Actress Efe Irele has been nominated for the best actress in a leading role category at the 2024 Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA).
The announcement was made during the unveiling ceremony held on Wednesday at the Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos. The event was attended by key members of the AMAA jury, the screener college, and the Africa Film Academy (AFA) board.
Hosted by popular show host Vimbai Mutinhiri Ekpenyong, the ceremony marked the commencement of activities for the 20th edition of the prestigious awards.
The AMAA college of screeners and the jury revealed this year’s nominees and award categories.
Irele was nominated for her role in A Smile, A Wink, and A Tear, competing alongside Girley Jazama (Under The Hanging Tree), Oyin Oladejo (Orah), Unati Faku (The Queenstown Kings), Uzoamaka Aniunoh (The Weekend), Laura Pepple (This is Lagos), and Jackie Appiah (Red Carpet).
In addition to the Best Actress category, other notable nominations include Best Documentary, Best Film by an African Living Abroad, Best Diaspora Short, and the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) award for Best Nigerian Film.
Categories such as Best Young/Promising Actor and Best Actor in a leading role were also unveiled.
Raymond Anyiam-Osigwe, Chief Operating Officer of AMAA, outlined several key activities planned for the 20th anniversary of the awards. Highlights include the launch of the AMAA coffee book, AMAA Africa Night of Legends, AMAA Meets Nollywood, the AMAA Africa Fashion Show and Exhibition, and the highly anticipated AMAA Gala Night.
This year’s AMAA is themed “Celebrating African Creativity” and is being held in partnership with the Lagos State Government.
Notable attendees at the unveiling included George Anyiam-Osigwe and his wife Chinyere Anyiam-Osigwe, Kennedy Anyiam-Osigwe, Raymond Anyiam-Osigwe, NFVCB Executive Director Dr. Shaibu Husseini, as well as industry veterans such as Steve Ayorinde, Nobert Young, Segun Arinze, Francis Onwochei, Sunny McDon, Alex O, Cordelia Okpei, Charles Novia, Iyke and Florence Okechukwu, and Dr. Queen Blessing Ebigieson.
