2022 AMVCA predictions in movie categories

MultiChoice has announced the nominees for this year’s AMVCA awards. Here at NollyRated, we are sticking out necks out to make predictions of who will win in the movie categories. But first, a quick explanation of how the awards will be conducted this year.

The AMVCA has become an iconic event for African movie makers, though the award ceremonies have always been held in Lagos Nigeria. The pandemic limited the awards ceremonies, and AMVCA acknowledged this, in their commercials leading up to the announcement. On Sunday, 19 March, 2022, the duo of Adesuwa Etomi Wellington and Daniel Effiong, resplendent in attires fit for red carpets, announced the nominees on all African Magic Channels. They will also be the hosts of the Awards ceremony that will be held on 8 May, 2022, after an 8 day event.  Due to the pandemic, movies from 2020 and 2021 will also be considered for 2022 awards. 

Here is a list of some of the nominees, based on the focus area of Nollyrated. Some of the nominations came as no surprise; but some were unbelievable to us, as we did not expect the nomination, based on the performance and reviews from critics. There were also some nominations that we expected but did not see. Perhaps they did not submit, or did not make the cut. We analyze the nominations below and make our predictions of winners. 

1. Best Supporting Actor (Movie or TV Series)

We reviewed Rattlesnake, Amina, and The New Normal. The only surprise nomination in this category is Magaji Mijinyawa, because the whole Amina movie is not worthy of any awards. 

1. Bucci Franklin – Rattlesnake: The Ahanna Story
2. Adjetey Anang – Gold Coast Lounge
3. Odunlade Adekola -Jankariwo
4. Eric Roberts – A Soldier’s Story
5. Amina – Magaji Mijinyawa
6. Yemi Blaq -The New Normal
7. Tope Tedela -Country Hard

Our Winner: Yemi Blaq – The New Normal 

2. Best Supporting Actress (Movie or TV Series)

We reviewed all the movies except Country Hard, and all the actresses deserve a spot as nominees, and it would be a hard choice to pick the winner. Even Clarion Chukwurah in Amina did her best with what she was given. 

1. Bisola Aiyeola -Sugar Rush
2. Mercy Johnson Okojie -The New Normal
3. Clarion Chukwurah -Amina
4. Mumbi Maina -La Femme Anjola
5. Enado Odigie – The New Normal
6. Omowunmi Dada -Country Hard
7. Chioma Chukwuka Akpotha – Omo Ghetto: The Saga

Our Winner: Chioma Chukwuka Akpotha – Omo Ghetto: The Saga

3. Best Actress in a Comedy

We reviewed Breaded Life and Omo Ghetto, and as much as Funke Akindele did a great job, we prefer the performance of Bimbo Ademoye. The movie was overall funny and the ending is totally unpredictable, a memorable movie. 

1. Bimbo Ademoye – Breaded Life
2. Bisola Aiyeola -Dwindle
3. Funke Akindele – Omo Ghetto
4. Nancy Isime – Kambili
5. Sarah Hassan – Just In Time

Our Winner: Bimbo Ademoye – Breaded Life

4. Best Actor in a Comedy

We reviewed Omo Ghetto, Progressive Tailors Club, and Ponzi; while Dear Affy is a movie before this blog was started, we do not think Dear Affy deserves any nomination, the acting and storyline was pedestrian and did not deserve to be on the big screen. 

1. Shawn Faqua -Soole
2. Deyemi Okanlawon – Omo Ghetto: The Saga
3. Gideon Okeke -Loving Rona
4. Samuel Perry ‘Broda Shaggi’ – Dwindle
5. Femi Adebayo – Progressive Tailor’s Club
6. Williams Uchemba -Dear Affy
7. Timini Egbuson -Ponzi

Our Winner: Deyemi Okanlawon – Omo Ghetto: The Saga

5. Best Actor in a Drama

We reviewed Rattlesnake, For Maria Ebun Pataki, This Lady Called Life, Introducing the Kujus, and as far as we are concerned, the performance of the other actors do not hold a candle to Gabriel’s performance in For Maria. He has the right mix of passion and gentleness, he stops acting and actually becomes the role. 

