African Movie Academy Award, the Nigeria version of the Oscars, is prsently underway, in Bayelsa State Nigeria. The idea behind this Academy award is to promote excellency in the movie industry on the continent.

Artists from Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa, Burkina Faso, Benin Republic and a host of others will be vying to win award and recognition, today.

Nigeria Films will be bringing to you live, update events as it is happening.

As the Celbritities, Artists and invitees are steeping on the Red carpet, we will be inquire of them, their thought and viw of this Academy Award known as AMAA.

Enjoy the event.

Segun Fayose (MNET): AMAA has really come of age. The producers now know that there are people monitoring what they do. So this has really helped brought a great deal of advancement to the Nigeria Movie industry.

RITA BALOGUN: AMAA has done so much for this movie industry. I really gave them kudos for their effort, beacause they have really tried for this industry. I am also sure that there is a brighter future for the industry.

ZACK ORJI: AMAA has made the Africa movie great. Now Africa and African films are been celebrated, take Hotel Rwanda fand Blood Diamond for example. Now we have proved to the worls that we have come of age.

CHIWOTA AGWU: AMAA has come to stay, we have challenged the sytem in this country. When AMAA came into the scene they gave insipration. Last year they donated One Million into this industry. They have helped create employement. Amaa really has helped changed the system

THE PRODUCER OF THE CONCUBINE ( UCHE CHINKINDU): You need to know that with the inception of Amaa we the producers have been able to produce films that really potrays Africa society has it really is.

STELLA DAMASCUS: Three fat girls, thats the name of my Band. AMAA is a fantastic idea and am glad to be part of it. With this kind of Award we have been able to get contracts that and jobs that seperate us from the actors of yesterday. When it comes to career advancement. I am happy to be part of this event.

AFAMEFULA IGWENBA (KLING THE DRUNK): AMAA has made us Amaa, wonderful, taken us to greater height. Some people believe that if am not drunk, I will perform better. I will want them to continue to believing in what they want to believe. As a comemdian I know that very soon, with the help of Amaa we will be having Ambasadoral position for comedian.

KUNLE AFOLAYAN (ADE LOVE SON): This year AMAA has done much better than the previous year. Last year not too much films were submitted for nomination. But this year, it quite diffrent and you will now that a lot of films makers are not putting more effort in the productions and I know that all spere of the industry from the producers to the marketers have been induced to perform better. it feels great to be here today.

YINKA DAVIES: Beofre I comment on AMAA, I will want to get inside first, see who and who will win this award. However in the meantime I truly love what am seeing.

YINKA QUADRI: Amaa is doing well for the industry, and has continued to be doing much better for us in this industry.

MADAM KOFO: I have not won any award from AMAA yet. But they have given me the recongnitions. But I know that next year I will surely win an award, for am in the studio right now, and this film will surely win an award.

CHARLES NOVIA: This is the third edition and am sure by the time we get to the tenth edition of this award, we would have been far better than werh e we are now. With the level of awareness now, many of us have had in mind to produce films that are award winning films.

GAN DOKI Am very happy that AMAA is been hosted here in Bayelsa. This award has improved the film industry and we are very happy about it.

FRANCIS DURU:To me is is a barometer for the film industry, we as Nigerians have proven that we are the big brother on this continent outside politics. Amaa is really a big plus as it challenges the players in the bussiness. The people in this industry concerns themselves primaryly with excellence, rather than money. This has only been made possible because of AMAA. I am here to celebrate with my friend, who is nominated.

AMMA IS BROUGHT TO YOU LIVE FROM BAYELSA BY TAIWO OBATUNSIN of www.nollywoodgists.com

MUMAGI: I cry for my nation, I cry for Africa for the suffering on this continent i too much. The music industry is not doing bad, and provided we are still united we will get better. I feel insulted to be told i dressed as a South African, am a Nigerian and dressed perfectly nigerian.

Electricity failure at the AMAA AWARDS.

ELECTRICITY RESTORED AFTER FIVE MINUTES

OLU JACOBS: AMAA is an excellent idea and its getting better every year. There are problems, but yet we are getting better every year.

RMD: Its a pleasure to be here in Bayelsa, and its my home as well. As regards to AMAA its just work in progress

FRED AMATA : I see it as an award, and dats what i see about it.

