Just over a month ago AfricaMagic announced the first ever AfricaMagic Viewers’ Choice Awards, in association with MultiChoice. Created to recognize and celebrate African film and TV talent, the news of the awards has taken the continent by storm. Industry professionals have embraced the initiative and entries are now streaming steadily in to the AfricaMagic offices. And it’s becoming clear that the awards are on track to deliver a night of spectacular entertainment on March 9. That’s when the winners will be announced at a special gala event, to be screened live on DStv to 48 African countries.   In order to ensure that all entrants have enough time to process their entries, AfricaMagic has extended the entry deadline. The new cut-off date for submissions is now 21:00 (CAT) on Friday November 9, 2012. Entry is FREE and all the info on where and how to enter is available at www.africamagic.tv   AfricaMagic has also announced that it will accept awards entries at the DISCOP film and TV market which is being held at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg from Wednesday October 31 to Friday November 2, 2012. M-Net Africa Managing Director Biola Alabi explains the entry process. “To ensure a methodical and tracked entry process in line with international standards, our primary method of accepting entries is through post or courier. However we know DISCOP is a highlight on the African film and TV calendar and is a popular meeting place for the industry. So we will accept awards entries at DISCOP. Just make sure you enter – do it for yourself, for your fans, for your moment in the spotlight.”   Key awards judge Femi Odugbemi has clear instructions for those who have not yet entered the awards. “I would say make haste! Hurry up and put in your entry. The guidelines are simple and easy to understand. This is an opportunity you would NOT want to miss.”       Pleased with the awards, he is excited about the opportunity it provides.  “This is a huge opportunity for all professionals in front and behind the camera. I think all of us owe a duty to support every initiative that will raise the game creatively-speaking. There is potential for the creative industries of Africa to contribute more significantly to the economy of the continent. It’s already the sector providing a lot of employment. But to achieve potential we have to raise the game. AMVCA provides the right kind of incentive for our creative industries to get recognition and to improve in quality.”   He also says that any creative professional will recognize the importance of taking advantage of this initiative to showcase their creativity and skills.  “It’s going to be a moment of great fulfilment and professional satisfaction to emerge as a winner of AMVCA. You can be confident if you win an AMVCA you have truly deserved it because the rigorous process from which the winners will emerge will prove without a doubt that you are one of the very best that Africa has to offer in your field.”   In closing, Odugbemi has some advice for entrants. “I would encourage all individuals to please carefully follow the submission guidelines so that their entry is not invalidated. That is a key concern for me. I would hate for us to miss a really great creative work because the entry was sloppy or not according to the guidelines.”   Partner to the AfricaMagic Viewers’ Choice Awards, MultiChoice Africa’s CEO, Nico Meyer also added words of endorsement to this new initiative encouraging African filmmakers to enter in numbers: “We are honoured to be associated with the awards because our investment in the M-Net channels over the years has contributed immensely in the development of original African programming through our AfricaMagic channels. We have seen this in the increasing number of quality film and TV programming coming out of this continent.   MultiChoice would really like to honour Africa’s talent and the role our subscribers also play in making the film and television industry what it is today by giving you a voice to choose your best films and film makers in the continent.”   So with the days flying past, the word to film and TV talent across Africa is simple – GET YOUR ENTRY IN!    ]]>