From ebuzzafrica

Organisers of the African Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) met with Caribbean filmmakers over the weekend in a latest bid to strengthen their relationship in the film world.

Hot on the heels of the recent Toronto Film Festival, where they held a business roundtable with the cream of the film industry in attendance, the group set their sights on talent from the Caribbean.

The award body, headed by AMAA CEO Peace Anyiam-Osigwe met filmmakers, journalists and allied diaspora stakeholders at a special reception and presentation on Saturday (Sep 28).

The Trinidad and Tobago Film Festival (TTFF), which began on September 17 and will run until October 2, hosted the UNESCO Conference, where AMAA contributed to workshop debates with an international audience.

Mr Tony Anih, director of Administration at AMAA, said: “The participation of out brothers and sisters from the Caribbean in AMAA in the last five years continues to grow and we consider it necessary to encourage that growth.

“We have therefore come to TTFF to make representation to the industry in the region and to showcase what AMAA has achieved and who we are”.

The AMAA recently opened film submissions for 2014 and will select the 10 winners from the African continent and African diaspora.

Awards are made in 25 categories, including Best Diaspora Feature Film, Best Diaspora Documentary, Best Diaspora Short Film and Best Diaspora Animation.

Filmmaker June Givanni commented: “AMAA is doing its share to encourage links between film on the African continent and the African diaspora, more specifically on this occasion, the Caribbean.

She added: “Continuing that relationship we have to find ways to make our industries mutually sustainable and interconnected initiatives have a role to play in this. AMAA is consolidating its specific role to reward and encourage achievements in film in that landscape.”

AMAA is a celebration of African heritage and culture and reaching their 10th anniversary is a testimony to their presence in the ever-changing dimensions of film and creativity.

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