The Actor and Actress Award Night 2012 was on Saturday held at the Joint Officers' Mess in Kotu. The Actor and Actress Award Night 2012 was organised and sponsored by group of film producers: Better Future, God Gift Film Productions, New Age Centre for Education and Media Resources and Afrinity Production, in collaboration with the Officers' Mess. The aim is to celebrate and promote the actors and actresses in The Gambia.

Adam Wilfred, the director of Afrinity Production praised all the nominees for the award and as well applauded Gambian artistes for their efforts in keeping alive the country's film industry.

Lamin K Janneh, CEO of Better Future Production, said everywhere in the world actors and actresses are assets that are almost indispensable in the society. "They make people to be happy and indirectly educate people through their works," he said.

He commended the judges for a job well done in selecting winners for the awards. According to him 50 people were nominated for the 10 positions in different categories.The categories he said, include the Best Supporting Male/Female Actor/Actress of the Year; Best Upcoming Male/Female Actor/Actress of the Year; Best Youngest Male/Female Actor/Actress of the Year; Best Comedian Male/Female of the Year and Best Male/Female Actor/Actress of the Year.

Janneh said the motive behind the award night is to promote Gambia's stars and expose them and at the same time enable the film producers to show their love and appreciation on their profession because it is one way of coming together as a family.

For his part, Ousman Ndow, the general manager of Officers' Mess commended the film producers for their wonderful initiative. He said their facilities are always available for them to use because it is the only way they can support the film industry in The Gambia.

In the award proper, Sheikh Tijan Sonko and Tida Ndure won the Best Supporting Actor and Actress of the Year; Best Youngest Actor and Actress of the Year went to Assan Sowe and Aliya; Wagan and Ya Ndey Sainabou Jeng popularly known as 'Yaiminisery' grabbed Best Male and Female Comedian of the Year; Best Upcoming Actress is for Saeed Jallow and Fanta Ceesay; while the overall Best Actor and Actress of the Year went to Modou Musa Ceesay and Mulika Davies respectively.

In a happy mood, all the awardees espressed delight and praised the organisers for this new development inGambian movie industry.