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In Bayelsa, AMAA reigns supreme
THE billboard with the smiling face of the Governor of Bayelsa State, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, welcomes visitors (among others) in a convoy of four cars to the heartland of the Ijaw nation.
Similar billboards on the sidewalk and media heighten expectations of what would be termed the biggest film event in the country at present. Any stranger in Yenegoa presently must be "an AMAA" person as the locals mumble audibly at a passer-by. Mrs. Peace Anyiam-Fiberesima, Chief Executive Officer of AMAA could not hide her joy. "This is the dream for AMAA and I am happy that it is gradually becoming a reality. Now, Bayelsans look forward to this yearly event. After the maiden edition last year here, I can tell you that many hotels have been built in anticipation of this year's event. I guess they were taken unawares last year and did not expect the large crowd that came. Let us not forget the economic implication to Bayelsa State and of course the world's attention on Bayelsa."
American superstar actor, Danny Glover, was special guest at last year's edition. South African and world music icon, Mariam Makeba among other foreign stars, are being expected in Bayelsa tomorrow.
A new dimension has however been added to this year's awards, the Niger Delta Film Festival. It will feature workshops, lectures and training in different aspects of film making targeted at the youths.
Consequently, three American filmmakers Abiola Abrams, a writer/director; Cybel Martin, a cinematographer, and Sonia Malfa, a producer, are in Bayelsa at present. The trio flew into the country on Thursday, April 20 and proceeded straight to Yenagoa, the next day where about 500 youths were waiting.
The three-day intensive workshop was done in collaboration with Centre for Youth Development. Elder Anthony Orubo, Executive Secretary of the centre commended the initiative which he said is geared towards empowering the youths. Also Nengi James, an activist commended the training saying that AMAA has proved it is not just about awards but uplifting the youths.
The three American filmmakers were overwhelmed by the willingness of the youths to learn. "I was touched by
their interest", said Abrams, a celebrated writer/director whose credits include Knives in My Throat, Wonderland, Ophelia's Opera, Stranded, Taboo and The Black Count among others.
Cybel Martin is reputed to be the first and only African American woman to bag an MFA in Cinematography from New York University. She served as the Cinematographer for Sangam, which premiered at the 2004 Sundance Festival and was recognized for its deeply moody and textured palette.
Her feature work included Flora's Garment Bursting into Bloom, winner of the ShowTime No Limits Award at the New Festival, among others.
Sonia Malfa is an independent producer/director, who has produced and directed several short films. As a producer, she is currently in development on the narrative feature Outside the Wall, which was selected for Tribeca All Access 2005. She is also producing Voice of the Voiceless, a feature-length historical documentary about journalist, activist and death row inmate, Mumia Abu-Jamal.
As a director, Sonia's first documentary video, La Sangre Llama/The Blood Calls celebrates Puerto Rican identity as expressed through musical culture. She received several artist awards in support of the video, which was broadcast locally on PBS and screened at film festivals nationally. For the 2001 Pan Am Public Art Project, the City of Buffalo co-commissioned Sonia to create a large-scale public mural using her second film entitled, On Women's Recipes. Sonia recently finished her first narrative short, Sweatin, which premiered at the New York Latino
Film Festival 2005. Sonia is researching and writing a screenplay about Pedro Albizu-Campos, the leader of the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party.
Meanwhile, 15 films have been nominated for this year's Africa Movie Academy Awards, AMAA 2006. The 15 films were selected after careful screening by AMAA panel of judges.
The first panel screened 150 films from Nigeria alone from where 10 got nominated. Five indigenous films also came from Nigeria while Ghana, Bourkina Faso, Gambia, Cameroun and Zimbabwe had one each nominated. The nominated films from Nigeria are: Rising Moon, directed by Andy Nwakolor; Secret Adventure, directed by Andy Amenechi; Behind Closed Doors, directed by Lancelot Imasuen; Family Battle, directed by Lancelot Imasuen; Widow's Cot, directed by Dickson Iroegbu;
Anini, directed by Fred Amata; Day of Atonement, directed by Teco Benson; Eagle's Bride, directed by Ikechukwu Onyeka; To Love a Stranger, directed by Andy Amenechi; and Fragile Pain, directed by Fred Amata.
