AMVCA 12: Celebrating African Film From Every Corner of the Continent

Twelve editions in, the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA) has grown into something that goes well beyond a night of trophies and red carpets. Organised by MultiChoice, a Canal+ company, and held annually in Lagos, it has become one of the most important platforms African film and television has for celebrating itself. It is a space where the continent’s stories are judged by African standards, for African audiences, and with each passing year, the map of who gets celebrated is growing wider.

A Platform That Has Grown With the Industry

When the AMVCA launched in 2013, it broadcast live to more than fifty countries. That ambition has only grown since. The show now features 32 categories covering film, television, and digital content, with entries coming from filmmakers across the continent. Over 11 editions, it has tracked the rise of African storytelling from straight-to-video productions to big-budget streaming originals competing for global attention.

What the AMVCA has done consistently is give African creators a stage where their work is recognised. In a world where African films still have to fight for visibility internationally, the AMVCA has been a space where the industry looks inward and finds plenty to celebrate.

New Categories, Wider Map

The 12th edition introduced two new award categories: Best Indigenous Language (North Africa) and Best Indigenous Language (Central Africa). These sit alongside the existing West Africa and East/Southern Africa indigenous language categories, completing a picture of the continent that the awards have been steadily building toward.

North Africa has a long and rich film history, from Egyptian cinema’s decades-long influence across the Arab world to the distinct filmmaking traditions of Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia. Central Africa, particularly the DRC, has a vibrant creative industry that has not always received the continental recognition it deserves. These new categories change that. They are a clear signal that the AMVCA is serious about making every region of Africa feel at home in its nominee lists.

East Africa’s Growing Presence

Kenya’s journey at the AMVCA is one of the clearest examples of how the show’s continental reach has expanded. From a handful of nominations in earlier editions, Kenyan productions earned ten nominations at the 11th edition and twelve at the 12th. Kibanda Pictures’ thriller The Caller picked up four nominations in 2025. In 2026, MTV Shuga Mashariki, a Kenyan young adult drama returning after a 15-year break, earned nominations for acting, writing, and score. The Chocolate Empire and Kash Money, both produced by Insignia Productions, appeared in the Best Scripted Series category, competing directly against strong Nigerian entries.

Tanzania has also made its mark. Wa Milele? won Best Unscripted Series at the 11th edition of the AMVCAs, and Abdisattar Ahmed won Best Supporting Actor for the Kenyan-Somali film Gacal at the 2023 AMVCAs. South African productions continue to feature regularly across technical and scripted categories. The breadth of winners and nominees is expanding, edition by edition.

Pan-African Collaboration on Screen

One of the most exciting developments in recent editions has been the rise of cross-border African productions. Skeleton Coast, a 2025 nominee that brought together production from multiple African countries, is a strong example of what that collaboration looks like on screen. These kinds of projects do not just tell African stories, they tell them together, pulling talent and creativity from different parts of the continent into a single film.

The AMVCA has been a platform that encourages this. When pan-African co-productions get nominated and recognised at the show, it sends a message to the industry that working across borders has value creatively and commercially.

Nollywood as the Foundation

None of this growth happens without Nollywood at the centre. Nigeria’s film industry is one of the great creative achievements of the continent, and the AMVCA has played a real role in raising its standards and visibility over the years. When films like Seven Doors, Lisabi: The Uprising, and Freedom Way dominate nominations, it reflects the quality and investment that Nigerian filmmakers have put into their work.

A strong Nollywood and a more inclusive AMVCA are not in conflict. Pan-African representation means building a bigger table, not a smaller one. That reach is what makes it possible for a Kenyan series or a Tanzanian production to be seen by audiences across the continent when it earns a nomination.

What the Next Chapter Looks Like

The 12th AMVCA features 32 categories, a new headline sponsorship with Don Julio, and a judging panel led by veteran actress Joke Silva. Every edition adds something, new categories, new countries, new voices getting recognised for the first time.

The vision that has always been at the heart of the AMVCA, that African storytelling deserves its own premier stage, is becoming more real with each year. The show started as a bold idea and has grown into the most visible celebration of African film and television on the continent. The next chapter is about making sure that the celebration belongs to all of Africa.