The Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA) announced its list of nominees already. Obsessing over the list and the conversation it has generated in film circles, I wrote a few thoughts down about this year’s list and by extension the awarding body.
Snubbing Some of the Best Films of 2024
Korede Azeez’s With Difficulty Comes Ease was collectively agreed upon by casual viewers and critics as Nollywood’s one of 2024’s decent offerings. Taiwo Egunjobi’s A Green Fever and Courage Obayuana’s Kill Boro, despite mixed reviews, were satisfactory when compared to a long list of other Nollywood offerings. Despite their critical acclaim and the AMVCA’s lip service attempts at awarding critically acclaimed films (Mami Wata, Over the Bridge and Breathe of Life), it’s surprising that on this year’s nomination list, these worthy films are completely missing. Their absence isn’t because the filmmakers didn’t submit them for consideration. They were submitted but not considered worthy of being nominated by the awarding body. This brazen snub speaks to the overall quality of the award itself.
Lumping Together of Categories
The AMVCA’s level of disorganization is often disarming. This year’s acting categories reveal the AMVCA’s uneducated lumping together of series and film. Performances from series and film, which require varying levels of depth and skills, are packed together. Until this year, the AMVCA had collapsed its Best Score/Music and Best Sound/Sound Design categories together. With its pattern of instability, it won’t be surprising if it collapses these distinct categories together again.
Kenya and Zambia lands Nominations
Distinctively Nigerian, the AMVCA has painstakingly nominated, as I mention in this article, consciously or unconsciously prioritizing its Nigerian films and filmmakers. However, this year, Kenya landed 10 nominations. Kibanda Pictures leads Kenya’s spotlight with four nominations with The Caller, a thriller led by Nice Githinji, nominated in three categories: Best Indigenous Language Film (East Africa), Best Scripted M-Net Original and Best Indigenous M-Net Original. Also, Showmax’s Subterranea, Kenya’s first sci-fi series, gets a nod in the Best Indigenous M-Net Original category. 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. From Zambia, we have Cosmas Ngandwe’s Mwizukanji and Emmanuel C Mwape’s Man of Gold nominated in the Best Indigenous Language (Southern Africa).
Despite this supposed Pan-African posture, there are still non-Nigerian names and films missing in its key categories.
AFRIFF Films Get AMVCA Nod
In my AMVCA predication article, I mentioned people not being familiar with some projects due to their festival distribution nature. One of those films is Ifeoma Nkiruka Chukwuogo’s Phoenix Fury which I predicted for Best Director, Best Writing,Best Lead Actress, Best Supporting Actress and Best Costume Design. Interestingly, this year’s nomination list has Afolabi Olalekan’s Freedom Way, Moshood Abiola Obatula,’s Agemo, Chukwuogo’s· Phoenix Fury, Awam Amkpa’s The Man Died, Daniel Oriahi’s A Ghetto Love Story, Robert Peters’ Skeleton Coast, The Agbajowo Collective’s The Legend of the Vagabond Queen of Lagos, Jide ‘JBlaze’ Oyegbile’s Brukaci and Abbesi Akhame’s The Incredible Sensational Fiancée of Sèyí Àjàyí’.
Here’s the list of AMVCA nominees for 2025:
Best Digital Content
Iyo Prosper Adokiye
Taaooma
Elozonam Ogbolu, Hoviare Freedom, Chiamaka Uzokwe
Jide Pounds Ibitoye
Ariyiikedimples, Brainjotter
Best Indigenous Language Film (West Africa)
Seven Doors
Lisabi: The Uprising
Kaka
Anikulapo: The Rise of the Spectre
Mai Martaba
Best Indigenous Language Film (East Africa)
The Caller
Empty Grave
Makosa ni Yangu
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 Scripted M-Net Original
Uriri — Xavier Ighorodje
All Mine — Hadizat Ibrahim
My Fairytale Wedding — Chinenye Nworah and Taiwo Adebayo
Italo — Rogers Ofime
The Caller — Brain Munene
Kam U Stay — Damaris Irungu Ochieng
Best Unscripted M-Net Original
Nigerian Idol
Pastor Wants A Wife (Zambia)
Overall Best
Husband Material
The Queens of Kopala
Best Indigenous M-Net Original
Mai Shayi
The Caller
Show Me The Way
Ebighi Ebi
Subterranea
Onye Agbata Obim
Amoanimaa’s Era
Best Short Film
Sukari (Omar Hamza)
Brukaci (Jide ‘JBlaze’ Oyegbile)
What Are You Really Afraid Of? (Nora Awolowo)
In Bloom: Afefe(Dolapo Adeleke and Voline Oguti)
