‘The Weekend’, the Daniel Oriahi-directed Nigerian family drama, won the best film category at the 2024 Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA).

The 20th edition of AMAA was held on November 2, 2024, at the Balmoral Convention Center in Lagos.

This year’s AMAA ceremony celebrated first-time winners and industry veterans alike, handing out plaques across 26 film categories.

The film entries that got nominated were judged by a jury headed by Dorothee Wenner, a filmmaker and curator.

Among the night’s top winners is the Nigerian-directed drama ‘The Weekend’ which won the “Best Film Award” for Nigeria and Africa.

Nigerian filmmaker Femi Adebayo won the “Best Actor in Supporting Role” category for his historical thriller ‘Jagun Jagun’.

The film which had attracted seven nominations also clinched the Achievement Award in visual effects and make-up.

Elsie Abang won the “Best Actress in Supporting Role” in ‘KIPKEMBOI’ while Michell Lemuya snagged the “Best Young Promising Actor” for ‘NAWI’.

South Africa’s Zolisa Xaluva won the “Best Actor in Leading Role” category for his role in ‘The Queenstown King’ while Ghana’s Jackie Appiah snagged the “Best Actress in Leading Role” for ‘Red Carpet’.

The award for best feature film by a director went to “Letters to Goddo”, a film by Harry Bentil.

Jahmil X.T Qubeka won the best director in ‘The Queenstown Kings’.

Souleymane Cissé from Mali, Nacer Khemir from Tunisia, and Haile Gerima from Ethiopia bagged lifetime achievement awards.

Alain Gomis from Senegal and Gabon as well as Tsitsi Dangarembya from Zimbabwe won special recognition awards.

See the full list of AMAA 2024 winners below.

EFERE OZAKO AWARD FOR BEST SHORT FILM

The Last Shoe Maker (Uganda)- WINNER
Seben (Mali)
Dear Future Wife (South Africa)
Isolated (Nigeria)
Joia (Angola)
Strike A Blow And Die (Malawi)
Don’t Call Me Beautiful (Ghana)
Sins Of A Father (Zimbabwe/USA)
JUBRIL MALAFIA AWARD FOR BEST ANIMATION

Heavy Crown (Libya)
Counter Punch (Kenya) – WINNER
Journey of the Legend (Cameroon)
Hadu (Nigeria)
Between Paya and Koulou (Senegal)
Oya (The goddess of gods) (Nigeria)
Set Pieces (Sudan)
BEST DOCUMENTARY

A Quand L’Afrique (Congo Brazzaville)
The Night Still Smells of Gun Powder (Mozambique) – WINNER
The Return Train (Mali)
Gateway To Dreams (Cameroon)
Rainbow Nation (South Africa)
Dela- The Making of EL-Anatsui (Nigeria)
Donga (Libya)
Rising Up At Night (DRC)
BEST DIASPORA SHORT FILM

The Neighbourhood Alert (USA)- WINNER
Bottled Up (Jamaica)
The Golden Boy (USA)
BEST DIASPORA DOCUMENTARY

The Wu Tang Clan: Live at Red Rocks Amphitheatre (USA) – WINNER
A Rising Tide (USA)
Colour (USA)
BEST DIASPORA NARRATIVE FEATURE

Outlaw Posse (USA)- WINNER
Mickey Hardaway (USA)
Love After Holidays (USA)
MICHAEL ANYIAM OSIGWE AWARD FOR BEST FILM BY AN AFRICAN LIVING ABROAD

Out Of Breath (Nigeria/UK)
Orah (Nigeria/Canada)
Isolated (Nigeria/UK)
Under The Hanging Tree (Namibia/UK)- WINNER
Kipkemboi (Nigeria/ Canada)
OUSMANE SEMBENE AWARD FOR BEST FILM IN AN AFRICAN LANGUAGE

Makula (Uganda)
Jagun Jagun (Nigeria)
The Queenstown Kings (South Africa)- WINNER
Kaka (Nigeria)
Eskhalemi Sikantombella (South Africa)
Unheard (Uganda)
Out of Breath (Nigeria)
ACHIEVEMENT IN COSTUME DESIGN

The Beads
The Weekend
White and Black
Jagun Jagun
The Queenstown Kings
Mai Martaba- WINNER
Out of Breath
ACHIEVEMENT IN MAKE-UP

The Weekend
Nawi
Letters to Goddo
Out of Breath
Jagun Jagun – WINNER
Anjola
White and Black
ACHIEVEMENT IN VISUAL EFFECT

