The Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA) 2025 unveiled nominees across 27 categories yesterday in Lagos, with Kenya earning a total of 10 nominations.
Arguably the most prestigious film and TV awards in Africa, the AMVCA, now in its eleventh year, recognizes outstanding achievement in film and television.
While the awards have always been a Nollywood affair, with key categories reserved for Nigerian productions, Kenya has gained significant traction in the past three years. In 2023, the country earned its highest-ever AMVCA tally with 17 nominations, but saw a drop in 2024 with only six nods, including a win for Tosh Gitonga’s Volume in the Best Writing category.
This year, Kibanda Pictures leads Kenya’s representation with four nominations. The Caller, a thriller led by Nice Githinji is nominated in three categories: Best Indigenous Language Film (East Africa), Best Scripted M-Net Original and Best Indigenous M-Net Original. Showmax’s Subterranea, Kenya’s first sci-fi series, also secured a nomination in the Best Indigenous M-Net Original category. Both projects are directed by Likarion Wainaina.
Philit Productions’ Makosa ni Yangu is also nominated for Best Indigenous Language Film (East Africa), alongside Tanzania’s The Empty Grave and Wa Milele? and Uganda’s Sabotage. Makosa ni Yangu made history in 2024 with a premiere that drew 6,000 attendees and has been hailed as Africa’s largest movie premiere.
Maisha Magic’s sitcom Kam U Stay earned a nomination for Best Scripted M-Net Original, while the Showmax comedy-drama Untying Kantai and young adult drama Tuki? were both recognized in the Best Writing for TV Series category.
Rounding out Kenya’s nominations are The Immersive Alarm and Deadbeat, both nominated in the Best MultiChoice Talent Factory Movie category.
Voting is officially open and will run until 4 May 2025 via the Africa Magic website. There are 18 non-voting, and 9 audience voting categories, along with two special recognition awards: the Lifetime Achievement and Trailblazer Awards. The non-voting categories will be decided by the AMVCA panel of judges led by the Head Judge and ace filmmaker, Femi Odugbemi.
The ceremony will be broadcast live on 10 May 2025 across all Africa Magic Channels.
Here’s the full list of AMVCA 2025 nominees:
Best Movie
Lisabi: The Uprising
Skeleton Coast
Suspicion
Inkabi
House of Ga’a
Freedom Way
Christmas in Lagos
Farmer’s Bride
Best Lead Actress
Chioma Chukwuka – Seven Doors
GbugbemI Ejeye – Farmer’s Bride
Uzoamaka Onuoha – Agemo
Uche Montana – Thinline
Uzoamaka Aniunoh – Phoenix Fury
Hilda Dokudo – The Uprising: Wives On Strike 3
Bimbo Ademoye – Anikulapo: Rise of the Spectre
Best Lead Actor
Gideon Okeke – Tokunbo
Bucci Franklin – The Weekend
Femi Branch – House of Ga’a
Thapelo Makoena – Skeleton Coast
Bimbo Manuel – Princess On A Hill
Stan Nze – Suspicion
Femi Adebayo – Seven Doors
Adedimeji Lateef – Lisabi: The Uprising
Best Supporting Actress
Meg Otanwa – Inside Life
Tina Mba – Suspicion
Ireti Doyle – All’s Fair in Love
Ini Dima-Okojie – Skeleton Coast
Mercy Aigbe – Farmer’s Bride
Omoni Oboli – The Uprising: Wives on Strike 3
Darasimi Nnadi – Aburo
Best Supporting Actor
Gabriel Afolayan – Inside Life
