV Series
Amina — Millicent T. Jack
Best Indigenous Language Movie or TV Series – Yoruba
Alaise — David Akande, Demola Yusuf, Edgard Leroy
Best Cinematographer
Rattlesnake – The Ahanna Story — Muhammed Atta Ahmed
Best Picture Editor
For Maria Ebun Pataki — Tunde Apalowo
Best Writer in a Movie or TV Series
Introducing The Kujus’ — Manie Oiseomaye, Donald Tombia, Biodun Stephen
Best Movie East Africa
The Girl In The Yellow Jumper — Morocco Omari
Best Movie West Africa
Collision Course — Bolanle Austen – Peters, Joseph Umoibom & James Amuta
Best Multichoice Talent Factory
Engaito — Daisy Masembe
Best Overall Movie
Amina — Izu Ojukwu & Okey Ogunjiofor