Movie Awards: What difference do they make?
By ABIOSE ADELAJA

From NOLLYWOOD MAGAZINE


Like the Oscars, Emmy, Tony and Golden Globe awards, among others, where not only are stars made, but also millions of dollars, film awards now express appreciation by Nigerians of their movie people. This is particularly remarkable in the simultaneous movie awards ceremonies, which happened within the last few months.

First, it was at the 2nd National Film Festival organized by the Nigerian Film Corporation. The three-day festival, which began November 30 rounded off with an award night on December 2, 2003. Two weeks after, the National Film and Video Censors Board had its first Nigerian Movie Award at the Nicon Hilton Hotel, Abuja. And then the Reel Awards that held Friday, January 16, at the MUSON Centre, Onikan Lagos.

Organized by Fame Magazine, THEMA (The Movie Awards), was the first of such since the video explosion to acknowledge the creative prowess of moviemakers. Shortly after, the Reel Awards organized by National Encomium Ventures, came to be on May 31, 1998. The Reel awards is said to be facilitated by the Academy of Creative Arts in Nigeria (ACAN), and has since its inception become a signpost towards achieving the dream of making stars and turning the motion picture into a billion naira business.

Now that there are many awards one would wonder what their values are.

For instance, at the award night of the 2nd, National Film Festival, it was reported that most of the recipients were not present. However, an actor, Ejike Asiegbu explains the reason to be that the organizers did not work through the guilds. He added that the Nigerian Film Corporation, NFC should have individually invited actors, producers and marketers. Nevertheless, the Best Screen play went to Wale Adenuga’s Super Story, Antar Laniyan won the award for the Best Director of Television Series, also, Best TV serial -Super Story, Best Non Feature Film-The Playground, Non Feature Best Compilation Historical award- The Making of Amazon, Non feature Best Agriculture film- Desert Gold, Non feature Best Film on tourism- Nigeria-a portrait of culture, Film Scholarship Award- Steve Ayorinde, Best Music Director- Uzodinma Okpechi, Best Love Lyrics- Love song, Good God, Non Feature Environmental Film- Great Flood of Bayelsa, Non Feature Best Arts and Culture-Kano- A Tale of Two Cities, Non feature best biographical film- Nan of the Niger- Delta, Non feature anthropological film- The great Benin Splendour, Non feature Best film of a director-Coin, Guinness Gold Price for Non Feature -Coin.

Also, at the NFVCB’s 1st Nigerian Movie Awards, at Abuja, most of the recipients were not present. It is the same obvious reason and certain schism in the body’s rating of the films of some of the moviemakers. As for the Video Censors Board, it has condemned many movies and banned some of the actors from acting. One of such is the clash between Tunde Kelani and Rosaline Odeh, the Executive Director of the Board over Kelani’s movie entitled Agogo Eewo. Also,there is the conflict between Jide Kosoko and Mrs Odeh. Nevertheless, the ceremony saw Pete Edochie winning the award of the Best Actor of the Year, Genevieve Nnaji –the Best Actress, Best Producer –Cajetan Obi, Best Director -Collins Chidibie, Best Guild -The Actors’ Guild of Nigeria and the Best Movie –Peace Maker 1&2 by Cajetan Obi with the star price of N1million. The second –Enemy of my Soul by Mike Bamiloye got N200,000.

Other awards went to the best movie of the months beginning from October 2002- September 2, 2003. Each of the best movie of the month got N50,000, the second best N30,000 and the third, N20,000.

It is understandable that the NFC and the NFVCB are government parastatals, and whatever reluctance greets these new initiatives, if genuine, may be short lived. Unlike the foregoing, the Reel Awards, facilitated by ACAN, and organized by the National Encomium Magazine, saw a crowd of moviemakers in attendance, except for a few who went on location.

The awards were in different categories: Yoruba and English. The Yoruba category; Best Comedy is Otipoju. The Best Supporting Actress,-Buki Ajayi in Iya Oko Bournvita, Best Supporting Actor-Saidi Balogun in Sunmibare, Best Actress- Clarion Chukwura-Abiola in Abela Pupa, Best Actor- Dele Odule( Agunbaniro), Best Movie In Yoruba- Abela Pupa. For the English category: Best Comedy -One Dollar by Amaco investment, Best Supporting Actress- Dakore Egbusan in Emotional Trap, Best Supporting Actor- Enebeli Elebuwa in Take me to Maama, Best Actress in English- Stephanie Okereke, Best Movie -The Return by Kingsley Ogoro. For the general category: Production Studio Best Editing – Kingsley Ogoro, Best makeup- The Return by Fatman Productions, Best Costume-Felicia Mayford, Best Special Effects-Abela Pupa, Best Photography-The Return, Best Child Actress-Opemipo Bamgbopa, Best New Actress- Dakore Egbusan, Screenplay of the Year- The Return, Actress of the Year- Stephanie Okereke, Director of the Year -The Return-Kingsley Ogoro, African Magic Movie of the Year-The Return.

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Of the three,REEL Awards seem to be the most popular among the practitioners.
It would be interesting to see which one will eventually turn out to be the most influential and supported.
I can say one thing,the other two seem to be a little too politicized and less professional.
Having more than one awards is not bad anyway,as long as they don't become too many.

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Award is not bad, it is there to appreciate the effort of all the people who make a film come alive. But my problem with this tale is that what are the major criteria involve before they pronounce someone to be the actress or actor of the year. I for one would suggest they make us the viewer part of the screening board, so they have less job, less award. Like the people chose award done in America. Vert fine, you get to vote and whoever emerge with the higest vote becomes the winner. Or don't you think so sola?

I want to second Theresa's view on this. And i've discovered lately that awards in nollywood is not what it ought to be unlike the grammy where the public chose who should go away with this category award and that, but in nollywood a particular producer would sponsor the award and his movie virtually wins half of the award.
I think is time that we started voting for the best movie, actress and actor of the year via the internet. It is a pity to know that Liz Benson has not won an award since she started her acting career and yet we see new faces who hardly construct good english go away with these awards. Moreover Joke Silva, Gloria Anozie Young, and Step Nora Okere and many others have not gotten an award, it beats my imagination to know that RMD and Pete Edochie have not won also. Pls let's give this a beautiful thought and give honour to those it is due to.

We are not America, and we do not have the kind of resources available to the Grammys to run awards like you suggest.

No, producers don't buy awards. People still sit down and vote and they do try their best to be fair, at least for The REEL Awards. There are all sorts of issues that you have no idea of, believe me.

Some of the people you mentioned have won multiple times, especially RMD. You have to understand Awards are just starting in Nigeria and will take time to be perfected, like the industry itself. After all, the country sef - with all the billions spent - we don organise better election in so many years of trying? Well, one private company doing it cannot be perfect.

America, the Academies organise the Grammys and Oscars. We have no Academy in Nigeria that all practitioners belong to and respect. See what I mean?

You have a point about using the internet though, and we tried a small one ast year. But you forget very few Nigerians are not online. Most viewers of movies don't even use the Net, so how dem go vote now? Na because you dey outside Naija you dey talk like dis.

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The problem is that sometime they give award not because one merits it, but because the star is popular. Throughout 2004-2005 if you'll agree with me is either Omotola the Best actress or Genny or Genny best supporting actress or Omotola, while there are other actresses who are trying. I don't really believe in the award of a thing.

....GBOSAH!!!
Pa

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