South African film , ‘Otelo Burning’ which tells  a story about three young boys who defy the law and escape their harsh township lives through the joy of surfing  topped list of nominations for the  2012 Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) announced in Banjul, the capital of Gambia on Saturday. The exclusive ceremony attended by celebrities, top government officials and captains of industry from Gambia and other African countries saw ‘Otelo Burning’ bagging 13 nominations including, Best Film, Best Directing and Best Cinematography. It was followed closely by another South African film, ‘How To Steal 2 Million’ with 11 nominations and Nigeria’s ‘Adesuwa’ with 10 nominations. Last year’s Best Actress, Ama K Abebrese becomes the first Ghanaian actor to be nominated back-to-back as she was nominated in Leila Djansi’s ‘Ties That Bind’ for Best Actress in a Leading Role. For the third year running, Leila Djansi has made a heavy impression on the AMAA bagging 6 nominations including Best Directing, Best Film and Best Screenplay for ‘Ties That Bind’ Other multiple nominated movies for this year’s awards include ‘Somewhere In Africa’ (7), ‘Rugged Priest’ (6), and ‘Man On The Ground’ (7). Below is the full list of nominations: AMAA 2012 BEST SHORT FILM JAMAA – Uganda Look Again – Kenya Maffe Tiga – Guinea Braids On Bald Head – Nigeria Hidden Life – South Africa Mwansa The Great – Zimbabwe Chumo – Tanzania The Young Smoker – Nigeria AMAA 2012 BEST DOCUMENTARY African Election – Nigeria / Germany Beyond The Deadly Pit – Rwanda Awa Ogbe An African Adventure – Algeria Dear Mandella – South Africa White & Black, Crime And Colour – Tanzania The Niger Delta Struggle – Ghana There Is Nothing Wrong With My Uncle – Nigeria How Much Is Too Much – Kenya AMAA 2012 BEST DIASPORA FEATURE Toussanat Louverture – France Ghetta Life – Jamaica High Chicago – Canada Elza – Guadelupe Better Must Come – Jamaica Kinyanrwanda – USA AMAA 2012 BEST DIASPORA DOCUMENTARY The Education Of Auma Obama – Germany White Wash – USA Almendron Mi Corazon – Guadeloupe All Me The Life And Times Of Winfred Hubert – USA AMAA 2012 BEST DIASPORA (SHORT FILM) John Doe – USA White Sugar In A Black Pot – USA The Lost One – USA AMAA 2012 BEST ANIMATION The Legend Of Ngog Hills – Kenya Oba – Nigeria Climate Change Is Real – Kenya Egu – South Africa Chomoka – Kenya AMAA 2012 BEST FILM BY AN AFRICAN LIVING ABROAD Mystery Of Birds – USA / Nigeria Housemates – United Kingdom / Nigeria Ben Kross – Italy / Nigeria Paparazzi Eye In The Dark – USA / Nigeria / Ghana AMAA 2012 ACHIEVEMENT IN PRODUCTION DESIGN Somewhere In Africa – Ghana Phone Swap – Nigeria Otelo Burning – South Africa Adesuwa – Nigeria How To Steal 2 Million – South Africa AMAA 2012 ACHIEVEMENT IN COSTUME DESIGN The Captain Of Nakara Adesuwa – Nigeria Rugged Priest – Kenya Somewhere In Africa – Ghana Queens Desire AMAA 2012 ACHIEVEMENT IN MAKE-UP Rugged Priest – Kenya State Research Bureau – Uganda Adesuwa – Nigeria Somewhere in Africa – Ghana Shattered – Kenya AMAA 2012 ACHIEVEMENT IN SOUNDTRACK Otelo Burning – South Africa Alero’s Symphony – Nigeria Adesuwa – Nigeria How To Steal 2 Million – South Africa Somewhere In Africa – Ghana AMAA 2012 ACHIEVEMENT