It’s the African Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA) season, and the AMVCA 12 nominees for the different categories have been announced.

The movie awards event is all-encompassing this year, with the addition of entries from  North and Central Africa, to entries from West, South, and East Africa. 

Hence, this year’s edition features 32 categories, comprising 18 non-voting (juried), 11 public-voting categories, and 3 special recognition awards, including Lifetime Achievement and Trailblazer honours.

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Gingerrr, The Herd, and To Kill A Monkey led the major categories this year. Gingerrr and The Herd are leading the pack with 9 nominations each. To Kill A Monkey stood out with eight nominations. My Father’s Shadow followed closely with seven, setting the stage for a highly competitive awards season.

The awards celebrate African film excellence from 1 January to 31 December 2025. Voting is open and closes on April 26th.

SEE ALSO: AMVCA 12 Unveiled: Expanded Categories, Key Dates, and What to Expect in 2026

Nominee Full list

1.  Best Art Direction (6 Nominees)

• Zainab Oladipupo – The Serpent’s Gift
• Omolade Abisola – The Herd
• Ajamolaya Bunmi – Colours Of Fire
• Olatunji Afolayan, Gideon O. Stephen- Aljana
• Victor Akpan – Suky
• Thabiso Senne – Inimba

2.  Best Cinematography (7 Nominees)

• Jermaine Edwards – My Father’s Shadow
• Kabelo Thathe – To Kill A Monkey
• Emmanuel Igbekele – The Herd
• Daanong Gyang – Finding Nina
• Emmanuel Igbekele – The Serpent’s Gift
• KC Obiajulu – Stitches
• Emmanuel Igbekele – Gingerrr

3.  Best Costume Design (5 Nominees)

• Mary Chukwuma – The Serpent’s Gift
• Deola Art Alade, Darey Art Alade – The Real Housewives Of Lagos
• Valerie Okeke – Colours Of Fire
• Yolanda Okereke – Something About The Briggs
• Ikechukwu Urum, John Joseph Angel – To Kill A Monkey

4.  Best Digital Content (7 nominees)

• Akwaman – Did I Just Hear Muah?
• Benedict Ehimare Oriaifo – The Rat Race
• Destiny Ogie Osarewinda – The Marriage List
• Emmanuel Kanaga & Sophia Chisom – Leave To Live
• Elozonam Ogbolu and Genoveva Umeh – Dr. Judgina – Situationally Transmitted Delusion
• Maryam Apaokagi-Greene (Taooma) – Luxury Koko
• Steve Chuks – August Meeting Election

5.  Best Director (6 Nominees) 

• Akinola Davies Jr – My Father’s Shadow
• Tunde Kelani – Cordelia
• James Omokwe – Osamede
• Daniel Etim Effiong -The Herd
• Yemi Filmboy Morafa – Gingerrr
• Asurf Amuwa Oluseyi – 3 Cold Dishes

6.  Best Documentary (5 Nominees)  

• Beyond Olympic Glory
• The Good, The Bad of Afrobeat
• The People Shall
• Not Addressing This Anymore 
• BOU

7.  Best Editing (6 Nominees)

• Kazeem Agboola – Cordelia
• Omar Guzman Castro – My Father’s Shadow
• Wanguma Peter Chidebere, Dele Doherty – Landline
• Asurf Amuwa Oluseyi – 3 Cold Dishes
• Winston Aig-Ohioma – Osamede
• Daniel Anyiam –To Kill A Monkey

8.  Best Indigenous Language Film (Central Africa) 3 nominees

• Egbe Francis Ettabrown – Golden Spoon
• Kang Quintus – MABANDA
• Nyasha Makamba – SAFOU- A gift from Nature

9.  Best Indigenous Language Film (East Africa) 5 nominees

• Hassan Mageye – KIMOTE
• Isarito Mwakalindile – My Son
• Kamau Wandug’u, Joe Mahinda, and Barbara Njeri Maina – Inside Job
• Leul Shoaferaw – Addis Fikir
• Omar Hamza and June Wairegi – Sayari

10.  Best Indigenous Language Film (North Africa) 5 nominees

• Abdalla Ezyan – The Delivery
• Abdalla Ezyan – This is Portsaid
• Houssem Eddine Abdelwahed – The Hidden Voice
• Mohamed Awad and Mohamed Abdulrahman Eldouma – Artal Alhanin – Our Memories
• Youssef Ben Khalifa – The Omnipresent

11.  Best Indigenous Language Film (South Africa) 5 nominees

• African Entertainers – SEBATA – The Beast
• Joseph Duke and Keamogetse Modise – Bet I Love You
• Naledi Galane, Promise Ramoroka, Ernest Ramoroka, Modipadi Mokgohloa – TLHAHO YA MOSADI
• Neo Leonardo Mokoena – Terra Of Queens And Kuma 2
• Thabang Mathumetse and Thapelo Dikhutso – Ben Made It

12.  Best Indigenous Language Film (West Africa) 5 nominees

• Abiola Adeshina – Olorisha
• Alice lyabo Ojo, Olukanmi Abayomi, Alaba Onaolapo, Kene Okwuosa, Ladun Awobokun – Labake Olododo
• Grace Yachat Yakubu – ALJANA
• Lateef Adetola Adedimeji and Adebimpe Oyebade Adedimeji – Lisabi – A Legend Is Born
• Winifred Mena-Ajakpovi – The Serpent’s Gift

13.  Best Indigenous M-Net Original (7 nominees)

• Bruk Yibrah – Out N’ About (Harar)
• David Akande – KUKOYI
• Eze Izu – MGBUKA
• Grace Kahaki & Philippe Bresson – The Chocolate Empire
• Hatibu Madudu – UNDUGU
• Joel Ndugwa – Kampala Creme (S2)
• Siphosethu Tshapu, Thandi Ramathesele, and Yolanda Ndhlovu – INIMBA