From Ghana came My Mother's Heart, directed by Ifeanyi Onyeabor. Bourkina-Faso has Sofia; directed by Boubakar Diallo; while Tanyaradzwa, directed by Tawanda Gunda came from Zimbabwe. Gentle Solution is directed by Keka Sylvester (Cameroun); Arrou (Prevention) directed by Segun Oguntola (Gambia).
The list of indigenous films contains Madam Dearest, directed by Tade Ogidan; Agbara Obirin, directed by Adebayo Salami; Mfana Mbagha, directed by Teco Benson; Izza, directed by Saminu Mahmood; and Tari, directed by Aaron Garvey.
Nominations in other categories include: Best Actor featuring as contestants Kanayo O. Kanayo in Family Battle; Osita Iheme & Chinedu Ikedezie in Secret Adventure; Bil Aka in Sofia (Bourkina-Faso); Nosa Ehinwen in Anini; Modu Cessay in Arrou (Prevention) from Gambia.
Best Actress parades Stella Damasus in Behind Closed Doors, Joke Sylva in Widow's Cot, Onyeka Onwenu in Rising Moon, Akofa Asiedu in My Mother's Heart (Ghana), Alima Qiedraego in Sofia (Bourkina-Faso) and Kudakwashe Maradzika in Tanyaradzwa (Zimbabwe).
Best Actor in a supporting role has Justice Esiri in Rising Moon, Desmond Elliot in Behind Closed Doors, Emeka Enyiocha in Family Battle, Arnold Chirisa in Tanyaradzwa (Zimbabwe) Kofi Adjorlolo in My Mothers Heart (Ghana) and Henry Legema in Anini.
Nominated for Best Actress in a supporting role are: Onyeka Onwenu in Widow's Cot, Georgina Onuoha in Secret adventure, Oge Okoye in Eagle's Bride, Adji Dialo in Sofia (Bourkina-Faso) and Awa Gassama in Arrou (Prevention).
In Best Upcoming Actor category are Sam Anyamela in Day of Atonement, Akume Akume in Rising Moon, Kalu Ikeagwu in Fragile Pain, and Alagie Sarr in Arrou (Prevention).
For Best Upcoming Actress segment are Chika Ike in To Love a Stranger, Lillian Ikpe in Behind Closed Doors, Elezra Ofori in My Mother's Heart (Ghana), Tendal Musoni in Tanyaradzwa (Zimbabwe).
Nominees for Best Director are Lancelot Imasuen in Behind Closed Doors, Andy Nwakolor in Rising Moon, Andy Amenechi in Secret Adventure, Lancelot Imasuen in Family Battle; Fred Amata in Anini; Teco Benson in Day of Atonement; Ifeanyi Oyeabor in My Mother's Heart (Ghana); and Boubakar Diallo in Sofia (Bourkina-Faso).
Best Picture segment parades Rising Moon, Secret Adventure, Behind Closed Door, Anini, Arrou (Prevention), Tanyaradzwa (Zimbabwe), My Mother's Heart; and Sofia (Bourkina-Faso)
Selected works for Best Sound are Eagle's Bride, Widows Cot, Behind Closed Doors, Secret Adventure, Rising Moon, Arrou (Gambia) and Sofia (Bourkina-Faso)
Best ScreenPlay: Eagle's Bride, Anini, Behind Closed Doors, Arrou, and Tanyaradzwa. Best Edit: Rising Moon, Family Battle, Day of Atonement and Sofia. Best Soundtrack: Secret Adventure, Rising Moon, Behind Closed Doors, Sofia, Tanyaradzwa and Arrou.
Original Effect: Widow's Cot, Day of Atonement, Rising Moon and My Mother's Heart. Best Cinematography: Day of Atonement, Secret Adventure, Rising Moon, Family Battle, Sofia, Tanyaradzwa, Arrou, My Mother's Heart and Gentle Solution (Cameroun).
Best Visual Effect: Behind Closed Doors, Secret adventure, Rising Moon, Family Battle and Arrou. Best Make-Up: Eagle's Bride, Secret Adventure; Rising Moon and My Mother's Heart.
Best Costume: Eagle's Bride, Secret Adventure, Rising Moon, My Mother's Heart and Arrou.
Best Distributor/Marketer: Dove Media for Madam Dearest; A-Z for Desperate Billionaires; and Great Futures for Widow's Cot. Special Mention: Akume Akume for Art Director in Rising Moon and Legema Henry in Anini.
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