1. Stan Nze – Rattlesnake: The Ahanna Story
2. Uzee Usman – Voiceless
3. Gabriel Afolayan – For Maria Ebun Pataki
4. Efa Iwara – This Lady Called Life
5. Femi Jacobs – Introducing the Kujus
6. Enyinna Nwigwe – Dear Affy
7. Timini Egbuson – Introducing the Kujus

Our Winner: Gabriel Afolayan – For Maria Ebun Pataki

6. Best Actress in a Drama

All the actresses here are great but what Meg Otanwa did in For Maria Ebun Pataki is legendary, you will be forgiven to think she suffers from postpartum depression, and the interpretation of the role without overacting. She deserves this award. 

1. Asabe Madaki – Voiceless
2. Osas Ighodaro – Rattlesnake
3. Meg Otanwa – For Maria Ebun Pataki
4. Bisola Aiyeola -This Lady Called Life
5. Nancy Isime – Superstar
6. Genoveva Umeh – A Tune Away
7. Kehinde Bankole – Dear Affy

Our Winner: Meg Otanwa – For Maria Ebun Pataki

7. Best Cinematographer

We reviewed Rattlesnake, Amina and Nneka The Pretty Serpent, and the quality of the pictures in Rattlesnake is top notch, hence it is our winner 

1. Muhammed Attah Ahmed – Rattlesnake: The Ahanna Story
2. James Amuta – Collision Course
3. Peter Kreil, Wale Adebayo, Samuel Jonathan, Moruf Fadaro – Amina
4. Samuel Jonathan, Moruf Fadaro – The Mystic River
5. John Njaga Demps – Nneka The Pretty Serpent
6. Victoria Mbogo – Just in Time

Our Winner: Muhammed Attah Ahmed – Rattlesnake: The Ahanna Story

8. Best Lighting Design

We reviewed Amina, Rattlesnake, and Nneka The Pretty Serpent.  In terms of showing the moods and projecting the feelings, Nneka The Pretty Serpent has the best lighting. 

1. Stanley Idegbu Okechukwu – Amina
2. Yemi Awoponle – The Mystic River
3. Mathew Yusuf – Rattlesnake: The Ahanna Story
4. Jaco Strauss – The White Line
5. Godwin Lawani – Light In The Dark
6. Mathew Yusuf – Nneka The Pretty Serpent
7. Fei Mustafa – Dear Affy

Our Winner: Mathew Yusuf – Nneka The Pretty Serpent

9. Best Makeup

We reviewed Amina, Omo Ghetto, Nneka The Pretty Serpent, Rattlesnake, La Femme Anjola; make up in movies is not just about enhancing beauty, but about bringing out the dramatic, making wounds and scars realistic, and providing an experience to the audience. La Femme Anjola provides the make-up that lets you know who a character is and how to relate with them. 

1. Gift Ameh – Voiceless
2. Dagogo Diminas, Gabriel Okorie Gabazzini – Amina
3. Balogun Abiodun – Omo Ghetto: The Saga
4. Ugochinyere Ihendi – Nneka The Pretty Serpent
5. Carina Ojoko -Rattlesnake: The Ahanna Story
6. Adewunmi Fatai, Ayobami Abolarin – Peregun
7. Abiola Popoola – La Femme Anjola

Our Winner: Abiola Popoola – La Femme Anjola

10. Best Costume Designer
    1. Titi Aina Raji – Voiceless
    2. Millicent T. Jack – Amina
    3. Isoken Ogiemwonyi – The Smart Money Woman
    4. Funke Akindele Bello – Omo Ghetto: The Saga
    5. Obijie Oru – The Mystic River
    6. Yolanda Okereke – La Femme Anjola
    7. Yoanna “Pepper” Chikezie + Nneka The Pretty Serpent

Our Winner: Abiola Popoola – La Femme Anjola

11. Best Writer Nominees

We reviewed Amina,  La Femme Anjola, This Lady Called Life, For Maria Ebun Pataki and Introducing the Kujus, and we are hard pressed to pick a winner between La Femme Anjola and For Maria Ebun Pataki. Both movies addressed different issues and are in different genres, and both are excellent works of art. 

