Banjul in The Gambia was agog yesterday, March 17, 2012 as Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) took its train to the city.

African movie heavyweights gathered for the 2012 AMAA nomination announcement held yesterday night.

Lancelot Adesuwa’s Adesuwa movie, South Africa’s Otelo Burning got the most nominations. The movie, How To Steal 2 Million also got many nominations.

Below is the full list of 2012 AMAA nominees in 26 Categories;

AMAA 2012 Nomination List
A. AMAA 2012 Prize For Short Film
1. Jamaa – Uganda
2. Look Again – Kenya
3. Maffe Tiga – Guinea
4. Braids On Bald Head – Nigeria
5. Hidden Life – South Africa
6. Mwansa The Great – Zimbabwe
7. Chumo – Tanzania
8. The Young Smoker – Nigeria

B. AMAA 2012 Prize For Best Documentary
1. African Election – Nigeria/Germany
2. Beyond The Deadly Pit – Rwanda
3. Awa Ogbe: An African Adventure – Algeria
4. Dear Mandella – South Africa
5. White And Black; Crime And Colour – Tanzania
6. The Niger Delta Struggle – Ghana
7. There Is Nothing Wrong With My Uncle –Nigeria
8. How Much Is Too Much – Kenya

C. AMAA 2012 Prize For Best Diaspora Feature
1. Toussanat Louverture – France
2. Ghetta Life -Jamaica
3. High Chicago – Canada
4. Elza -Guadelupe
5. Better Must Come – Jamaica
6. Kinyarwanda – USA

D. AMAA 2012 Prize For Best Diaspora Documentary
1. The Education Of Auma Obama – Germany
2. White Wash – USA
3. Almendron Mi Corazon – Guadelope
4. All Me: The Life And Times Of Winfred Hubert -USA

E. AMAA 2012 Prize For Best Diaspora (Short Film)
1. John Doe – USA
2. White Sugar In A Black Pot -USA
3. The Lost One -USA

F. AMAA 2012 Prize For Best Animation
1. The Lengend Of Ngog Hills – Kenya
2. Oba – Nigeria
3. Climate Change Is Real – Kenya
4. Egu – South Africa
5. Chomoka – Kenya

G. AMAA 2012 Prize For Best Film By An African Living Abroad
1. Mystery Of Birds – USA/Nigeria
2. Housemates – UK/Nigeria
3. Ben Kross – Italy/Nigeria
4. Paparezzi Eye In The Dark – USA/Nigeria/Ghana

H. AMAA 2012 Prize For Achievement In Production Design
1. Somewhere In Africa – Ghana
2. Phone Swap – Nigeria
3. Otelo Burning –South Africa
4. Adesuwa – Nigeria
5. How To Steal 2 Million – South Africa

I. AMAA 2012 Prize For Costume Design
1. The Captain Of Nakara –
2. Adesuwa – Nigeria
3. Rugged Priest -Kenya
4. Somewhere In Africa – Ghana
5. Queens Desire

J. AMAA 2012 Prize For Achievement In Make-Up
1. Rugged Priest – Kenya
2. State Research Bureau – Uganda
3. Adesuwa – Nigeria
4. Somewhere In Africa – Ghana
5. Shattered – Kenya

K. AMAA 2012 Prize For Achievement In Sound Track
1. Otelo Burning – South Africa
2. Alero’s Symphony – Nigeria
3. Adesuwa – Nigeria
4. How To Steal 2 Million – South Africa
5. Somewhere In Africa – Ghana

L. AMAA 2012 Prize For Achievement In Visual Effects
1. Behind The Mask
2. Somewhere In Africa – Ghana
3. Adesuwa – Nigeria
4. State Research Bureau – Uganda
5. Otelo Burning – South Africa

M. AMAA 2012 Prize For Achievement In Sound
1. State Of Violence – South Africa
2. Otelo Burning – South Africa
3. How To Steal 2 Million – South Africa
4. Man On Ground – South Africa
5. Algiers Murder – South Africa

N. AMAA 2012 Prize For Achievement In Cinematography
1. How To Steal 2 Million – South Africa
2. Otelo Burning – South Africa
3. Rugged Priest -Kenya
4. Masquerades -Ghana
5. Man On Ground – South Africa/Nigeria

