AMVCA 2026: See The Full List of Nominees

The African Magic Movie Awards – AMVCA; is an award show presented by MultiChoice recognizing outstanding performances in television, film, entertainment, and now in digital content creation.

The nominees for the 2025 AMVCAs are in! AMVCA is an award show presented by MultiChoice recognizing outstanding performances in television, film, entertainment, and now in digital content creation throughout Nollywood and the entire African content.

A major development ahead of this year’s nominations is the appointment of veteran actress Joke Silva as Head Judge. Silva takes over from long-standing head juror Femi Odugbemi.

The 12th AMVCA will feature 32 award categories, comprising 18 jury-voting categories, 11 public-voting categories, and 3 special recognition awards, including Lifetime Achievement and Trailblazer honours. 

Here’s the full nominees list of 2026 AMVCA:

Best Director

• 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

Best Movie

• Gingerrr

• The Herd

• My Father’s Shadow

• 3 Cold Dishes

• The Serpent’s Gift

• Behind The Scenes

Best Writing (Movie):

• 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

Best Documentary:

• Beyond Olympic Glory

• The Good, The Bad of Afrobeat

• The People Shall

• Not Addressing This Anymore

• BOU

Best Digital Content:

• Elozonam Ogbolu, Genoveva Umeh

• Destiny Ogie Osarewinda

• Emmanuel Kanaga, Sophia Chisom

• Benedict Ehimare Oriaifo

• Taaooma

• Steve Chuks

• Akwaman

Best Scripted M-Net Original:

• Adam to Eve

• Mother of The Brides

• The Yard

• The Low Priest

• Bobo

Best Unscripted M-Net Original:

• Nigerian Idol S10

• Ultimate Girls Trip: Africa

• Chapa Chapa My Love

• Out N About (Harar)

• Undugu

Best Scripted Original Series:

• To Kill A Monkey

• The Yard

• The Chocolate Empire

• Inimba

• Kash Money

Best Unscripted M-Net Original:

• The Real Housewives Of Lagos S3

• Nigerian Idol S10

• Ultimate Girls Trip: Africa

• Offair With Gbemi And Toolz

• Out N About (Harar)

Best Indigenous Language (West Africa):

• The Serpent’s Gift

• Lisabi: A Legend Is Born

• Labake Olododo

• Olorisha

• Aljana

Best Indigenous Language (East Africa):

• Inside Job

• Sayari

• Addis Fikir

• My Son

• Kimote

Best Indigenous Language (Southern Africa):

• Bet I Love You

• Sebata: The Beast

• Ben Made It

• Terra Of Queens And Kuma 2

• Tlhaho Ya Mosadi

Best Indigenous Language (Nothern Africa):

• The Omnipresent

• The Delivery

• The Hidden Voice

• This Is Portsaid

• Artal Alhanin: Our Memories

Best Indigenous M-Net Original:

• Inimba

• Kukoyi

• Undugu

• Kampala Creme S2

• The Chocolate Empire

• Mgbuka

Best Short Film:

Rise – Jessie J. Rowlands

Fleas – Jordy Sank

Telephone – Fimisinuola Adejonwo

Hussaini – Orire Nwani and Josh Olaoluwa

My Body, God’s Temple – Uzoamaka Power

Best Supporting Actress:

• 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

Best Lead Actor:

• 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

Best Lead Actress:

• Linda Ejiofor – The Serpent’s Gift

• Bimbo Akintola – To Kill A Monkey

• Ifeoma Fafunwa – The Lost Days

• Ariyike Owolagba – Something About The Briggs

• Sola Sobowale – Her Excellency

• Scarlet Gomez – Behind The Scenes

• Genoveva Umeh – The Herd

• Gloria Anozie-Young – Mother Of The Brides

Best Supporting Actor:

• 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

Best Cinematography:

• 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

• Emmauel Igbekele – Gingerrr

Best Editing:

• 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

Best Sound Design:

• 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

Best Score/Music

• 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

Best Art Direction:

• 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

Best Makeup:

• 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

Best Costume Design:

• 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

Best Writing in a TV Series:

• 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

The annual AMVCA ceremony for 2026 will be held in Lagos, Nigeria in May and will be broadcast live on all Africa Magic channels.

Which Movies/Nominees are you rooting to win big at this years’ AMVCAs?

Public voting is now open for select categories, viewers can vote and support their favourite nominees here.