Kipkemboi
Jagun Jagun- WINNER
Under The Hanging Tree
The Weekend
Bokwagter
Out of Breath
ACHIEVEMENT IN SOUNDTRACK

The Weekend
Under the Hanging Tree
The Queenstown Kings
Orah
Mojisola
Red Carpet
Boda Love – WINNER
ACHIEVEMENT IN SOUND

A Smile, A Wink and a Tear
The Weekend
Under the Hanging Tree
The Queenstown Kings- WINNER
Boda Love
Kipkemboi
Boda Love
ACHIEVEMENT IN PRODUCTION DESIGN

Orah
The Queenstown Kings
The Weekend
Jagun Jagun
Kipkemboi
Makula
Out of Breath- WINNER
ACHIEVEMENT IN CINEMATOGRAPHY

The Weekend- WINNER
Nawi
Kipkemboi
Letters to Goddo
This is Lagos
The Queenstown Kings
A Smile, A Wink and A Tear
ACHIEVEMENT IN EDITING

Under The Hanging Tree- WINNER
The Weekend
This is Lagos
Nawi
Kipkemboi
The Beads
Anjola
ACHIEVEMENT IN SCREENPLAY

Under The Hanging Tree
The Weekend- WINNER
Letter To Goddo
This is Lagos
Boda love
The Queenstown Kings
Out of Breath
NATIONAL FILM AND VIDEO CENSORS BOARD (NFVCB) AWARD FOR BEST NIGERIAN FILM

The Weekend- WINNER
This is Lagos
Afamefuna
Jagun Jagun
Mai Martaba
A Smile, A wink and a tear
Out of Breath
BEST YOUNG/ PROMISING ACTOR

Michell Lemuya (Nawi)- WINNER
Likhona Mgali (The Queenstown Kings)
Agape mngomezulu (Orah)
William Dias (Bokwagter)
Kofi Adu-Gyamfi (Tejiri)
Ruby Akubueze (She)
Fatima Muhammed (Mai Martaba)
BEST ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

Sandile Mahlangu (The Queenstown Kings)
Ochungo Benson (Nawi)
Keppy Ekpeyong Bassey (The Weekend)
Ikechukwu Onunaku (This is Lagos)
Lucky Ejim (Orah)
Solomon Fixon Owoo (Letters to Goddo)
Femi Adebayo (Jagun Jagun) – WINNER
BEST ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

Meg Otanwa (The Weekend)
Enhle Mbali Mlotshwa (The Queenstown Kings)
Elsie Chidera Abang (Kipkemboi)- WINNNER
Tessa Twala (The Queenstown Kings)
Bukunmi Oluwashina (White and Black)
Somkele Iyamah-Idhalamah (Orah)
Chioma Akpotha (Mojisola)
BEST ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE

Zolixa Xaluva (The Queenstown Kings)- WINNER
Gabriel Afolayan (This is Lagos)
Duncan Murunyu Mungai (Boda Love)
Nenesenor Abloso (Letters to Goddo)
Bucci Franklin (The Weekend)
Femi Jacobs (Anjola)
Chidi Mokeme (Out of Breath)
BEST ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE

Girley Jazama (Under The Hanging Tree)
Oyin Oladejo (Orah)
Unati Faku (The Queenstown Kings)
Uzoamaka Aniunoh (The Weekend)
Laura Pepple (This is Lagos)
Jackie Appiah (Red Carpet)- WINNER
Efe Irele (A Smile, A Wink and A Tear)
BEST DEBUT FEATURE FILM BY A DIRECTOR

LETTERS TO GODDO (Harry Bentil)- WINNER
RISING UP AT NIGHT (Nelson Makengo)
SHE (Seun Richards)
BEST DIRECTOR

Daniel Emeka Oriahi (The Weekend)
Kenneth Gyang (This Is Lagos)
Jahmil X.T Qubeka (The Queenstown Kings)- WINNER
Perivi Katjavivi (Under The Hanging Tree)
Lonzo Nzekwe (Orah)
Harry Bentil ( Letters To Goddo)
Izu Ojukwu (A Smile, A Wink and A Tear)
BEST FILM

Under The Hanging Tree
The Weekend- WINNER
This is Lagos
A Smile, A Wink and A Tear
Orah
Letters to Goddo
The Queenstown Kings
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Souleymane Cisse (Mali)
Nacer Khemir (Tunisia)
Haile Gerima (Ethiopia)
SPECIAL RECOGNITION

Alain Gomis (Senegal/Gabon)
Tsitsi Dangarembga (Zimbabwe)