Organisers of the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA) have unveiled nominees for the 12th edition of the awards ahead of the main ceremony scheduled for May 9, 2026.
Veteran actress Joke Silva has been appointed Head Judge, succeeding Femi Odugbemi.
This year’s edition features 32 categories, including 18 jury-voted awards, 11 audience-voted categories, and three special recognition awards, including Lifetime Achievement and Trailblazer honours.
AMVCA also introduced two new categories, Best Indigenous Language Film (North Africa) and Best Indigenous Language Film (Central Africa) as part of efforts to strengthen the awards’ pan-African representation.
Full List of Nominees
Best Digital Content Creator
- Elozonam Ogbolu, Genoveva Umeh
- Akwaman
- Destiny Ogie Osarewinda
- Emmanuel Kanaga, Sophia Chisom
- Benedict Ehimare Oriaifo
- Taaooma
- Steve Chuks
Best Indigenous Language Film (West Africa)
- The Serpent’s Gift
- Lisabi: A Legend Is Born
- Labake Olododo
- Olorisha
- Aljana
Best Indigenous Language Film (East Africa)
- Inside Job
- Sayari
- Addis Fikir
- My Son
- Kimote
Best Indigenous Language Film (South Africa)
- Bet I Love You
- Sebata: The Beast
- Ben Made It
- Terra Of Queens And Kuma 2
- Tlhaho Ya Mosadi
Best Indigenous Language Film (North Africa)
- The Omnipresent
- The Delivery
- The Hidden Voice
- This Is Portsaid
- Artal Alhanin: Our Memories
Best Indigenous Language Film (Central Africa)
- Mabanda
- Safou: A Gift From Nature
- Golden Spoon
Best Scripted M-Net Original
- Adam to Eve
- Mother of the Bride
- 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 Indigenous M-Net Original
- Inimba
- Kukoyi
- Undugu
- Out N’ About (Harar)
- Kampala Creme
- The Chocolate Empire
- Mgbuka
Best Short Film
- Fleas
- Rise
- Telephone
- Hussaini
- My Body, God’s Temple
Best Supporting Actor
- Simileoluwa Hassan – The Yard
- Lateef Adedimeji – Gingerrr
- 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 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: A Legend Is Born
- 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 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
- Emmanuel 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 Music Score
- 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 Stephen – Aljana
- Victor Akpan – Suky
- Thabiso Senne – Inimba
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 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 Writing 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
Best Writing in a 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 Scripted Series
- To Kill A Monkey
- The Yard
- The Chocolate Empire
- Inimba
- Kash Money
Best Unscripted Series
- The Real Housewives Of Lagos
- Nigerian Idol
- Ultimate Girls Trip: Africa
- Offair With Gbemi And Toolz
- Out N’ About (Harar)
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 Overall Movie
- Gingerrr
- The Herd
- My Father’s Shadow
- 3 Cold Dishes
- The Serpent’s Gift
- Behind The Scenes
