The 2025 Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA) nominations have been announced, with Seven Doors, directed by Femi Adebayo, emerging as the frontrunner with 11 nominations. The film, which secured nods in key categories such as Best Movie and Best Indigenous Language Film (West Africa), sets the stage for an exciting competition.
Other major contenders include Lisabi: The Uprising and Anikulapo: Rise of the Spectre, both receiving widespread recognition across multiple categories. However, the exclusion of With Difficulty Comes Ease, despite its official submission, has sparked disappointment among fans and critics alike. .
Festival Films Take Center Stage
A defining trend this year is the strong presence of films that premiered at the 2024 Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF). Titles such as Agemo, Phoenix Fury, Brukaci, Freedom Way, Princess on a Hill, Skeleton Coast, The Man Died, A Ghetto Love Story, The Incredible Sensational Fiancée of Seyi Ajayi, and The Legend of the Vagabond Queen of Lagos have all earned nominations, highlighting the increasing influence of festival films on mainstream recognition.
See the full nomination list here
Best Digital Content Creator
Iyo Prosper Adokiye
Maryam Apakagi-Greene
Elozonam Ogbolu, Hoviare Freedom, Chiamaka Uzokwe
Jide Pounds Ibitoye
Ariyiikedimples, Brain Jotter
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 Unscripted M-Net Original
Nigerian Idol
Pastor Wants A Wife (Zambia)
Overall Best
Husband Material
The Queens of Kopala
Best Scripted M-Net Original
Uriri
All Mine
My Fairytale Wedding
Italo
The Caller
Kam U Stay
Best Indigenous Language Film (West Africa)
Seven Doors
Lisabi: The Uprising
Kaka
Anikulapo: Rise of the Spectre
Mai Martaba
Best Indigenous Language Film (East Africa)
The Caller
Makosa Di Yangu
Sabotage
Wa Milele? (Forever?)
Best Indigenous Language Film (South Africa)
Walvis Tale
The Vow
Mwizukanji
Man of Gold
Lukas
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
Brukaci
What Are You Truly Afraid Of?
In Bloom: ‘Afefe’
The Incredible Sensational Fiancee of Seyi Ajayi
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 – The Uprising: Wives on Strike 3
Darasimi Nnadi – Aburo
Best Supporting Actor
Gabriel Afolayan – Inside Life
Adedayo Adebowale Macaroni – Lisabi: The Uprising
Aliu Gafar – Seven Doors
Femi Jacobs – Freedom Way
Richard Mofe-Damijo – Christmas In Lagos
Uzor Arukwe – Suspicion
Mike Afolarin – House of Ga’a
Efa Iwara – Princess on a Hill
Best Lead Actress
Chioma Chukwuka – Seven Doors
GbugbemI Ejeye – Farmer’s Bride
Uzoamaka Onuoha – Agemo
Uche Montana – Thinline
Uzoamaka Aniunoh – Phoenix Fury
Hilda Dokubo – The Uprising: Wives On Strike 3
Bimbo Ademoye – Anikulapo: Rise of the Spectre
Best Lead Actor
Gideon Okeke – Tokunbo
Bucci Franklin – The Weekend
Femi Branch – House of Ga’a
Thapelo Makoena – Skeleton Coast
Bimbo Manuel – Princess on a Hill
Stan Nze – Suspicion
Femi Adebayo – Seven Doors
Adedimeji Lateef – Lisabi: The Uprising
Best Editing
Inkabi – Tongai Furusa
Christmas In Lagos – Martini Akande
Skeleton Coast – Jordan Koen
Soft Love – Holmes Awa, Paballo Modingoane
Lisabi: The Uprising – Anthill Studios
Princess on a Hill – Laughter Ephraim, Peter Ugbede
Best Cinematography