IN VISUAL EFFECTS Behind The Mask Somewhere In Africa – Ghana Adesuwa – Nigeria State Research Bureau – Uganda Otelo Burning – South Africa AMAA 2012 ACHIEVEMENT IN SOUND State Of Violence – South Africa Otelo Burning – South Africa How To Steal 2 Million – South Africa Man On Ground – South Africa Algiers Murder – South Africa AMAA 2012 ACHIEVEMENT IN CINEMATOGRAPHY How To Steal 2 Million – South Africa Otelo Burning – South Africa Rugged Priest – Kenya Masquerades – Ghana Man On Ground – South Africa / Nigeria AMAA 2012 ACHIEVEMENT IN EDITING Algiers Murder – South Africa Man On Ground – South Africa / Nigeria Unwanted Guest – Nigeria How To Steal 2 Million – South Africa Otelo Burning – South Africa Alero’s Symphony – Nigeria AMAA 2012 ACHIEVEMENT IN SCREENPLAY Ties That Bind – Ghana Mr & Mrs – Nigeria How To Steal 2 Million – South Africa Otelo Burning – South Africa Unwanted Guest – Nigeria Two Brides And A Baby – Nigeria AMAA 2012 BEST NIGERIAN FILM Unwanted Guest Family On Fire Alero’s Symphony Adesuwa Phone Swap AMAA 2012 BEST FILM IN AN AFRICAN LANGUAGE Chumo – Tanzania State Of Violence – South Africa Family On Fire – Nigeria Otelo Burning – South Africa Asoni – Cameroun AMAA 2012 BEST CHILD ACTOR Rahman Junior Bande (Greg) – Behind The Mask Tsepang Mohlomi (Ntwe) – Otelo Burning Reginna Danies (Jenny) – Bank Job Benjamin Abemigisha and Racheal Nduhukire (Derick and Margaret) – JAMAA Ayinla O Abdulaheem – ZR-7 AMAA 2012 BEST YOUNG / PROMISING ACTOR Neo Ntatleno (OJ) – State Of Violence Ivie Okujaye (Alero) – Alero’s Symphony Iyobosa Olaye (Adesuwa) – Adesuwa Martha Ankomah – Somewhere In Africa Thomas Gumede and Sihle Xaba – Otelo Burning AMAA 2012 BEST ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE Rapuldna Seiphemo (Twala) – How To Steal 2 Million Fano Mokoena – Man On Ground Hafiz Oyetoro – Phone Swap Okechukwu Uzoesi – Two Brides And A Baby Godfrey Theobejane – 48 Lwanda Jawar – Rugged Priest AMAA 2012 BEST ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE Terry Phetto – How To Steal 2 Million Ebbe Bassey – Ties That Bind Empress Njamah – Bank Job Ngozi Ezeonu – Adesuwa Thelma Okoduwa – Mr & Mrs Omotola Jalade Ekeinde – Ties That Bind AMAA 2012 BEST ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE Menzi Ngubane – How To Steal 2 Million Majid Micheal – Somewhere In Africa Chet Anekwe – Unwanted Guest Jafta Mamabolo – Otelo Burning Karabo Lance – 48 Wale Ojo – Phone Swap Hakeem Kae-Kazim – Man On Ground AMAA 2012 BEST ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE Nse Ikpe Etim – Mr & Mrs Yvonne Okoro – Single Six Ama K. Abebrese – Ties That Bind Rita Dominic – Shattered Uche Jombo – Damage Millicent Makheido – 48 Kudzai Sevenzo-Nyarai – Playing Warriors AMAA 2012 BEST DIRECTOR Adesuwa – Lancelot Oduwa Imaseun Ties That Bind – Leila Djansi Rugged Priest – Bob Nyanja How To Steal 2 Million – Charlie Vundla State Of Violence – Khalo Matabane Man On Ground – Akin Omotoso Otelo Burning – Sara Bletcher AMAA 2011 PRIZE FOR BEST FILM State Of Violence – South Africa Adesuwa – Nigeria Otelo Burning – South Africa Rugged Priest – Kenya How To Steal 2 Million – South Africa Ties That Bind – Ghana Man On Ground – South Africa / Nigeria  ]]>