Amstel Malta Box Office, also known as AMBO is a Nigerian television reality show launched in 2005. [1] The TV reality show is sponsored by Nigerian Breweries, the largest brewing company in Nigeria. [2] The show centered on the cinema of Nigeria, often referred to as Nollywood and had produced several award-winning Nollywood stars such as Alex Okoroji, Bayray McNwizu, Annabella Zwyndila and OC Ukeje. [3] The first maiden edition was directed by Niji Akanni and it is won by Azizat Sadiq. [4] [5] [6]
The cinema of Nigeria, often referred to informally as Nollywood, consists of films produced in Nigeria; its history dates back to as early as the late 19th century and into the colonial era in the early 20th century. The history and development of the Nigerian motion picture industry is sometimes generally classified in four main eras: the Colonial era, Golden Age era, Video film era and the emerging New Nigerian cinema.
Omotola Jalade Ekeinde is a Nigerian actress, singer, philanthropist and former model. Since her Nollywood film debut in 1995, Omotola has appeared in over 300 films, selling millions of video copies. After receiving numerous high-profile awards, launching a music career, and amassing an enviable fan base, the press has dubbed her as the real Africa Magic. Omotola is the first African celebrity to receive over 1 million likes on her Facebook page. She currently has a total of 3 million followers on Facebook.
Stephanie Okereke Linus is a Nigerian actress, film director and model. She has received several awards and nominations for her work as an actress, including the 2003 Reel Award for Best Actress, the 2006 Afro Hollywood Award for Best Actress, and three nominations for Best Actress in a Leading Role at the Africa Movie Academy Awards in 2005, 2009 and 2010. She was also the runner up for the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria beauty pageant of 2002. In 2011, she was honoured by the Nigerian government with a national honour of Member of the Order of the Federal Republic, MFR.
Sitanda is a 2006 Nigerian adventure / drama film directed by African Movie Academy Award winner Ali Nuhu, and written by Fidel Akpom. The film received 9 nominations and won 5 awards at the 3rd Africa Movie Academy Awards in 2007, including Best Picture, Best Nigerian Film, Best Director and Best Original Screenplay.
Uche Jombo Rodriguez, is a Nigerian actress, screenwriter and film producer.
Okechukwu Ukeje, known as OC Ukeje is Nigerian actor, model and musician. He came into prominence after winning the Amstel Malta Box Office (AMBO) reality show. He has received several awards including Africa Movie Academy Awards, Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards, Nollywood Movies Awards, Best of Nollywood Awards, Nigeria Entertainment Awards and Golden Icons Academy Movie Awards. He has featured in several award winning films including Two Brides and a Baby, Hoodrush, Alan Poza, Confusion Na Wa and Half of a Yellow Sun.
Ivie Okujaye Egboh is a Nigerian actress, producer, scriptwriter, dancer, singer and activist. In 2009 she participated and won the Amstel Malta Box Office (AMBO) reality TV show. She is sometimes called little Genevieve because she resembles actress Genevieve Nnaji. She was awarded Best Young Actor at the 8th Africa Movie Academy Awards.
Grace-Charis Bassey Effah is a Nigerian actress and presenter. She won the Most Promising Act of the Year award at the 9th Africa Movie Academy Awards.
Alero's Symphony is a 2011 Nigerian musical drama film directed by Izu Ojukwu and starring Bimbo Manuel, Ivie Okujaye and Chibuzor 'Faze' Oji. It premiered at The Palms, Genesis Cinemas, Lagos. The film is an upshot of the Amstel Malta Box Office 5 reality show. It received 4 nominations at the 8th Africa Movie Academy Awards and was screened across major Nigerian cities by the Africa Film Academy.
Eberechukwu Nwizu better known as Bhaira Mcwizu or Bayray McNwizu is a Nigerian actress. She came to the limelight after winning the third Amstel Malta Box Office (AMBO) reality show. In 2009, she received an Africa Movie Academy Awards nomination.
Niji Akanni is a Nigerian dramatist, screenwriter, director, producer and filmmaker.
Daniel Kanayo Daniel is a Nigerian television and film actor, model, voice-over artiste and events compere. He is best known for his portrayal of Bossman in the movie A Soldier's Story, for which he won the 2016 Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards (AMVCA) and the Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) awards for Best Actor, as well as his roles in the period piece 76, which also starred Ramsey Noah, Chidi Mokeme and Rita Dominic and the light-hearted Mummy Dearest alongside veteran Nigerian actress Liz Benson.
Golden Age or Golden era are terms used in Nigerian film history to designate the motion picture industry of Nigeria from the late 1950s to the late 1980s. It captures the mode of visual and sound production, as well as the method of distribution employed during this period. This period began with the formal recognition of the Nigerian Film Unit as a sector in 1954, with the first film entirely copyrighted to this unit being Fincho (1957) by Sam Zebba.
New Nigerian Cinema is an emerging phase in Nigerian cinema, in which there became a major shift in the method of film production, from the video format, which came about during the video boom, back to the cinema method, which constituted the films produced in the Golden era of Nigerian cinema history. The films in the New Wave are specifically characterized by improved narrative complexity, aesthetic nuance, much higher budgets and advanced overall production values, when compared to video films from the second generation of filmmakers. They are mostly released theatrically, although some are still released directly on DVD.
Sadiq Abubakar Daba, known simply as Sadiq Daba was a Nigerian actor and broadcaster. In 2015, he won Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actor for his role as "Inspector Waziri" in October 1.
Tope Oshin is a Nigerian television and film director, producer and casting director, listed as one of the most influential Nigerians in film in 2019. In 2015 Pulse magazine named her as one of "9 Nigerian female movie directors you should know" in the Nollywood film industry. and in March 2018, in commemoration of the Women's History Month, Tope was celebrated by OkayAfrica as one of the Okay100 Women. The interactive campaign celebrates extraordinary women from Africa and the diaspora making waves across a wide array of industries, while driving positive impact in their communities and the world at large.
Wole Ojo is a Nigerian actor. He broke into the Nigerian scene in 2009, after winning the fourth edition of the Amstel Malta Box Office reality show.
Kehinde Olorunyomi is a Nigerian actress and screenwriter, and filmmaker notable for her role in the defunct soap opera DOMINO and several screenplays.
Ikechukwu Mitchel Ogbonna, professionally known as IK Ogbonna, is a Nigerian film and television actor, Model, Director and TV Personality. He was in the movie Playing Safe alongside Tonto Dikeh and Ini Edo.
Seun Akindele is a Nigerian actor.