Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) Announces $50000 for Best African Film as Bayelsa Rolls Out Red Carpet

Amaa announces plans to raise the stakes for African cinema as the africa film fund the africa film academy announce that the best african film in the 2007 amaa will win the $50000, whilst Bayelsa state we are safe and ready to be the host of the 2007 edition of the Amaa awards welcome africa.

(PRWeb) December 13, 2006 -- The AfricaMovie Academy Awards (AMAA) will take on a new sheen in 2007, as host state Bayelsa, Nigeria has pulled out the stops for the third edition of the event.

The African Movie Academy Awards, which bring together filmmakers, directors, producers, make-up artists and actors from across the African continent, has been held in Bayelsa since the first edition of the even tin 2005.

His Excellency Goodluck Jonathan, Governor of Bayelsa State, has great ambitions for the States partnership with AMAA, citing the tourism spin-offs as a major incentive in the infrastructural development of the state. One of Nigeria best-kept secret, Bayelsa has the countries longest coastline and boasts enviable beaches. The provinces long-term development plans include the construction of a five star hotel, two three star hotels which will be complete by 2007, as well as a convention centre that will be completed by 2008.

In many respects, Bayelsa started from zero-base explains Governor Jonathan. This is a new province, created 10 years ago, in 1996. At the time, it was like a stereotypical African village negligible infrastructural development, with a small population. Since then, we have managed to channel resources in such a way that the state has grown to the extent that it can host an international event such as the African Movie Academy Awards. Moreover, we are nowhere near finished with the development, either. Our five-year plan will make us a tourism destination of choice, and the AMAAs are a firm part of making that a reality.

The 2006 edition of the African Movie Academy Awards witnessed 100 representatives from over 12African countries participating in the event, and attending the ceremony. The long term vision for the AMAA's is that it will comprise of a 10 day cultural programme, showcasing the arts and crafts of Bayelsa and other participating nations, water sports, and a multifaceted arts programme. This years programme starts with a Praise Jam and continues the week with the Niger delta boat race and African music festival all this will make Bayelsa a beehive of activity between the 3-10th of March 2007.

The AMAA's rely hugely on the support of ordinary Bayelsans to succeed comments Peace Anyiam-osigwe executive producer of the AMAA's. It was important to us that we locate this event in a place where the leadership believed in the concept, and the citizenry demonstrated their pride in hosting the ceremony. In this regard, Bayelsa State has been the perfect choice for the AMAA's " to be able to bring the African continent to Nigeria, and have the host state show an unparalleled level of goodwill is truly heart-warming.

Indeed, as the AMAA's wind up the entries submissions period which closes on December 30th, 2006, organisers are confident that the logistical preparations being made by Bayelsa will stand the event in good stead next year.

We have already begun communicating with hoteliers about AMAA 2007 says Governor Jonathan we want to make sure that all preparations are on track for this event. It is a wonderful tool for us to show off the beauty of our state, the hospitality of the people and most importantly, the incredible potential that Bayelsa represents.

The governor is equally candid about negative reports about the region due to disputes over oil profits. These incidents of unrest have taken place, and it's important that issues of community expectations to oil profits should be resolved. By the same token, however, it's crucial to point out that the reports are often exaggerated and sensationalized, which is regrettable that an unfortunate incident that takes place in one of the oil rigs will be blown out of proportion to implicate the entire region. This hampers our development goals, and we trust that visitors to Bayelsa will spread the word that the area is very safe. In fact, this is one of our nation's most crime-free zones.

The third edition of the African Movie Academy Awards will take place on March 10th, 2007, and Bayelsa looks forward to hosting the continents celluloid storytellers. As the African film industry evolves into a business that has become recognized as an important part of communicating, demystifying and translating our culture and heritage, it is critical that a ceremony of this nature pays tribute to the tireless pioneers of African film. Its all systems go for AMAA 2007, where the African continents finest gather to receive their just due's¦ the African Movie Academy Award.The Africa film academy and the Africa film fund are supporting the Africa movie academy awards with a cash price of $50000 for the best film from Africa and the Bayelsa state government is enabling the best actor and best actress with cah prices. Wheras the Nigerian ministry information is paying a N1000000 or S7000 equivalent to the best Nigerian film in the continents awards.