O. AMAA 2012 Prize For Achievement In Editing
1. Algiers Murder – South Africa
2. Man On Ground – South Africa/Nigeria
3. Unwanted Guest -Nigeria
4. How To Steal 2 Million – South Africa
5. Otelo Burning – South Africa
6. Alero’s Symphony -Nigeria

P. AMAA 2012 Prize For Achievement In Screenplay
1. Ties That Bind – Ghana
2. Mr & MRS – Nigeria
3. How To Steal 2 Million – South Africa
4. Otelo Burning – South Africa
5. Unwanted Guest – Nigeria
6. Two Brides And A Baby – Nigeria

Q. AMAA 2012 Prize For Best Nigerian Film
1. Unwanted Guest – Nigeria
2. Family On Fire – Nigeria
3. Alero’s Symphony –
4. Adesuwa – Nigeria
5. Phone Swap – Nigeria

R. AMAA 2012 Prize For Best Film In An African Language
1. Chumo – Tanzania
2. State Of Violence – South Africa
3. Family On Fire – Nigeria
4. Otelo Burning – South Africa
5. Asoni – Cameroon

S. AMAA 2012 Prize For Best Child Actor
1. Rahman Junior Bande (Greg) – Behind The Mask
2. Tsepang Mohlomi (Ntwe) – Otelo Burning
3. Regina Danies (Jenny) – Bank Job
4. Benjamin Abemigisha & Rachael Nduhukire (Derick And Margaret) – Jamaa
5. Ayinla O. Abdulaheem – ZR-7

T. AMAA 2012 Prize For Best Young/Promising Actor
1. Neo Ntatleno (OJ) – State Violence
2. Ivie Okujaye (Alero) – Alero’s Symphony
3. Iyabosa Olaye (Adesuwa) – Adesuwa
4. Martha Ankomah – Somewhere In Africa
5. Thomas Gumede & Sihle Xaba – Otelo Burning

U. AMAA 2012 Prize For Best Actor In A Supporting Role
1. Rapuldna Seiphemo (Twala) – How To Steal 2 Million
2. Fano Mokoena – Man On Ground
3. Hafiz Oyetoro – Phone Swap
4. Okechukwu Uzoesi – Two Brides And A Baby
5. Godfrey Theobejane – 48
6. Lwanda Jawar – Rugged Priest

V. AMAA 2012 Prize For Best Actress In Supporting Role
1. Terry Phetto – How To Steal 2 Million
2. Ebbe Bassey – Ties That Bind
3. Empress Njamah – Bank Job
4. Ngozi Ezeonu – Adesuwa
5. Thelma Okoduwa – Mr & Mrs
6. Omotola Jalade Ekeinde – Ties That Bind

W. AMAA 2012 Prize For Best Actor In A Leading Role
1. Menzi Ngubane – How To Steal 2 Million
2. Majid Michael – Somewhere In Africa
3. Chet Anekwe – Unwanted Guest
4. Jafta Mambolo – Otelo Burning
5. Karabo Lance – 48
6. Wale Ojo – Phone Swap
7. Hakeem Kae-Kazim – Man On Ground

X. AMAA 2012 Prize For Best Actress In A Leading Role
1. Nse Ikpe Etim – Mr & Mrs
2. Yvonne Okoro – Single Six
3. Ama K. Abebrese – Ties That Bind
4. Rita Dominic – Shattered
5. Uche Jombo – Damage
6. Millicent Makheido – 48
7. Kudzai Sevenzo-Nyarai – Playing Warriors

Y. AMAA 2012 Prize For Best Director
1. Adesuwa – Lancelot Oduwa Imasuen
2. Ties That Bind – ILeila Djansi
3. Rugged Priest – Bob Nyanja
4. How To Steal 2 Million – Charlie Vundla
5. State Of Violence – Khalo Matabane
6. Man on Ground – Akin Omotoso
7. Otelo Burning – Sara Bletcher

Z. AMAA 2011 Prize For Best Film
1. State Of Violence – South Africa
2. Adesuwa – Nigeria
3. Otelo Burning – South Africa
4. Rugged Priest – Kenya
5. How To Steal 2 Million
6. Ties That Bind – Ghana
7. Man On Ground – South Africa/Nigeria

The awards ceremony is expected to hold in Lagos, Nigeria on April 22, 2012 at a yet-to-be announced venue.

What are your expectations?