Winners of 2009 Africa Movie Academy Awards

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I saw a Kenyan movie called Malooned a couple of weeks ago and I must say, I was impressed. Easter is coming up, but imagine you (guy) are in Kenya and you find yourself locked in a toilet in an office building - for a whole weekend (Easter Monday is a holiday too). You and this fine mrembo girl. *Smiles*. I want to see more African movies that are not from Francophone Africa, Nigeria or South Africa. Or Ghana. So recommend some. The winners of the UBA Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) 2009 are out. See the full list of nominees here.

I know am blogging about African movies a lot, but am not done. I am going to watch Jerusalema, the much acclaimed South African movie, and a review would follow. The big winner at the 2009 AMAA was a Kenyan movie, the awards is really diversifying.
Wanuri Kahiu's 'From a Whisper (Kenya)' picked up a number of awards, including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Screenplay and two other awards. The Ghanaian reps, 'Agony of the Christ' came up home empty and Lydia Forson could pick up the Most Promising Actress award.

'From a Whipser' is a movie by Wanuri Kahiu based on real events surrounding the US Embassy bombing in Kenya - August 7, 1998. In fact, the guy who plays my favorite Stanford African Alumni character in a movie, GODFREY ODHIAMBO, is in this movie as well. He's the same guy in Malooned and he resembles Djimon Honsou. Now, I am really excited. Please let me know I can see this award-winning movie. Malooned had a great soundtrack as well, featured a song by Necessary Noize's Wyre.

South Africa's Gugu and Andile also won a couple of awards. So I'll like to see that one. Hope y'all get my point. We pushing African excellence in cinema my people. Was nice to see Burkina Faso's Lolo on the winners' board for Best Animation. It's a little too late to get 'Ananse Must Die' (Parables Productions) a nomination.

Full list of winners below

Best Documentary (Short Subject) - Coming of Age (Kenya)

Best Documentary (Feature) - Joint winners:
For the Best and for the Onion (Niger) & Malcom's Echo (Nigeria)

Best Animation - Lolo (Burkina Faso)

AMAA Achievement in Sound - Seventh Heaven (Egypt)

AMAA Achievement in Editing - From a Whisper (Kenya)

AMAA Achievement in Art Direction - Small Boy - Michelle Bello (Nigeria)

AMAA Achievement in Make-Up - Live to Remember (Nigeria)

AMAA Achievement in Visual Effect - Battle of the Soul (Uganda)

Best Original in Soundtrack - From a whisper (Kenya)

Most Promising Actor - Litha Booi - Gugu and Andile (South Africa)

Most Promising Actress - Lungelo Dhladha - Gugu and Andile (South Africa)

.Best Performance by a Child Actor - Richard Chukwuma - Small Boy (Nigeria)

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role - Farouk Alfishawi - Seventh Heaven (Egypt)

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role - Funke Akindele - Jenifa (Nigeria)

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role - Joel Okuyo Prynce - Battle of the Soul (Uganda)

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role - Mercy Johnson - Live to Remember (Nigeria)

Best Film in African Language - Gugu and Andile (South Africa)

AMAA Achievement in Cinematography - Cindy's Note - Izu Ojukwu (Nigeria)

AMAA Achievement in Costume - Arugba (Nigeria)

Heart of Africa Award for Best Films from Nigeria - Arugba - Tunde Kelani

Best Screenplay - From a Whisper (Kenya)

Best Picture - From a Whisper (Kenya)

Best Director - Wanuri Kahiu - From a Whisper (Kenya)

See the trailer for From a Whisper.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MUtSw3YGH0I


Watch the trailer for Malooned
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rh3ioEVx6DM

Comments

Eche Sica said…
Ijust wanted to say thank you for doing this since not so many of us get the chance to see the movies. It sort of gives me the chance to go right ahead and grab those that you've spoken of highly here.
Gracias!
April 9, 2009 at 4:54 PM
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