Nollywood star Femi Adebayo won the Best Actor in a Supporting Role for his outstanding performance in the historical thriller Jagun Jagun at the 20th Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA), held in Lagos. The acclaimed film, which earned seven nominations, also took home awards for Achievement in Visual Effects and Makeup, further cementing its place as a standout in African cinema.
Among other notable winners, Elsie Abang took home Best Actress in a Supporting Role for Kipkemboi, while Michell Lemuya was named Best Young Promising Actor for Nawi. The Best Actor in a Leading Role went to Zolisa Xaluva for The Queenstown King, with Jackie Appiah Emery winning Best Actress in a Leading Role for Red Carpet.
In the category of Best Feature Film by a Director, Letters to Goddo by Harry Bentil claimed victory, and Jahmil X.T Qubeka received the Best Director award for The Queenstown Kings.
Lifetime achievement awards were presented to African film icons Souleymane Cissé from Mali, Nacer Khemir from Tunisia, and Haile Gerima from Ethiopia. Special recognitions were also given to Alain Gomis and Tsitsi Dangarembga for their contributions to African cinema.
The Best Film award went to The Weekend, which also received the Achievement Awards in Screenplay and Cinematography, along with the National Film and Video Censors Board Award for Best Nigerian Film. Out of Bound won for Production, Boda Love for Soundtrack, and Mai Martaba for Costume Design, while Queenstown King took the Achievement in Sound.
In short film and animation categories, The Last Shoemaker from Uganda won the Efere Ozako Award for Best Short Film, and Kenya’s CounterPunch received the Jubril Malafia Award for Best Animation. Mozambique’s The Nearest Smell of Gunpowder was named Best Documentary.
South Africa’s The Queenstown King also clinched the Ousmane Sembene Award for Best Film in an African Language, and Under the Hanging Tree from Namibia won the Michael Anyiam-Osigwe Award for Best Film by an African Living Abroad.
The AMAA evening celebrated the richness of African stories and cinematic achievements, with CEO Dr. Raymond Anyiam-Osigwe thanking Lagos, Bayelsa, and international guests for their support.
Stay tuned to 9am News Nigeria for more Breaking News, Business News, Sports updates And Entertainment Gists.