Fama feels sidelined in Africa Movie Awards

The Film Association of Malawi (Fama) has said it is yet to be consulted on Malawi’s proposed hosting of this year’s nomination night for the African Movie Academy Awards (Amaa).

The remarks come a fortnight after Amaa announced that President Joyce Banda will host film makers and celebrities from different parts of Africa during the nominations event in March this year.

In an interview on Sunday, Fama acting president Ezauis Mkandawire expressed concern over what he called “an oversight on the part of the organisers”.

“I just read of their coming in the papers. We are yet to be officially communicated to as a body, which I believe is important. They need some local collaborators on the ground for the events to be successful.

“My office has since written them over it and they are yet to respond. We are only trying to help as a local regulating body in the industry.”

Amaa chief executive officer Peace Anyiam-Osigwe has since admitted not to have local collaborators on the ground yet but assured they were in the process of short listing.

“I can’t say it was an oversight per se, only that my organisation got pre-occupied somehow…this is a big thing as you know the State President personally endorsed it. We understand the significance of dealing with partners and we surely can’t do without some people there,” said Anyiam-Osigwe

However, Mkandawire was all positive on the news, calling it a good development that stands to put the local film industry in the limelight.

Films that make it into the 25 categories of the awards will be announced ahead of the main award ceremony which is billed to be held in April this year.

The award ceremony usually takes place in Nigeria though organisers always move the nominations event from country to country as a way of promoting award winners and also to celebrate the continent’s culture and diversity.

Before this year, nominations were previously held in Burkina Faso, Gambia, Kenya, Ghana and South Africa.