The Incredible Sensational Fiance of Seyi Ajayi (Abbesi Akhamie)
Best Supporting Actor
Gabriel Afolayan (Inside Life)
Adedayo ‘Mr Macaroni’ Adebowale (Lisabi)
Aliu Gafar (Seven Doors)
Femi Jacobs (Freedom Way)
Richard Damijo-Mofe RMD (Christmas in Lagos)
Uzor Arukwe (Suspicion)
Mike Afolarin (House of Ga’a)
Efa Iwara (Princess on a Hill)
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)
Best Lead Actor
Gideon Okeke (Tokunbo)
Bucci Franklin (The Weekend)
Femi Branch (House of Ga’a)
Thapelo Makoen (Skeleton Coast)
Bimbo Manuel (Princess on A Hill)
Stan Nze (Suspicion)
Femi Adebayo (Seven Doors )
Adedimeji Lateef (Lisabi: The Uprising)
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)
Best Cinematography
Yen Ara Asaase Ni: This is Our Land (Onasis Gaisie, Michael Sefa and Apagnawem Annankra)
Inkabi (Chuanne Blofield)
The Legend of the Vagabond Queen of Lagos (Leo Purman)
Skeleton Coast (Wesley Johnston)
Soft Love (Ebrahim Hajee)
Lisabi: The Uprising (Barnabas Emordi and Nora Awolowo)
Agemo (Papama Tangela)
Best Editing
Tongai Furusa (Inkabi)
Martini Akande (Christmas in Lagos)
Jordan Koen (Skeleton Coast)
Holmes Awa and Paballo Modingoane (Soft Love)
Anthill Studio (Lisabi: The Uprising)
Laughter Ephraim and Peter Ugbede (Princess on a Hill)
Best Sound/Sound Design
Vaughn Phillips (Inkabi)
Tolu Obanro, Pius Fatoke and Adam Songbird (Seven Doors)
Ahuurra Andrew and Olushola Wilson (Freedom Way)
Tolu Obanro and Bode Odeyemi (Lisabi: The Uprising)
Adam Songbird and Pius Fatoke (Ajakaju: Beast of Two Worlds)
Michael Botha and Olaosebikan (Suspicion)
Best Score/Music
Seoli Bongani Mashaba (Inkabi)
Ahuurra Andrew, Kehinde ‘Louddaaa’ Alabi and Cobhams Asuquo (Freedom Way)
Tolu Obanro (Seven Doors)
Kolade Morakinyo (Mpse) and Efa Iwara (Love and Hate) ( Soft Love)
Chris Letcher (Skeleton Coast)
Best Art Direction
Kunle Afolayan and Soliu Quadri Afolabi (Anikulapo: Rise of the Spectre)
Joy Kadiri (Christmas in Lagos)
Daniel Okoi (Farmer’s Bride)
Tunji Afolayan (Seven Doors)
Soliu Badu Noutical and Nyanko Yakub (Lisabi: The Uprising)
Theo Lawson (The Man Died)
Best Costume Design
Anikulapo: Rise of the Spectre — Toyin Ogundeji
House of Ga’a — Bolanle Austen-Peters, Yolanda Okereke, Juliana Dede, and Gloria Ovu
Lisabi – The Uprising — Oluwatoyin Balogun and Oyebade Adebimpe Adedimeji
Phoenix Fury — Opeyemi Sogeke
Christmas in Lagos — Adedamola Adeyemi
Best Makeup
Hakeem Onilogbo (Anikulapo: Rise of the Spectre)
Hakeem Onilogbo (Lisabi: The Uprising)
Hakeem Onilogbo (Seven Doors)
Kpoudosu Winifred (Clarence Peters’ Inside Life)
Tracy Izogie and Adeleke Toluwalase Maigari (Suspicion)
Abejide Oluwatosin Mercy (Farmer’s Bride)
Best Writing TV Series
Abel Mutua Musyoka (Untying Kantai)
Louise Kamwangi (Tuki?)
Biodun Stephen and Abimbola Akinrinhola (Roses & Ivy)
Shola Dada (Anikulapo: Rise of the Spectre)
Bibi Ukpo, Niyi Adeniji and Sonia Nwosu (Princess on a Hill)
Ifeanyi Chidi Barbara (Cheta’M)
Adebayo Tijani, Yinka Laoye and Soyombo-Oluyombo Oluwagbemiga(Seven Doors)
Best Writing in a Movie
Egbemawei Dimiyesi Sammy, Vanessa Kanu and Fredrick O. Anyaebuham Jnr (The Weekend)
Omolola Lamikanra (Skeleton Coast)
Blessing Uzzi (Freedom Way)
Ifeoma N Chukwuogo (Phoenix Fury)
Victoria Eze (A Ghetto Love Story)
Jadesola Osiberu (Christmas in Lagos)
Tunde Babalola(House of Ga’a)
Best Documentary
Walvis Tale
Dundun
OYO (On Your Own)
Women of Salt: The Resilience of Ebonyi’s Women
I Will Remember You
Best Series (Scripted)
Inside Life (Clarence Peters)
Seven Doors (Femi Adebayo)
Princess on a Hill (Chuka Ejorh, Shayo Oke Sobo, Tolu Ajayi and Abiola Sobo)
Cheta’M ( James Omokwe)
Roses & Ivy (Biodun Stephen)
Best Series (Unscripted)
Style Magnate (Abiosola Omolade)
Skillers – The Builders Show ( Bright Jaja, Uche Ikejimba and Cross Okonkwo)
Ebuka Turns Up Africa (Ebuka Obi-Uchenedu, Erika Klopper, Ziyanfa Ngcara and Lamise Ayodeji Adedeji)
Wa Milele?(Forever?) (Kefa Ugo O and Jefferson Onasa)
Uzoamaka Tries Palmwine (Chinekwu Osakwe and Kennedy Ezumah)
Best Director
Robert O Peters (Skeleton Coast)
Norman Maake (Inkabi)
Bolanle Austen-Peters (House of Ga’a)
Awam Amkpa (The Man Died)
Daniel Emeke Oriahi (The Weekend)
Femi Adebayo, Adebayo Tijani and Tope Adebayo (Seven Doors)
Best Overall Movie
Lisabi
Skeleton Coast
Suspicion
Inkabi
House of Ga’a a’a
Freedom Way
Christmas in Lagos
Farmer’s Bride
