"Haters put a sock on it" - Peace Anyiam-Osigwe writes critics

Following the criticisms and negative comments directed at AMAA, the CEO of the awards body, Peace Anyiam-Osigwe, has written to those who have 'issues with what they don't understand.'

Stating that AMAA is the most transparent Academy - based awards in Africa, she also revealed that Africa Magic is one of the major media partners of AMAA 2016.

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Read her letter below;

"I just want to ask a simple question that begs for an answer from the people who have issues with everything that they do not understand. They want to judge based on stories they make up in their houses or hear from others, without trying to confirm its validity.

The Africa Film Academy established the African Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) in 2004 and held the first of the awards ceremony in 2005. Over the years, the AFRICA MOVIE ACADEMY AWARDS has been, for the most part, held in Bayelsa State.

In 2009, 2010 and 2011, the Academy felt it needed to have a People’s Choice attached to the awards. This was in later part due to the apparent difficulty for seemingly popular films to win. However, it must be emphasized without doubt that AMAA is the most transparent Academy - based awards in Africa.

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We acknowledge that we may have certain issues in our logistics, or for some, our perceived “look and feel”. However, perhaps if the support of proper sponsorship is put behind this Award that has over the last 11 years continuously celebrated filmmakers from all over Africa, we would be able to overcome some of these challenges.

Nonetheless, even without it, the Academy is and will remain relentless in its effort to continue to provide a platform that acts as a reward system for the work of film makers across Africa.

We watch all films submitted from start to finish. Over 100 different people watch the films from all over the world before we go to the Academy Jurors to decide the nominees. Our Academy of Jurors are distinguished members of African Cinema across the world. In fact, even when people criticize AMAA, they still call on our team of Juror members to give credibility to their own events. For the Academy, this is a good thing for the African film industry.

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I enjoy constructive criticism as a writer. There is no choice but to acknowledge it. Nonetheless, I have worked from ground floor of the filmmaking process to the point I am now with AMAA. 30 years of being a creative is not a joke. Tunji Lardner, who published my first work when I was 9 years old is still here to talk about my journey, and it has nothing to do with back ground, but the passion I have to push my own creative boundaries.

Mariam A Agbaje and Linda Mjöll Stefansdóttir have known me forever and Francis Litti Mboge can attest to the passion that drives all the creative works I do.

Whilst I have learnt to not put too much weight to people who misunderstand me or misconstrue my words, it must be reiterated that no one should equate PMO to AMAA. PMO is part of AMAA, but the two are not one and the same.

The Africa Film Academy encourages all film enterprise, realizing that creativity is a Circle and Not a pyramid.

For the record, Africa Magic is one of the major media partners of AMAA 2016. So, join us and grow African Cinema. We all need each other. We also have a right to make a comment of what can be done better."