14.  Best Lead Actor (8 Nominees)

• Mike Ezuruonye – Oversabi Aunty
• Lateef Adedimeji – Lisabi 2
• William Benson – To Kill A Monkey
• Kanayo O. Kanayo – Grandpa Must Obey
• Khumbuza Meyiwa – Bet I Love You
• Uzor Arukwe – Colours Of Fire
• Wale Ojo – 3 Cold Dishes
• Femi Branch- Red Circle

15.  Best Lead Actress (8 Nominees)

• Linda Ejiofor – The Serpent’s Gift
• Bimbo Akintola – TKAM
• Ifeoma Fafunwa -The Lost Days
• Ariyike Owolagba – Something About The Briggs
• Sola Sobowale – Her Excellency
• Scarlet Gomez – BTS
• Genoveva Umeh – The Herd
• Gloria Anozie – Young Mother Of The Brides

16.  Best Makeup (7 Nominees)

• Mojisola Imam – Behind The Scenes
• Adeola Bamgboye – Lisabi: A Legend Is Born
• Dablaq Artistry – Gingerrr
• Adeola Bamgboye – Abanisete
• Hakeem Effect – Warlord
• Ruth Harcourt – Suky
• Adeola Bamgboye – Labake Olododo

17.  Best Music Score (7 Nominees)

• Duval Timothy, CJ Mirra – My Father’s Shadow
• Nissi Ogulu – 3 Cold Dishes
• Chubb Okobah – Osamede
• Tolu Obanro – Gingerrr
• Tolu Obanro – The Party
• Sofresh – MTV Shuga Mashariki
• Oscar Heman-Ackah – To Kill A Monkey

18.  Best Overall Movie (6 Nominees)

• Gingerrr
• The Herd
• My Father’s Shadow
• 3 Cold Dishes
• The Serpent’s Gift
• Behind The Scenes

19.  Best Scripted M-Net Original (5 nominees)

• Femi D. Ogunsanwo – The Low Priest
• James Kalu Omokwe – The Yard
• Lizz Njagah and Alexandros Konstantaras – Adam to Eve
• Maurice Muendo – BOBO
• Rogba Arimoro and Bio Arimoro – Mother Of The Brides

20.  Best Scripted Series (5 Nominees) 

• To Kill A Monkey
• The Yard
• The Chocolate Empire
• Inimba
• Kash Money

21.  Best Short Film (5 nominees)

• Fimisinuola Adejonwo – Telephone
• Jessie J. Rowlands – RISE
• Jordy Sank – Fleas
• Orire Nwani and Josh Olaoluwa – HUSSAINI
• Uzoamaka Power – My Body, God’s Temple

22.  Best Sound Design (6 Nominees)

• Pius Fatoke, CJ Mirra – My Father’s Shadow
• Tolu Obanro – Gingerrr
• Vaughan Phillips – Ben Made It
• Tolu Obanro – The Party
• Vaughan Phillips-Sebata: The Beast
• Fisayo Adefolaju -The Herd

23.  Best Supporting Actor (8 Nominees)

• Simileoluwa Hassan – The Yard
• Lateef Adedimeji – Gingerr
• Gabriel Afolayan – Colours Of Fire
• Bucci Franklin – To Kill A Monkey
• Femi Adebayo – King Of Thieves 2
• Lateef Adedimeji – Red Circle
• Femi Branch – Owambe Thieves
• Uzor Arukwe – Behind The Scenes

24.  Best Supporting Actress (8 Nominees)

• Linda Ejiofor – The Herd
• Olamide Kidbaby – Oversabi Aunty
• Bisola Aiyeola – Gingerrr
• Sola Sobowale – The Covenant
• Nadia Dutch – Aljana
• Amal Umar – The Herd
• Juliebrenda Nyambura – MTV Shuga Mashariki
• Funke Akindele – Behind The Scenes

25.  Best Unscripted M-Net Original (5 nominees)

• Bruk Yibrah – Out N’ About (Harar)
• Ercilia Justino, João Almeida, and Gabriela Ueno – Chapa Chapa My Love
• Graeme Swanepoel and Jemma Ford – Ultimate Girls Trip: Africa
• Hatibu Madudu – UNDUGU
• Sulaiman Kassim and Anneke De Ridder – Nigerian Idol (S10)

26.  Best Unscripted Series (5 Nominees)

• The Real Housewives Of Lagos S3
• Nigerian Idol S10
• Ultimate Girls Trip: Africa
• Offair With Gbemi And Toolz
• Out N About (Harar)

27.  Best Writing in a Movie (7 Nominees)

• Lani Aisida – The Herd
• Wale Davies – My Father’s Shadow
• Ikenna Okpara – Blackout
• Shirleen Wangari – Cards On The Table
• Xavier Ighorodje – Gingerrr
• Isaac Ayodeji – Suky
• Tomi Adesina – 3 Cold Dishes

28.  Best Writing TV Series (8 Nominees)

• Donald Tombia, Timendu Aghahowa, Chiemeka Osuagwu – The Wives
• Annette Shadeya, Natasha Likimani, Mkamzee Mwatela, Arnold Mwanjila, Makgano
• Mamabolo – MTV Shuga Mashariki
• Xavier Ighorodje – Our Husband
• Besufekade Mulu – Addis Fikir
• Temilola Balogun – Baba Oh
• Stephen Okonkwo – The Party
• Yednekachew Ayne – Gizat

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