- AMVCA 2022: DGN Congratulates Members, President Okhai On Their Victories -
After a two-year hiatus, on Saturday night, the 8th edition of Africa’s most prestigious film award, Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards made a huge comeback, honouring some of the best in the African film business, including three members of the Directors Guild of Nigeria (DGN), West Africa’s most prestigious creative guild, whose members shone like bright stars for their professional excellence in cinematic directing at the Eko Hotel & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.
Like a torrent of water, the DGN INTERACT WhatsApp platform went ablaze as encomiums of testimonies and accolades poured on Ramsey Nouah, Izu Ojukwu, Robert Peters, Charles Inojie, Uzodinma Okpechi and Emeka Amakeze on their wins at the 2022 AMVCA awards by members of the guild.
Nigerian actor and director Ramsey Tokunbo Nouah Jr led the pack and received significant accolades from members for his back-to-back feat as the 2020 AMVCA Best Director with ‘Living in Bondage,’ and 2022 AMVCA Best Director of the Year for the ‘Rattle Snake.’
Nouah’s acting career began with a role in the Nigerian television serial opera Fortunes. After appearing in a few Nigerian home videos, he made his significant screen debut in the well-received ‘Silent Night’ in 1996. (Now widely known as Nollywood). He has since starred in a number of films as the leading male, earning the nickname “Lover-Boy” for his many amorous roles.
Ramsey Nouah Jr, in 2010 and 2017, won the Africa Movie Academy Award (AMAA) for Best Actor in a Leading Role for his roles in the films “The Figurine” and “76.”
In 2015, he bought the rights to Kenneth Nnebue’s ‘Living in Bondage: Breaking Free’ for a possible remake in Europe, America, and Nigeria.
In 2019, he made his directorial debut with ‘Living in Bondage: Breaking Free.’ ‘Living in Bondage: Breaking Free’ won seven Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards in 2020, including Best Director of the Year.
The Guild celebrated Uzodinma Okpechi, who rose from computer graphics to editing, producing and eventually directing on his first attempt at Above Death in 1998, to “More Money, Brave Men, Rebels, Eyes In The House, Turntables, Kamsi,” and finally directing and winning Best TV Series (Drama/Comedy – The Mystic River) at the 8th edition of the 2022 AMVCA.
The Colorado film school alumnus’s practical contributions to the entertainment and creative industries as a film director over the last two decades will definitely inspire a new generation of creatives.
Charles Inojie, an actor best known for his comedic roles, writer, and director of the award-winning 2012 debutante family sitcom, with over 1830 episodes, “The Johnsons,” a Nigerian television series produced by Rogers Ofime, and aired on Africa Magic, whose story revolves around a middle-class Nigerian family and the struggles and challenges they face to survive in Lagos, won the Best Africa Magic Original Comedy Series (Johnson) at 2022 AMVCA.
Since his first film as an assistant director, ‘The Wind,’ starring Eucharia Anunobi, Ebele Okaro, Zulu Adigwe, produced by Ojiofor Ezeanyanche (OJ Production) and directed by Fred Amata in 1999, he has established himself as a notable man and a niche figure in the country’s entertainment sector. Inojie has influenced many families as Mr Lucky on the popular family show.
Members also applauded Izu Ojukwu, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2017 AMAA Best Director of the Year and 2017 AMVCA Best Director of the Year, for directing ‘Amina,’ winner of the 2022 Africa Movie Viewers Choice Awards for Best Overall Film (AMVCA).
Izu Ojukwu is a Nigerian film director, cinematographer, screenwriter, and editor who have won numerous awards. He is the director of 76, a Nigerian historical feature film released in 2016. In 2002, he was invited as a resource person to teach guerrilla filmmaking at Vassar College in New York. In the end, he went to film school in the United States.
Izu’s first film, ‘Moment of Bitterness,’ was released in 1996. ‘A Home Too Far’ (1997), ‘Eva, the River of Mystery (1998),’ and a slew of others followed. He went on to produce award-winning films like ‘Sitanda’ (2006), ‘Across the Niger’ (2007), ‘The Child’ (2009), ‘76’ (2016), and ‘Power of 1’ (2017). (2018).
Nigerian film producer, director, cinematographer, actor, and occasional voice-over artist, Robert O. Peters also got applauded for his direction on ‘Voiceless,’ a Hausa film for Best Indigenous Film – Hausa.
Robert Peters is best known for directing the 2014 Nollywood breakout film ’30 Days in Atlanta,’ as well as the films ‘Shades of Attractions’ (2015), ‘Boxing Day’ (2016), and ‘A Trip to Jamaica’ (2016), starring Ayo Makun, Ramsey Nouah, Richard Mofe Damijo, Vivica Fox, Funke Akindele, Nse Ikpe-Etim, Desmond Elliott, and Chet Anekwe.
Peters began his acting career in Nigeria in the 1998 film Mama Sunday before moving to the United States in 2004 to pursue a diploma in Visual Storytelling at New York University. Peters was subsequently connected with Atlanta-based Film Career Connection, which provided him with on-the-job training on various film sites across the country. At REDucation, he received hands-on training on Red cameras and equipment from pros for existing and future professionals. In 2006, Peters began working as a cinematographer and film editor on a number of African-American films.
Emeka Amakeze, a Nigerian actor, producer, director, scriptwriter, and television personality from Nijkoka Local Government Area in Anambra state, received a standing ovation for his visionary direction on the film ‘NNEKA,’ which won the Best Indigenous Language (Movie or Series) Igbo film at the 2022 AMVCA.
In 2000, the handsome, talented, gifted and highly creative Nnamdi Azikwe University, Awka Linguistics graduate joined Nollywood, and burst into the limelight in 2004 with his spellbinding performance in the film “Royal Package.”
Emeka has received multiple nominations, including Best Actor in a Supporting Role at the Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) and Best Actor in a Leading Role at the Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards (AMVCA). The Eagles (2016), Stay Dead (2020), Earth Goddess (2020), and Game of Fate (2022) are a few of his directing efforts.
Members also commended the DGN President, Victor Okhai on his outstanding performance, as the Head of Jury at the 2022 AMVCA awards.
In his reaction, President Victor Okhai was filled with joy and pleased in his congratulatory remarks to the winners.
“This is a major award and a momentous occasion for the guild. On so many dimensions, these visionary filmmakers are pioneers. Over the last two decades, they have expertly amused our society and culture as brave and passionate storytellers. While they are no strangers to tremendous commercial success, they are also the lifeblood of independent film-making, with innumerable filmmakers hailing them as mentors and inspirations.”
“Even if the event has passed, you should continue to commit your time to educate future generations of filmmakers on how to leave their mark. Congratulations, as we at DGN are ecstatic with your achievements,” Okhai stated in his statement.
