TOP NIGERIAN ACTRESSES BATTLE FOR AMAA 2008 AWARDS

By Alonge Michael

The forth-coming African Movie Academy Awards scheduled for Yenogoa,
Bayelsa State on April 26, 2008 promises to be exciting as four of
Nigeria's best actresses have been nominated alongside one Ghanaian.
According to the list of nominees made available to the media, the
actresses in contention for this year's big prize as Africa 's best
actresses are Stella Aboderin (Widow), Kate Henshaw-Nuttal (Stronger than Pain/Rivals), Genevieve Nnaji (30 Days/keep My Will), Dakore Egbuson(Caught in the Middle) and Jackie Apea (Princess Tyra).

Speaking at the presentation of the nominees, Chairman of Screeners,
Shuaibu Hussein revealed that there has been tremendous improvement in
the quality of production of the films that were submitted.
“Some film makers have truly upped the stakes and there is a
genuine attempt to prove that good movies can be made around the continent. Most of the entries were technically sound, the art direction was excellent, there was good use of dramatic element and a good number of them came through as refreshing” he stated.

Nominees in other categories are: Actor Lead,Van
Vicker ( Return of
Beyonce/Princess Tyra) Kanayo Kanayo (Across The Niger), Nkem Owoh
(Stronger than Pain) Saint Obi (Check Point), OC Ukeje (White Water) Kofi Bucknor (Run Baby Run)
Kenneth Okonkwo (African Soldier), Male Supporting , Mike
Ezuronye
(Black Friday/Mirror of Beauty), Hoomsuk (White Water), Fritz Bafour
(Return of Beyonce), Emeka Ossai (Checkpoint), Chinwetalu Agu (Across the Niger), Ofiafuluagu Mbaka ( New Jerusalem), Sam Dede ( Mission to
Nowhere), Kenneth Ifediba (Check point/cash money),Female Supporting, Joke Silva (White Water/30 Days), Ireti Doyle (Across the Niger),Yhama Brew (Princess Tyra),Patience Ozokwo (New Jerusalem), Bimbo Akintola (Cash Money), Uche Jombo (Keep my Will),Rita Dominic (White Water), Ebele Okaro Onyuike (Mirror of Beauty), Best Upcoming Actress, Uju Okeke (Mission to Nowhere), Jackie Apea (Princess Tyra), Yvonne Nelson (Princess Tyra) Portia Yamahan (Black Friday), Best Upcoming Actor, OC Ukeje (White Water), Van Vicker - Return of Beyonce/ Princess Tyra, Hoodsunk (White water), Kunle Fawole (Cash Money), Kross In (New Jerusalem). INDIGENOUS Iranse Aje (Nigeria),Ipa (Nigeria),Hafsah (Nigeria),Onitemi (Nigeria)and Tabou (Cameroun), CHILD ACTOR, Evelyn (NINA) in Run Baby Run, Fidelis Abdulrahman and (Little Melvin) in White Water, MOST OUSTANDING ACTRESS INDIGENOUS Doris Simeon (Onitemi), Laide Bakare (Iranse Aje), Fathia Balogun (Ipa), Zainab Idris (Hafsah),

MOST OUTSTANDING ACTOR INDIGENOUS,Ayo Akinwale (Iranse Aje), Muyiwa Ademola (Iranse Aje/Ipa), Ali Nuhu (Hafsat) and Yinka Quadri (Ipa) Others are: Art Direction,Rival,New Jerusalem,White water, Across the Niger, 30 days, Iranse Aje, Princess Tyra and Ipa, Best Picture,Acrossthe Niger,Princess Tyra, Mission to Nowhere,30 days, Run Baby Run, New Jerusalem, Through the Fire and Check point, screen play, Checkpoint, White Water, Mirror of Beauty, Across the
Niger, Mission to Nowhere,Run Baby Run, 30 days, Through the Fire, Black Friday and Caught in the Middle, Edit, Run Baby Run, Divizions or Division, Cash Money, Across the Niger, 30 days, Through The Fire, Black
Friday, Mission to no where,New Jerusalem and Caught in the Middle, Effect, New Jerusalem, Across the Niger, Iranse Aje, Ipa and Bleeding Rose, Music, White water, Cash Money, Mirror of Beauty, Run Baby Run, Black Friday, Divizionz or divisions, African Soldier and Rivals Director, Emmanuel Apea (Run Baby Run) Frank Rajah Arase (Princess Tyra), Izu Ojukwu/Kingsley Ogoro (Across the Niger), Bond Emoruwa (check point),Teco Benson (Mission to Nowhere), Ifeanyi Onyeabor(New Jerusalem), Mildred Okwo (30 days), Daniel Adenimokan (Black Friday/Onitemi) and Chris Etolue (Through the Fire, costumes Rivals, New Jerusalem, 30days, Mirror Of Beauty, Princess Tyra, African Soldier, sound, Across the Niger, White Water, Princess Tyra, Mission to Nowhere,30 days, Run Baby Run, New Jerusalem, Mirror of Beauty, Cash Money, Divizions or Divisions and Black Friday, cinematography, Through the Fire, New Jerusalem, 30 days, Mirror Of Beauty, Across the Niger, White Water Mission to Nowhere,30 days, Run Baby Run, New Jerusalem, Mirror of Beauty and Black Friday. Make Up, , Princess Tyra,New Jerusalem, Mirror Of Beauty, Across the Niger, Black Friday and African Soldier, Best Film by African in Diaspora, Through the Fire and Bleeding Rose Documentaries, Do you believe in magic? by Moondog Films, Dun-dun (the talking drum) by Ibisankale d. Kayode, Bridging the gap by Myanda Production, Rare gem- Bafarawa by Packnet Productions, Nigeria, Families Under Attack by Myandu Films Documentary (short), Operation Smile (Nigeria), Not my daughter – (Ghana), Healthy children, wealthy nation (Nigeria) Short (drama) Kingswill by Sirrie Mange Entertainment (14 mins), Magical Blessing (skyline) and animation The lunatic by Ebele Okoye.

Meanwhile the CEO of AMAA Peace Anyiam-Fiberisima has said that this
year's award will be used to showcase the best of the brightest of
African culture. She noted that apart from the Hollywood stars, the best
music and movie stars of the continent will be present. “It will be a
red-carpet, star-studded event” she stated.