# Africa Movie Academy Awards

The Africa Movie Academy Awards is an annual entertainment award ceremony presented to recognize excellence among African and non-African professionals, who have contributed to the African film industry. The award was founded by Peace Anyiam-Osigwe and is run by the Africa Film Academy. It is regarded as one of Africa's most notable film events, and have been sometimes referenced as the "African Oscars".

## History

The first Africa Movie Academy Awards was held in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, Nigeria, on 30 May 2005. All other subsequent African Academy Awards before 2012 were held at the same venue, except for the 2008 AMAA Awards which was moved to Abuja, FCT for security reasons. In 2012, the awards ceremony was held at Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos in Lagos State. The 9th and 10th edition saw AMAA returning to Yenagoa, while the 2015 ceremony was held outside Nigeria for the first time.

### Jury members

* Berni Goldblat 2007–present
* John Akomfrah
* Steve Ayorinde 2005–2015
* Keith Shiri
* June Givanni
* Hyginus Ekwuazi
* Shaibu Husseini
* Ayoku Babu
* Asantewa Olatunji
* Dorothee Wenner 2005–present
* Charles Burnett 2014–present
* Filippe Savadogo 2014–present
* Amaka Igwe 2005

## Categories

As of 2017, the Africa Movie Academy Awards had 28 merit categories. They include:
* Best Short Film: since 2010
* Best Documentary: since 2006
* Best Diaspora Feature: since 2011
* Best Diaspora Documentary: since 2011
* Best Animation: since 2008
* Achievement in Production Design: since 2008
* Achievement in Costume Design: since 2005
* Achievement in Make-Up: since 2005
* Achievement in Soundtrack: since 2005
* Achievement in Visual Effects: since 2005
* Achievement in Sound: since 2005
* Achievement in Cinematography: since 2005
* Achievement in Editing: since 2005
* Best Film by an African Living Abroad: (2008; 2010–2013; 2015–present)
* Best Comedy Film
* Best Actor in a Leading Role: since 2005
* Best Actress in a Leading Role: since 2005
* Best First Feature Film by a Director
* Best Diaspora Short Film
* Achievement in Screenplay: since 2005
* Best Nigerian Film: since 2007
* Best Film in an African Language: since 2005
* Most Promising Actor: since 2006
* Best Child Actor
* Best Actor in a Supporting Role: since 2005
* Best Actress in a Supporting Role: since 2005
* Best Director: since 2005
* Best Film: since 2005

### Discontinued categories

Several categories have been renamed, retired, or merged. Below is a list of some of the retired categories.
| Last awarded year | Category Name | Last Winner |
| 2006 | Best Soap | Desperate Millionaires |
| 2006 | Best Marketer | A-Z |
| 2006 | Best Original Effects | Day of Atonement |
| 2008 | Most Outstanding Actress Indigenous | Dorris Simeon |
| 2010 | Achievement in Art Direction | The Figurine |
| 2008 | Most Outstanding Actor Indigenous | Ayo Akinwale |
| 2013 | Achievement in Lighting | Moi Zaphira |

### Special categories

* Lifetime Achievement Awards (2005-2007; 2013–present)
* Special Recognition of Pillars of Nollywood (2013 only)
* Special Jury Award (2012–present)
* Madiba Africa Vision Awards (2014 only)
* Best Film for Women Empowerment (2014 only)