At the 2014 Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards (AMVCA) that took place on 8 March in Lagos in Nigeria, Ghanain movie Contract won accolades for the Best Movie and Best Movie Director (Shirley Frimpong-Manso) respectively.
The film, which stars South African actor Hlomla Dandala, also received awards for Best Video Editor (Frimpong-Manso) and Best Writer: Drama (Frimpong-Manso and Hertey Owusu).
The other big winner on the night was Kenyan film Nairobi Half Life, scooping four awards in an event which has come to be known as the “African version of the Academy Awards’.
List of winners
Best Movie Director
Shirley Frimpong-Manso – Contract
Best Movie 2013
Shirley Frimpong-Manso, Yvonne Okoro and Ken Attoh – Contract
Best Documentary
Dr Gilbert Chigbo – The Deadwood
Best Short Film
Walter “Waltbanger’ Taylaur – The Wages
Best Television Series Comedy / Drama
Fred Phiri – Love Games Episode 6
Best New Media – Online Video
Amarachukwu Onoh – Mother Tongue
Best Actor in a Drama
Tope Tedela – A Mile from Home
Best Actress in a Drama
Nse Ikpe-Etim – Journey To Self
Best Supporting Actress in a Drama
Bikiya Graham-Douglas – Flower Girl
Best Supporting Actor in a Drama
Desmond Elliot – Finding Mercy
Best Movie (Drama)
Frank Rajah Arase – The Price
Best Actor in a Comedy
Osita Iheme – The Hero
Best Actress in a Comedy
Funke Akindele – The Return of Sheri Koko
Best Movie (Comedy)
Elvis Chucks – A Wish
Best Make-Up Artist
Elayne Okaya – Nairobi Half Life
Best Costume Designer
Chiemela Nwagboso – The Kingdom
Best Lighting Designer
Mohamed Zain – Nairobi Half Life
Best Video Editor
Shirley Frimpong-Manso – Contract
Best Sound Editor
Obi Emelonye and Luke Corradine – Last Flight to Abuja
Best Art Director
Barbara Minishi – Nairobi Half Life
Best Cinematographer
Christian Almesberger – Nairobi Half Life
Best Writer (Comedy)
Jigi Bello – Flower Girl
Best Writer (Drama)
Shirley Frimpong-Manso and Hertey Owusu – Contract
Best Indigenous Language (Hausa)
Abba Muko Yakassai – Habib
Best Indigenous Language (Yoruba)
Mercy Aigbe – Komfo
Best Indigenous Language (Swahili)
Njoki Muhoho – Mama Duka
New Era Award
Rita Dominic – The Meeting
Trailblazer Award
Michelle Bello
Industry Merit Award
Pete Edochie