Adedayo Adebowale Macaroni – Lisabi: The Uprising
Aliu Gafar – Seven Doors
Femi Jacobs – Freedom Way
Richard Mofe-Damijo – Christmas In Lagos
Uzor Arukwe – Suspicion
Mike Afolarin – House of Ga’a
Efa Iwara – Princess on a Hill
Best Director
Robert O Peters – Skeleton Coast
Norman Maake – Inkabi
Bolanle Austen-Peters – House of Ga’a
Awam Amkpa – The Man Died
Daniel Emeka Oriahi – The Weekend
Femi Adebayo, Adebayo Tijani, Tope Adebayo – Seven Doors
Best Writing in a Movie
The Weekend
Skeleton Coast
Freedom Way
Phoenix Fury
A Ghetto Love Story
House of Ga’a
Christmas In Lagos
Best Cinematography
Yen Ara Asaase Ni (This Is Our Land)
Inkabi
The Legend of the Vagabond Queen of Lagos
Skeleton Coast
Soft Love
Lisabi: The Uprising
Agemo
Best Editing
Inkabi
Christmas In Lagos
Skeleton Coast
Soft Love
Lisabi: The Uprising
Princess On A Hill
Best Sound Design
Inkabi
Seven Doors
Freedom Way
Lisabi: The Uprising
Ajakaju: Beast Of Two Worlds
Suspicion
Best Score/Music
Inkabi
Freedom Way
Seven Doors
Soft Love
Skeleton Coast
Best Art Direction
Anikulapo: Rise of the Spectre
Christmas In Lagos
Farmer’s Bride
Seven Doors
The Man Died
Lisabi: The Uprising
Best Costume Design
Toyin Ogundeji – Anikulapo: Rise of the Spectre
Bolanle Austen- Peters, Yolanda Okereke, Juliana Dede, Gloria Oyu – House Of Ga’a
Oluwatoyin Balogun, Oyeade Adeimpe Adedimeji – Lisabi: The Uprising
Opeyemi Sogeke – Phoenix Fury
Adedamola Adeyemi – Christmas In Lagos
Best Makeup
Anikulapo: Rise of the Spectre
Lisabi: The Uprising
Seven Doors
Farmer’s Bride
Clarence Peters’ Inside Life
Suspicion
Best Indigenous M-Net Original
Mai Shayi
The Caller
Show Me The Way
Ebighi Ebi
Subterranea
Onye Agbata Obim
Amoanimaa’s Era
Best Scripted M-Net Original
Uriri
All Mine
My Fairytale Wedding
Italo
The Caller
Kam U Stay
Best Unscripted M-Net Original
Nigerian Idol
Pastor Wants A Wife (Zambia)
Overall Best
Husband Material
The Queens of Kopala
Best Scripted Series
Clarence Peters’ Inside Life
Seven Doors
Princess On A Hill
Cheta’M
Roses & Ivy
Best Unscripted Series
Style Magnate
Skillers: The Builders Show
Ebuka Turns Up Africa
Wa Milele? (Forever?)
Uzoamaka Tries Palmwine
Best Writing TV Series
Untying Kantai
Tuki?
Roses & Ivy
Cheta’M
Seven Doors
Anikulapo: Rise of the Spectre
Princess On A Hill
Best Indigenous Language Film (West Africa)
Seven Doors
Lisabi: The Uprising
Kaka
Anikulapo: Rise of the Spectre
Mai Martaba
Best Indigenous Language Film (East Africa)
The Caller
Makosa ni Yangu
The Empty Grave
Sabotage
Wa Milele? (Forever?)
Best Indigenous Language Film (South Africa)
Walvis Tale
The Vow
Mwizukanji
Man of Gold
Lukas
Best Multichoice Talent Factory Movie
Gone (West Africa)
Everything Light Touches (West Africa)
The Immersive Alarm (East Africa)
Deadbeat (East Africa)
Mwananga (Southern Africa)
Rivals in Time (Southern Africa)
Best Documentary
Walvis Tale
Dundun
O.Y.O (On Your Own)
Women of Salt: The Resilience of Ebonyi’s Women
I Will Remember You
Best Short Film
Sukari
Brukaci
What Are You Truly Afraid Of?
In Bloom: ‘Afefe’
The Incredible Sensational Fiancee of Seyi Ajayi
Best Digital Content Creator
Iyo Prosper Adokiye
Maryam Apakagi-Greene
Elozonam Ogbolu, Hoviare Freedom, Chiamaka Uzokwe
Jide Pounds Ibitoye
Ariyiikedimples, Brain Jotter
