The Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) has announced the nominees for the 19th edition of the awards ceremony. 

This year, there are 26 categories celebrating outstanding achievements in African cinema. The competition is tough as the “Best Nigerian Film” category has as its nominees amazing movies like Gangs of Lagos, Brotherhood, Anikulapo, 4-4-44 (Four Four Forty-Four), and L.I.F.E.

C.J. ‘Fiery’ Obasi’s Mami Wata leads with 12 nominations, including Best Film in an African Language and Best Director.

The awards will be held on October 29, 2023, at The Balmoral event center in Lagos, Nigeria.

Here is the full AMAA 2023 Nominations List:

Efere Ozako Award for Best Short Film

• Lions – Ethiopia
• Riel – Namibia
• Enmity Djin – Mauritania

Jubril Malaifia Award for Best Animation

• Lost – Uganda
• Azania Rises – South Africa • Jabari – Ghana
• Bashorum Gaa – Nigeria

Best Documentary

• Africa Cradle of Humanity and Modern Civilisation – Senegal/Canada
• Nightlife in Lasgidi – Nigeria
• Maayo Wonaa Keerol – The River is not a Border – Senegal
• Ifine (Beauty) – Sierra Leone
• LeSpectre de Boko Haram – Cameroon

Ousmane Sembene Award for Best Film in an African Language

• Pusha Pressa Phanda – South Africa •
• Anikulapo – Nigeria
• The Kitera Chronicle – Uganda
• Four Walls – South Africa
• Mami Wata – Nigeria

 Best Actress in a Leading Role

• Lucie Debay – Omen – DRC
• Ehle Mbali Mlotshwa – 4 Walls – South Africa
• Nafissatou Sisse – Sira – Burkina Faso
• Adesua Etomi – Gangs of Lagos – Nigeria
• Nse Ikpe EHm – 4-4-44 (Four Four Forty-Four) – Nigeria
• Bimbo Ademoye – Anikulapo – Nigeria
• Ama Qamata – Fight Like a Girl – Rwanda

Best Actor in a Leading Role

• Richard Mofe Damijo – 4-4-44 (Four Four Forty-Four) – Nigeria
• Marc Zunga – Omen – DRC
• Fenando Kamugisha – The Fallen Advocate – Uganda
• Tobi Bakre – Brotherhood – Nigeria
• Justine Murichii – Shimoni – Kenya
• Mike Danon – Sira – Burkina Faso

Best Young/Promising Actor

• Maleek Sanni – Gangs of Lagos
• Ewube – L’axe Lourd (The Highway)
• Darisimi Nadi – Obara’m
• Sanou Titiama – Le chant des fesits (The Song of the Rifle)
• Eyiyemi Afolayan – Anikulapo

Best Actor in a Supporting Role

• Francis Onwuchei – The Trade – Nigeria
• Jeff Jackson – Four Walls – South Africa
• Hakeem Kae-Kazim – Fight Like a Girl – Rwanda
• Jimmy-Jean Louis – Rise

Best Actress in a Supporting Role

• Uzoamaka Aniunoh – Mami Wata – Nigeria
• Rokhaya Niang – Xalé – Senegal
• Clarck Natmbwe – Fight Like a Girl – Rwanda
• Peter Mensah – Rise – United States

Michael Anyiam Osigwe Award for Best Film by an African-Born Director Living Abroad

• Talia’s Journey – Christophe Rolin (Senegal/Belgium)
• Golden Stripes – Peace Osigbe (Nigeria/UK)
• KOFA – Jude Idada (Nigeria/Canada)

Best Diaspora Short Film

• We Were Meant To – (United States) – directed by Tari Wariebi
• The Ballad of Olive Morris – (United Kingdom) – directed by Alex Kayode-Kay
• Fifty-Four Days – (United Kingdom) – directed by Cat White and Phoebe Torrance
• Raw Materials – (Jamaica) – directed by Sosiessia Nixon-Kelly

Best Diaspora Documentary

• Sound of the Police – (United States) – directed by Stanley Nelson
• Black Rio – (Brazil) directed by Fernando Sousa and Gabriel Barbosa

Best Diaspora Narrative Feature

• Chee$e – (Trinidad & Tobago) directed by Damian Marcano
• Our Father, The Devil – (United States) directed by Ellie Foumbi
• The Pastor and the Revolutionary – (Brazil) directed by José Eduardo Belmonte

Best Achievement in Production Design

• Kunle Afolayan – Anikulapo – Nigeria
• Eve Martin – Omen – DRC
• Sira – Burkina Faso
• Antoine Nshimiyimana – Fight Like a Girl – DRC
• Chantel Carter – Gereza – South Africa

Best Achievement in Costume Design

• Bunmi Demilola Fashina – Mami Wata – Nigeria
• Toyin Bifrain Ogundeji – Anikulapo – Nigeria
• Millicent Jack – 4-4-44 (Four Four Forty-Four) – Nigeria
• Djibril Drame – Xalé – Senegal
• Elkehoste and Baloji Omen – DRC
• Sidi Ouedraogo Sira – Burkina Faso

Best Achievement in Make-up

• Campell Precious Arebamen – Mami Wata – Nigeria
• Hakeem Effect – Anikulapo– Nigeria
• Lila Vander Elst – Omen – DRC
• Our Lady of the Chinese Shop – Angola
• Omowunmi Okungbure – Gangs of Lagos – Nigeria

Best Achievement in Soundtrack

• Fight Like a Girl – DRC
• L’Axe Lourd (The Highway) – Cameroon
• Gereza – South Africa
• Omen – DRC
• Obinna Arua – 4-4-44 (Four Four Forty-Four) – Nigeria