AMVCA 12 Winners Announced as Debate Over Major Snubs Intensifies

The 12th edition of the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA) has officially concluded, but its impact is still being felt across the African entertainment industry. The prestigious event, held in Lagos, once again brought together the biggest names in film, television, and digital content creation to celebrate excellence in African storytelling. It was a night filled with glamour, emotional speeches, standing ovations, and unforgettable wins, but also a night that sparked widespread debate over surprising outcomes in several categories.

As the dust settles, attention has shifted from the red carpet moments to the winners’ list itself, which has become the subject of intense discussion among fans, critics, and industry stakeholders. While some productions and actors walked away as clear winners, others were noticeably absent from the winners’ circle, fueling conversations about fairness, competition standards, and evolving trends within African cinema.

The biggest titles of the night included My Father’s Shadow, Colours of Fire, The Serpent’s Gift, and To Kill a Monkey, all of which dominated different segments of the awards. These films not only secured major wins but also reinforced the growing technical depth and narrative sophistication of African filmmaking.

Below is a full, easy-to-follow breakdown of all categories and winners from the 12th AMVCA edition.

Performance Categories

The acting categories were among the most competitive this year, featuring seasoned veterans, rising stars, and breakout performances that defined the cinematic year.

Best Lead Actor: Uzor Arukwe – Colours of Fire

Uzor Arukwe’s performance was widely praised for its emotional depth and commanding screen presence, ultimately earning him the top acting prize in the male lead category.

Best Lead Actress: Linda Ejiofor – The Serpent’s Gift

Linda Ejiofor delivered a powerful performance that resonated with both audiences and judges, securing her one of the most prestigious awards of the night.

Best Supporting Actor: Bucci Franklin – To Kill a Monkey

Bucci Franklin stood out for his gripping and layered performance, contributing significantly to the film’s overall impact.

Best Supporting Actress: Linda Ejiofor – The Herd

In a rare and highly discussed achievement, Linda Ejiofor also claimed the Best Supporting Actress award, making her one of the most decorated winners of the ceremony.

Trailblazer Award: Uche Montana

The Trailblazer Award recognized Uche Montana’s rapid rise and growing influence within the industry, particularly among younger audiences.

Lifetime Achievement Award: Sola Sobowale and Kanayo O. Kanayo

Two of Nollywood’s most respected veterans were honoured for their decades of contribution to African cinema, earning emotional tributes from colleagues and fans.

Best Movie and Major Production Awards

The Best Movie category is always one of the most anticipated moments of the AMVCA, and this year was no exception.

Best Movie: My Father’s Shadow – Funmbi Ogunbanwo & Rachel Dargavel

The win for My Father’s Shadow confirmed its status as one of the most complete productions of the year. The film impressed across multiple disciplines, including direction, writing, cinematography, and sound design, making it a dominant force throughout the night.

Directing and Writing Categories

This section highlighted the creative minds behind the stories that defined the year in African film and television.

Best Director: Akinola Davies Jr. – My Father’s Shadow

Best Writing (Movie): Wale Davies & Akinola Davies – My Father’s Shadow

Best Writing (TV Series): MTV Shuga Mashariki – Annette Shadeya & Team

The dominance of My Father’s Shadow in both directing and writing categories reinforced its reputation as a critically acclaimed production with strong storytelling foundations and visionary execution.

Technical Excellence Categories

The technical awards showcased the behind-the-scenes talent responsible for bringing African stories to life with high production quality and cinematic depth.

Best Cinematography: Kabelo Thathe – To Kill a Monkey

Best Editing: Daniel Anyiam – To Kill a Monkey

Best Art Direction: Ajamolaya Bunmi & Yakub Oladejo – Colours of Fire

Best Costume Design: Valerie Okeke – Colours of Fire

Best Sound and Sound Design: Pius Fatoke & CJ Mirra – My Father’s Shadow

Best Score/Music: Duval Timothy & CJ Mirra – My Father’s Shadow

Best Makeup: Hakeem Onilogbo (Hakeem Effect) – Lisabi – A Legend Is Born

This category reflected the increasing professionalism in African film production, with multiple films sharing recognition across different technical disciplines, further proving the industry’s rapid evolution.

Indigenous Language Film Categories

One of the most culturally significant aspects of the AMVCA remains its dedication to celebrating African languages and regional storytelling traditions.

Best Indigenous Language (West Africa): Lisabi – A Legend Is Born – Mobi Opeyade & Dimeji Lateef

Best Indigenous Language (Central Africa): Mabanda – Kang Quintus

Best Indigenous Language (East Africa): Addis Fikr – Leul Shoaferaw

Best Indigenous Language (Southern Africa): Tlhaho Ya Mosadi – Naledi Galane & Team

Best Indigenous Language (North Africa): Artal Alhanin – Mohamed Awad & Team

These awards continue to highlight the richness and diversity of African cultures, while also encouraging filmmakers to preserve and promote indigenous languages through modern storytelling formats.

Digital, Documentary, and Short Film Categories

As digital storytelling continues to grow across Africa, this category has become increasingly competitive and relevant.

Best Digital Content Creator: Emmanuel Kanaga & Sophia Chisom – Leave to Live

Best Documentary: XtroVarts

Best Short Film: Nwani Orire & Josh Olaolu

Best Unscripted M-Net Original: Nigerian Idol (Season 10)

Best Scripted M-Net Original: The Low Priest – Femi D. Ogunsanwo

These winners reflect the expanding influence of streaming platforms, social media content creators, and television productions in shaping modern African entertainment.

Post-Awards Reactions and Industry Conversations

Beyond the winners and performances, much of the conversation after the event has focused on perceived surprises and notable omissions. Social media platforms were filled with debates shortly after the ceremony, with fans passionately defending their favorite actors and films.

A major talking point was the strong performance of Linda Ejiofor, whose rare double win in both lead and supporting categories drew admiration and debate in equal measure. While many praised her versatility and emotional range, others felt that the competition in the supporting category was equally strong and deserved wider recognition.

Another widely discussed moment involved Lisabi – A Legend Is Born, which secured recognition in the indigenous language category and makeup category but sparked conversations about whether its lead performances deserved more recognition in the major acting categories.

Similarly, Colours of Fire and To Kill a Monkey attracted strong opinions, with viewers divided over whether certain performances and technical achievements should have translated into more top-tier awards.

Despite the debates, most analysts agree that the overall quality of entries this year was significantly higher than in previous editions. Productions were more ambitious, storytelling was more refined, and technical execution reached new levels of professionalism.

A Defining Year for African Cinema

The 12th AMVCA ultimately reinforced a clear message about the direction of African cinema. The industry is no longer in a developmental stage but is now operating at a competitive and globally relevant standard. Films are becoming more cinematic, storytelling is becoming more layered, and technical teams are delivering work that rivals international productions.

Productions like My Father’s Shadow demonstrated how African films can dominate across multiple categories when storytelling, direction, and technical execution align. Meanwhile, films like Colours of Fire and The Serpent’s Gift showed that strong performances remain central to audience engagement and critical success.

As the industry moves forward, expectations are already rising for the next edition. Filmmakers, actors, and producers will be aiming not only to win awards but to push creative boundaries even further.

If the 12th AMVCA is any indication, African cinema is entering a new era defined by competition, innovation, and global recognition, where every year raises the bar higher than the last.

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