IBINABO: Amaa is wonderful and we are going places

AMAAA NOMINEES

BEST NIGERIA FILMS IRRESPECTIVE OF LANGUAGE

AGBESIN
AMAZING GRACE
CHINTADA
ABENI

BEST CINAMATOGRAPHY

ABENI
MOKILI (BURKINA FASO)
AMAZING GRACE
SITANDA

BEST INDEGINOUES FILMS

APESIN
IRAPADA
ABENI
IWALEWA

BEST IN COSTUMES

AZIMA
APESIN
AMAZIN GRACE
BONNY CHO ( SOUTH AFRICA)

BEST DOCUMENTARY FEAUTRE

CONVENANT CHURCH
CONVERSATION ON A SUNDAY AFTERNOON (SOUTH AFRICA)
BITTER WATER MARA (SOUTH AFRICA)

BEST VISUAL EFFECT
SNAKE GIRL
EXPLOSION
APESIN
AMAZING GRACE

PERFORMANCE BY CHILD

TECO BESON JRN (EXPLOSION)
SAMUEL OLASEINDE (ABENI)
SOMADINA ADINMA (SPEAK THE WORD)

BEST EDIT

ABENI
MOKILI (BURKINA FASO)
AMAZING GRACE

BEST ORIGINAL SOUND TRACK

IWALEWA
CHITANDA
BONNY CHOW (S.A)

BEST SOUND

ABENI
AMAZING GRACE
SITANDA
MOKILI (BURKINA FASO)

ORIGINAL SCREEN PLAY

ZITTANDA
MAROKO
DANCING HEART
AZIMA

ACHIEMENT IN MAKE UP

MAROKO
AZIMA
CONVENANT CHILD
AMAZING GRACE

BEST UPCOMING ARTIST

AMAZAT ABDEL AKEEM (ABENI)
MBONG ODUNGIDE ( AMAZING GRACE)
ALI NUHU(ZITANDA)
MOUMOUNI SANOU (MOKILI)

BEST ACTRESS IN SUPPORTING ROLE

NOELIE FUNMI (ABENI, FROM REPUBLIC OF BENIN)
JACKIE AGYEMANI (THE PRESIDENTS DAUGHTER BEYONCE (GHANA)
IRETI DOYLE (ZITTANDA)

BEST ACTRESS IN LEAD ROLE
CHIOMA CHIKWUKA (SINS OF THE FLESH)
KHABIRAT KAFIDIPE (IWALEWA)
NADIA BUHARI ( THE PRESIDENT DAUGHTER BEYONCE GHANA)

BEST ACTOR IN SUPPORTING ROLE

BRUNO IWUOHA (SINS OF THE FLESH)
OBI OKOLI (EXPLOSION)
YINKA QUADRI (APESIN)
FRED AMATA (AMAZING GRACE)

BEST ACTOR IN LEAD ROLE

OLU JACOBS ( DANCING HEART)
GANIYU NOFIU (APESIN)
KUNLE ABOGUNLOKO ( THE CONVENAT CHURCH)
AYO LIJADU ( MAROKO)

BEST DIRECTOR

IZU OJUKWU (ZITTANDA)
MUYIWA ADEMOLA (APESIN)
JET AMATA (AMAZING GRACE)
TUNDE KEILANI ( ABENI )

BEST PICTURE

AMAZINE GRACE
ZITTANDA
APESIN
ABENI

19:55 GMT: GUEST ARRIVING AT THE EVENT AND TAKING THEIR SEATS

This na Temptation by P Square is been played to the entertainment of the guests.

The event is planned for the duration of three hours, we must inform you that it is raining heavily.

The entry ticket cost 5,000 Naira, and lots of ticket were been sold out and people are still trooping in, despite the cost of the ticket.

The most invitees are not from the region where the event is taken place. Some from South Africa, Benin Republic, Burkina Faso, and from across Europe.

The entree fee which cost 5,000 Naira is said to be very cheap

The dignitaries are are all claded in African attires, really this artists makes one proud to be African.

The AMAA award has made alot of artist to be conscious and aware of show casing their works, and portray themselves as role models

AMMA IS BROUGHT TO YOU LIVE FROM BAYELSA BY TAIWO OBATUNSIN of www.nollywoodgists.com