Minister commends ‘Africa Magic’ nominees, winners
The Deputy Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Madam Ablah Dzifa Gomashie, has commended Ghanaian award winners and nominees at the second Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards, (AMVCA) “for putting the country in the eyes of the world.”
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The deputy minister, who led a delegation of filmmakers, actors/actresses and some members of the Ghanaian media to the AMVCA ceremony held at the Eko Hotel in Lagos, Nigeria, was speaking at a post-event press conference.
She said what the award winners and nominees had done was worth celebrating. The AMVCA, she observed, had created a good platform for professionals in the movie industry to sell themselves and their country to the world.
She, therefore, encouraged them to do better in the coming years.
In a related development, MultiChoice Ghana, which represents the interests of Africa Magic in Ghana, is collaborating with Madam Gomashie to hold a cocktail reception to celebrate the achievements of the Ghanaian nominees and winners at the AMVCA.
The event will be held at the Labadi Beach Hotel, Accra on Monday, March 17, at 6:00p.m.
Eight Ghanaians were nominated for honours at the Lagos event. They included filmmakers Shirley Frimpong Manso and Ken Attoh; script writers Herty Owusu and Patrick Yaadar; actors Majid Michel and Chris Attoh and actresses Yvonne Okoro and Jackie Appiah. Nigerian movie director based in Ghana, Frank Rajah Arase, was also nominated.
The biggest winners at the 2014 AMVCA were the movies “Contract” and “Nairobi Half Life,” which scooped four accolades each.
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“Contract” won Best Movie Director (Shirley Frimpong-Manso), Best Movie (Shirley Frimpong Manso, Yvonne Okoro and Ken Attoh), Best Video Editor (Shirley Frimpong-Manso) and Best Writer (Shirley Frimpong-Manso and Herty Owusu).
“Nairobi Half Life” took home awards for Best Lighting Designer (Mohamed Zain), Best Art Director (Barbara Minishi), Best Cinematographer (Christian Almesberger) and Best Make-Up Artist (Elayne Okaya).
Other notable winners included the first-ever AMVCA honours for Best New Media - Online Video, heralding the arrival of a new generation of African storytellers. Walking away with that coveted prize was the movie “Mother Tongue” by Amarachukwu Onoh.
This year also marked the first ever AMVCA win for Best Documentary which went to “The Deadwood” by Dr Gilbert Chigbo, which impressed the judges for its imagery, technological standards and narrative structure.
Broadcast live from Lagos to 50 African countries watching on DStv and GOtv, the second ever AMVCA’s handed out 29 awards in 27 categories, verified by the auditing firm of SizweNtsalubaGobodo.
Recognising outstanding achievements in African film and TV, awards on the night included top honours for rising star Michelle Bello (TrailBlazer of the Year) and accomplished veteran, Peter Enochie (Industry Merit), both of whom walked away with a Hyundai vehicle each, courtesy Stallion Motors.
The dynamic and multi-talented icon Rita Dominic was named the New Era award-winner for showing a lot of motivation to continue with her hard work in spite of her success. She received a Dubai cruise holiday package for four, courtesy of World and Travel Land.
In nine categories, viewer votes determined the outcomes. The winners of these closely contested categories were: A Wish by Elvis Chucks (Best Movie Comedy), The Price by Frank Rajah Arase (Best Movie Drama), Osita Iheme for The Hero (Best Actor in a Comedy Movie/TV Series), Tope Tedela for A Mile From Home (Best Actor in a Drama Movie/TV Series), Funke Akindele for The Return of Sheri Koko (Best Actress in a Comedy Movie/TV Series) and Nse Ikpe-Etim for Journey to Self (Best Actress in a Drama Movie/TV Series).
Others were Desmond Elliot for Finding Mercy (Best Supporting Actor Movie/TV Series), Bikiya Graham-Douglas for Flower Girl (Best Supporting Actress Movie/TV Series) plus Best New Media - Online Video.
The event was hosted by IK Osakioduwa, Osas Ighodaro and Vimbai Mutinhiri, with Eku Edewor and Denrele Edun on the red carpet.
Musicians Davido, Flavour, Waje, Bez and Cobhams, along with award-winning Nigerian musical group Kakadu, lit up the night with some fine performances.
Meanwhile, M-Net Africa Director for Special Projects, Biola Alabi, has given an assurance that people who won joint awards, such as the Best Writer, which went to Shirley Frimpong Manso and Herty Owusu, would receive individual certificates and plaques with their names embossed on them.
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This was in response to a question that sought find out how the individuals, who won joint awards, were going to “share” the single plaques presented to them on stage during the live broadcast of the event.
The show was sponsored by Amstel Malt, Hyundai and Vlisco.