‘Jagun Jagun’ and ‘The Weekend’ Win Big at AMAA 2024

Nollywood films Jagun Jagun and The Weekend emerged as the big winners at the recently concluded 2024 Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA). The prestigious event, marking its 20th edition, took place on Saturday, November 2, 2024, at the Balmoral Convention Centre in Lagos State, hosted by veteran actor Segun Arinze and Ghanaian television star Joselyn Dumas.

Established in 2005, the AMAA aims to foster the growth and significance of African filmmaking by honoring outstanding talent across the continent. This year’s awards featured a star-studded lineup of nominees and an esteemed jury chaired by filmmaker Dorothee Wenner, alongside notable members like former Lagos Commissioner for Tourism, Steve Ayorinde.

The Weekend, directed by Daniel Oriahi, captured the spotlight with multiple awards, including Best Film and Achievement in Cinematography. The film showcases a stellar cast featuring industry veterans such as Keppy Ekpenyong-Bassey, Uzoamaka Aniunoh, and Gloria Anozie, solidifying its place as a cinematic gem.

On the other hand, Jagun Jagun, an action-packed Yoruba film directed by Adebayo Tijani and Tope Adebayo, garnered critical acclaim and awards for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for Femi Adebayo, as well as Achievement in Make-Up and Visual Effects. The film features an impressive ensemble, including Lateef Adedimeji and Faithia Williams.

The awards ceremony highlighted a range of categories and talents, celebrating both established and emerging filmmakers. A full list of the winners showcases the diversity and richness of African storytelling:

BEST FILM

• The Weekend — WINNER
• Under The Hanging Tree
• This is Lagos
• A Smile, A Wink and A Tear
• Orah
• Letters to Goddo
• The Queenstown Kings

ACHIEVEMENT IN CINEMATOGRAPHY

• The Weekend — WINNER
• Nawi
• Kipkemboi
• Letters to Goddo
• This is Lagos
• The Queenstown Kings
• A Smile, A Wink and A Tear

BEST ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

• Femi Adebayo (Jagun Jagun) — WINNER
• Sandile Mahlangu (The Queenstown Kings)
• Ochungo Benson (Nawi)
• Keppy Ekpeyong-Bassey (The Weekend)
• Ikechukwu Onunaku (This is Lagos)
• Lucky Ejim (Orah)
• Solomon Fixon Owoo (Letters to Goddo)

ACHIEVEMENT IN MAKE-UP

• Jagun Jagun — WINNER
• The Weekend
• Nawi
• Letters to Goddo
• Out of Breath
• Anjola
• White and Black

ACHIEVEMENT IN VISUAL EFFECT

• Jagun Jagun — WINNER
• Kipkemboi
• Under The Hanging Tree
• The Weekend
• Bokwagter
• Out of Breath

ACHIEVEMENT IN SCREENPLAY

• The Weekend — WINNER
• Under The Hanging Tree
• Letter To Goddo
• This is Lagos
• Boda love
• The Queenstown Kings
• Out of Breath

NATIONAL FILM AND VIDEO CENSORS BOARD (NFVCB) AWARD FOR BEST NIGERIAN FILM

• The Weekend — WINNER
• This is Lagos
• Afamefuna
• Jagun Jagun
• Mai Martaba
• A Smile, A wink and a tear
• Out of Breath

EFERE OZAKO AWARD FOR BEST SHORT FILM

• The Last Shoe Maker (Uganda) – WINNER
• Seben (Mali)
• Dear Future Wife (South Africa)
• Isolated (Nigeria)
• Joia (Angola)
• Strike A Blow And Die (Malawi)
• Don’t Call Me Beautiful (Ghana)
• Sins Of A Father (Zimbabwe/USA)

JUBRIL MALAFIA AWARD FOR BEST ANIMATION

• Counter Punch (Kenya) – WINNER
• Heavy Crown (Libya)
• Journey of the Legend (Cameroon)
• Hadu (Nigeria)
• Between Paya and Koulou (Senegal)
• Oya (The goddess of gods) (Nigeria)
• Set Pieces (Sudan)

BEST DOCUMENTARY

• The Night Still Smells of Gun Powder (Mozambique) – WINNER
• A Quand L’Afrique (Congo Brazzaville)
• The Return Train (Mali)
• Gateway To Dreams (Cameroon)
• Rainbow Nation (South Africa)
• Dela- The Making of EL-Anatsui (Nigeria)
• Donga (Libya)
• Rising Up At Night (DRC)

BEST DIASPORA SHORT FILM

• The Neighbourhood Alert (USA) – WINNER
• Bottled Up (Jamaica)
• The Golden Boy (USA)

