The much-anticipated 11th AMVCA is finally here! And it’s literally the biggest awards night in Africa (you can call it the ‘Oscars of the continent’), where movie stars, directors, producers, and the movers & shakers of the African film industry all gather under one roof to show us how to slay & win!
With the nominations announced far & wide, and fans voting with the same energy they use to drag Twitter trolls, it’s finally time to welcome a new set of winners into the hallowed hall of fame. This year’s nominees represent exceptional talent across various categories – from jaw-dropping performances to intense action scenes that had us shouting “E choke 0!”
If you didn’t count, we have done it for you… All in all, there were 27 award categories, with 18 non-voting and 9 audience voting categories. There are also 2 recognition awards; the Lifetime Achievement Award and the Trailblazer Award. And just so you know, those non-voting categories are decided by the AMVCA panel of judges, led by the head judge and ace filmmaker, Femi Odugbemi (no be beans o!).
But enough long story, come and see the list of nominees and the winners that carried the award home:
Best Movie
Christmas in Lagos
Farmer’s Bride
Freedom Way
House of Gaa
Inkabi
Lisabi
Skeleton Coast
Suspicion
Winner: Freedom Way (Blessing Uzzi)
Best Director
House of Gaa
Inkabi
Seven Doors
Skeleton Coast
The Man Died
The Weekend
Winner: The Man Died (Awam Amkpa)
Best Lead Actress
Chioma Chukwuka (Seven Doors)
Gbubemi Ejeye (Farmer’s Bride)
Uzoamaka Onuoha (Agemo)
Uche Montana (Thin Line)
Uzoamaka Aniunoh (Phoenix Fury)
Hilda Dokubo (Wives on Strike 3)
Bimbo Ademoye (Anikulapo: Rise of the Spectre)
Winner: Chioma Chukwuka (Seven Doors)
Best Lead Actor
Gideon Okeke (Tokunbo)
Bucci Franklin (The Weekend)
Femi Branch (House of Gaa)
Thapelo Makoena (Skeleton Coast)
Bimbo Manuel (Princess on a Hill)
Stan Nze (Suspicion)
Femi Adebayo (Seven Doors)
Adedimeji Lateef (Lisabi: The Uprising)
Winner: Femi Adebayo (Seven Doors)
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 (Wives on Strike 3)
Darasimi Nadi (Aburo)
Winner: Mercy Aigbe (Farmer’s Bride)
Best Supporting Actor
Gabriel Afolayan (Inside Life)
Adedayo Adebowale (Lisabi)
Aliu Gafar (Seven Doors)
Femi Jacobs (Freedom Way)
RMD (Christmas in Lagos)
Uzor Arukwe (Suspicion)
Mike Afolarin (House of Gaa)
Winner: Gabriel Afolayan (Inside Life)
Best Indigenous Language (West Africa)
Seven Doors
Lisabi: The Uprising
Kaka
Anikulapo: The Rise of the Spectre
Mai Martaba
Winner: Lisabi: The Uprising
Best Cinematography
Agemo
Inkabi
Lisabi (The Uprising)
Skeleton Coast
Soft Love
The Legend of The Vagabond Queen Of Lagos
Yen Ara Asaase Ni
Winner: The Legend of the Vagabond Queen of Lagos (Filmmaker – Leo Purman)
Best Editing
Inkabi (Tongai Furusa)
Christmas in Lagos (Martini Akande)
Skeleton Coast (Jordan Koen)
Soft Love (Holmes Awa, Paballo Modingoane)
Lisabi: The Uprising (Anthill Studios)
Princess on a Hill (Laughter Ephraim, Peter Ugbede)
Winner: Inkabi (Tongai Furusa)
Best Costume Design
Aníkúlápó (The Rise of the Scepter)
Christmas in Lagos
House of Gaa
Lisabi
Phoenix Fury
Winner: Christmas In Lagos (Adedamola Adeyemi)
Best Makeup
Aníkúlápó (The Rise of the Scepter)
Inside Life
Farmer’s Bride
Lisabi (The Uprising)
Seven Doors
Suspicion
Winner: Lisabi (The Uprising)
Best Documentary
Mai DùnDún
I Will Remember You
On Your Own
Walvis Tale
Winner: Mai DùnDún – Ifeoluwa
Best Indigenous Language (East Africa)
The Caller
Empty Grave
Makosa ni Yangu
Sabotage
Wa Milele (Forever?)
Winner: Makosa ni Yangu
Best Indigenous Language (South Africa)
Walvis Tale
The Vow
Mwizukanji
Man of Gold
Lukas
Winner: Mwizukanji (Cosmas Ngandwe)
Best Scripted M-Net Original
Uriri
All Mine
My Fairytale Wedding
Italo
The Caller
Kam U Stay
Winner: My Fairytale Wedding (Chinenye Nworah and Taiwo Adebayo)
Best Music/Score
Freedom Way
Inkabi
Seven Doors
Skeleton Coast
Soft Love
Winner: Seven Doors (Composer- Tolu Obanro)
Best series (scripted)
Cheta M
Inside Life
Princess on a Hill
Roses & Ivy
Seven Doors
Winner: Inside Life (Clarence Peters)
Special Recognition Awards
Industry Merit Award
Nkem ‘Osuofia’ Owoh and Sani Mu’azu
Trailblazer Award
Kayode Kasum
Director of Reel Love, Baby Farm, Áfàméfùnà, Ajosepo, Obara’M, Far From Home, Soole, This Lady Called Life, Sugar Rush, Kambili & founder of FilmTribe Media
Best MultiChoice Talent Factory
Gone (West Africa)
Everything Light Touches (West Africa)
The Immersive Alarm (East Africa)
Deadbeat (East Africa)
Mwananga (Southern Africa)
Rivals in Time (Southern Africa)
Winner: Everything Light Touches (West Africa) – Olumide Glover
Best Unscripted M-Net Original
Husband Material
Nigerian Idol
Overall Best
Pastor Wants a Wife
Winner: Nigerian Idol (Season 9) Kassim Suleiman
Best Short Film
Brukaci
Sukari
The Incredible Sensational Fiancée of Seyi Ajayi
What Are You Truly Afraid Of?
Winner: Brukaci
