The stars of African cinema aligned Sunday for the eighth Africa Movie Academy Awards at a splashy ceremony held in Lagos, Nigeria's cultural and economic capital.

Kicking off the gala, which had a theme of Africa Rising, AMAA founder Peace Anyiam-Osigwe pointed to the growing importance of Africa's film industries as they attempt to reshape the continent's image.

Nollywood may be the planet's third biggest film industry after Hollywood and Bollywood but it is feeling the squeeze. Despite the brio with which it churns out new films, times are hard and the returns are not good. By Russell Southwood