1. Tunde Babalola – La Femme Anjola
2. Toluwani Obayan, Kayode Kasum – This Lady Called Life
3. Tunray Femi, Damilola E. Orimogunje -For Maria Ebun Pataki
4. Chigozirim Nwanegbo – One Lagos Night
5. Manie Oiseomaye, Donald Tombia, Biodun Stephen – Introducing the Kujus
6. Frank Chinedu Uba – Amina
7. Abosi Ogba, Sally Kenneth Dadzie, Lydia Idakula Sobogun, Olawale Adetula, Belinda Yanga Agedah -Little Black Book

Our Winner: Tunde Babalola – La Femme Anjola

12. Best Movie (West Africa)

First, I am shocked that Amina is a nominee in this category, and why are movies like La Femme Anjola not in this category? To make a choice here though, it would have to be between Omo Ghetto and Breaded Life.  Considering that Omo Ghetto pandered more towards popularity than a solid storyline, our winner is below: 

1. Tainted Canvas
2. Collision Course
3. Amina
4. Rattlesnake
5. Omo Ghetto
6. Breaded Life
7. Nneka The Pretty Serpent

Our Winner: Breaded Life

13. Best Picture Editor

We reviewed Omo Ghetto, Bad Comments, and For Maria Ebun Pataki, and picture editing speaks to how the movie is edited to fit the message being portrayed, either over the board, or understated. 

1. Rogers Ofime – Voiceless
2. Dolapo Adeleke – Just In Time
3. JJC Skillz, Adeyemi Shomade, Valentine Chukwuma – Omo Ghetto: The Saga
4. Tester Bassey, Abiodun Okunola, Moses Inwang – Lockdown
5. Moses Inwang – Bad Comments
6. Tunde Apalowo – For Maria Ebun Pataki
7. Tega Salubi – Collision Course

Our Winner: Tunde Apalowo – For Maria Ebun Pataki

14. Best Art Director

We reviewed Rattlesnake, Amina, and Day of Destiny. These movies have their pros and cons, but we believe Rattlesnake has the best art direction based on the choices presented. 

1. Ediri Okwa – The Smart Money Woman
2. Pat Nebo – Rattlesnake
3. Mayowa Labiran – The Mystic River
4. Tunji Afolayan – Amina
5. Chima Adighije – One Lagos Night
6. Chris Udomi – Day of Destiny

Our Winner: Pat Nebo – Rattlesnake

15. Best Sound Editor

Sound is not just about the audible sounds, but the spaces in between, how the movie uses both sound and silences to pass the message across, and we believe For Maria Ebun Pataki provides this the best.  It is filled with pregnant silences that gives us more information than if there had been sound. 

1. Jim Lively, James Nelson – Amina
2. Bayo Adepetun, Biola “Lala” Olayinka – Prophetess
3. Puffy Tee – Omo Ghetto: The Saga
4. Tom Koroluk – For Maria Ebun Pataki
5. Habib Adebayo Olaore – Nneka The Pretty Serpent
6. Hassan Mageye – Tinka’s Story

Our Winner: Tom Koroluk – For Maria Ebun Pataki

16. Best Soundtrack

Music is an integral part of every movie, and if the wrong music is laid on the movie, it would throw off the whole production. We reviewed Amiina and Rattlesnake in this category. 

1. Larry Gaaga – Rattlesnake
2. Collision Course
3. Boumeester Lindsay Kagwe Mungai – Just In Time
4. Dabs Agwom – Amina
5. Pascal Aka Raquel – Gold Coast Lounge
6. Awele Mekwunye Bizzouch – Light In The Dark
7. Michael Pulse, Ponti Dikuua – The White Line

Our Winner: Larry Gaaga – Rattlesnake

17. Best Director (Movie)

I do not believe there is any competition here, we reviewed La Femme Anjola, Amina, Rattlesnake, and Namaste Wahala. From the opening scene till end credits, La Femme Anjola shows so much directorial excellence, we are in awe of the movie. The way the director pushed envelopes and pushed the actors showed uncommon synergy between them. 

1. Mildred Okwo – La Femme Anjola
2. Izu Ojukwu – Amina
3. Ramsey Nouah – Rattlesnake
4. Bolanle Austen-Peters – Collision Course
5. Robert O. Peters – Voiceless
6. Ekene Som Mekwunye – Light in the Dark
7. Tiencepay Lawal, Hamisha Daryani Ahuja – Namaste Wahala

Our Winner:Mildred Okwo – La Femme Anjola

18. Best Overall Movie
    1. Amina
    2. Voiceless
    3. Rattlesnake
    4. Collision Course
    5. Omo Ghetto
    6. Nneka The Pretty Serpent
    7. La Femme Anjola
    8. Just In Time

Our Winner: La Femme Anjola

There were some movies we expected to see nominated, like Citation and Swallow, but they are not nominated in any of the categories. What do you think of our 2022 AMVCA predictions?