BEST DIASPORA DOCUMENTARY

• The Wu Tang Clan: Live at Red Rocks Amphitheatre (USA) – WINNER
• A Rising Tide (USA)
• Colour (USA)

BEST DIASPORA NARRATIVE FEATURE

• Outlaw Posse (USA) – WINNER
• Mickey Hardaway (USA)
• Love After Holidays (USA)

MICHAEL ANYIAM OSIGWE AWARD FOR BEST FILM BY AN AFRICAN LIVING ABROAD

• Under The Hanging Tree (Namibia/UK) – WINNER
• Out Of Breath (Nigeria/UK)
• Orah (Nigeria/Canada)
• Isolated (Nigeria/UK)
• Kipkemboi (Nigeria/ Canada)

OUSMANE SEMBENE AWARD FOR BEST FILM IN AN AFRICAN LANGUAGE

• The Queenstown Kings (South Africa) – WINNER
• Makula (Uganda)
• Jagun Jagun (Nigeria)
• Kaka (Nigeria)
• Eskhalemi Sikantombella (South Africa)
• Unheard (Uganda)
• Out of Breath (Nigeria)

ACHIEVEMENT IN COSTUME DESIGN

• Mai Martaba – WINNER
• The Beads
• The Weekend
• White and Black
• Jagun Jagun
• The Queenstown Kings
• Out of Breath

ACHIEVEMENT IN SOUNDTRACK

• Boda Love – WINNER
• The Weekend
• Under the Hanging Tree
• The Queenstown Kings
• Orah
• Mojisola
• Red Carpet

ACHIEVEMENT IN SOUND

• The Queenstown Kings — WINNER
• A Smile, A Wink and a Tear
• The Weekend
• Under the Hanging Tree
• Boda Love
• Kipkemboi
• Boda Love

ACHIEVEMENT IN PRODUCTION DESIGN

• Out of Breath — WINNER
• Orah
• The Queenstown Kings
• The Weekend
• Jagun Jagun
• Kipkemboi
• Makula

ACHIEVEMENT IN EDITING

• Under The Hanging Tree — WINNER
• The Weekend
• This is Lagos
• Nawi
• Kipkemboi
• The Beads
• Anjola

BEST YOUNG/PROMISING ACTOR

• Michell Lemuya (Nawi) — WINNER
• Likhona Mgali (The Queenstown Kings)
• Agape mngomezulu (Orah)
• William Dias (Bokwagter)
• Kofi Adu-Gyamfi (Tejiri)
• Ruby Akubueze (She)
• Fatima Muhammed (Mai Martaba)

BEST ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

• Elsie Chidera Abang (Kipkemboi) — WINNNER
• Meg Otanwa (The Weekend)
• Enhle Mbali Mlotshwa (The Queenstown Kings)
• Tessa Twala (The Queenstown Kings)
• Bukunmi Oluwashina (White and Black)
• Somkele Iyamah-Idhalamah (Orah)
• Chioma Akpotha (Mojisola)

BEST ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE

• Zolixa Xaluva (The Queenstown Kings) — WINNER
• Gabriel Afolayan (This is Lagos)
• Duncan Murunyu Mungai (Boda Love)
• Nenesenor Abloso (Letters to Goddo)
• Bucci Franklin (The Weekend)
• Femi Jacobs (Anjola)
• Chidi Mokeme (Out of Breath)

BEST ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE

• Jackie Appiah (Red Carpet) — WINNER
• Girley Jazama (Under The Hanging Tree)
• Oyin Oladejo (Orah)
• Unati Faku (The Queenstown Kings)
• Uzoamaka Aniunoh (The Weekend)
• Laura Pepple (This is Lagos)
• Efe Irele (A Smile, A Wink and A Tear)

BEST DEBUT FEATURE FILM BY A DIRECTOR

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• LETTERS TO GODDO (Harry Bentil) — WINNER
• RISING UP AT NIGHT (Nelson Makengo)
• SHE (Seun Richards)

BEST DIRECTOR

• Jahmil X.T Qubeka (The Queenstown Kings) — WINNER
• Daniel Emeka Oriahi (The Weekend)
• Kenneth Gyang (This Is Lagos)
• Perivi Katjavivi (Under The Hanging Tree)
• Lonzo Nzekwe (Orah)
• Harry Bentil ( Letters To Goddo)
• Izu Ojukwu (A Smile, A Wink and A Tear)

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

• Souleymane Cisse (Mali)
• Nacer Khemir (Tunisia)
• Haile Gerima (Ethiopia)

SPECIAL RECOGNITION

Tsitsi Dangarembga (Zimbabwe)

Alain Gomis (Senegal/Gabon)

The evening was not only a celebration of talent but also a testament to the resilience and creativity of African filmmakers.