Yen Ara Asaase Ni (This Is Our Land) – Onasis Gaisie, Micahel Sefa, Apagnawen Annankra
Inkabi – Chuame Blofield
The Legend of the Vagabond Queen of Lagos – Leo Purman
Skeleton Coast – Wesley Johnson
Soft Love – Ephraim Hope
Lisabi: The Uprising – Barny Emordi, Nora Awolowo
Agemo – Papama Tangela
Best Sound/Sound Design
Inkabi – Vaugn Philips
Seven Doors – Tolu Obanro, Pius Fatoke, Adam Songbird
Freedom Way – Ahuura Andrew, Olushola Wilson
Lisabi: The Uprising – Tolu Obanro, Bode Odeyemi
Ajakaju: Beast Of Two Worlds – Adam Songbird, Pius Fatoke
Suspicion – Michael Botha, Olaosebikan Okonrende
Best Score/Music
Inkabi – Seoli Bongani Mashaba
Freedom Way – Ahuura Andrew, Kehinde Alabi, Cobhams Asuquo
Seven Doors – Tolu Obanro
Soft Love – Kolade Morakinyo, Efa Iwara
Skeleton Coast – Chris Letcher
Best Art Direction
Anikulapo: Rise of the Spectre – Kunle Afolayan, Soliu Afolabi
Christmas In Lagos – Joy Kadiri
Farmer’s Bride – Daniel Okoi
Seven Doors – Tunji Afolayan
The Man Died – Theo Lawson
Lisabi: The Uprising – Soliu Badu, Ayanmo Yakub
Best Costume Design
Toyin Ogundeji – Anikulapo: Rise of the Spectre
Bolanle Austen- Peters, Yolanda Okereke, Juliana Dede, Gloria Oyu – House Of Ga’a
Oluwatoyin Balogun, Oyeade Adeimpe Adedimeji – Lisabi: The Uprising
Opeyemi Sogeke – Phoenix Fury
Adedamola Adeyemi – Christmas In Lagos
Best Makeup
Anikulapo: Rise of the Spectre – Hakeem Onilogbo
Lisabi: The Uprising – Hakeem Onilogbo
Seven Doors – Hakeem Onilogbo
Farmer’s Bride – Abeide Oluwatosin Mercy
Clarence Peters’ Inside Life – Kpoudosu Winifred
Suspicion – Tracy Izogie, Adeleke Toluwalase Maiagri
Best Writing TV Series
Untying Kantai – Abel Mutua Muysoka
Tuki? – Louise Kamwangi
Roses and Ivy – Biodun Stephen, Abimbola Akinrinbola
Anikulapo Rise of The Spectre – Sola Dada
Princess on a Hill – Bibi Ukpo, Niyi Adeniji, Sonia Nwosu
Cheta’M – Ifeanyi Barbara Chidi
Seven Doors – Adebayo Tijani, Yinka Laoye, Soyombo-Oluyombo Oluwagbemiga)
Best Writing in a Movie
The Weekend – Egbemawei Dimiyesi Sammy, Vanessa Kanu, Frederick O. Anyaebunam JNR
Skeleton Coast – Omolola Lamikanra
Freedom Way – Blessing Uzzi
Phoenix Fury – Ifeoma N Chukwuogo
A Ghetto Love Story – Victoria Eze
House of Ga’a – Tunde Babalola
Christmas In Lagos – Jadesola Osiberu
Best Documentary
Walvis Tale
Dundun
O.Y.O (On Your Own)
Women of Salt: The Resilience of Ebonyi’s Women
I Will Remember You
Best Scripted Series
Clarence Peters’ Inside Life
Seven Doors
Princess On A Hill
Cheta’M
Roses & Ivy
Best Unscripted Series
Style Magnate
Skillers The Builders Show)
Ebuka Turns Up Africa
Wa Milele? (Forever?)
Uzoamaka Tries Palmwine
Best Director
Robert O Peters – Skeleton Coast
Norman Maake – Inkabi
Bolanle Austen-Peters – House of Ga’a
Awam Amkpa – The Man Died
Daniel Emeka Oriahi – The Weekend
Femi Adebayo, Adebayo Tijani, Tope Adebayo – Seven Doors
Best Movie
Lisabi: The Uprising
Skeleton Coast
Suspicion
Inkabi
House of Ga’a
Freedom Way
Christmas in Lagos
Farmer’s Bride
Award Categories & Voting
The AMVCA 2025 will feature 27 categories, with 9 open to public voting, a slight reduction from the initially announced 28 categories.
With the nominations now unveiled, anticipation builds as audiences await the grand ceremony. Will Seven Doors dominate the awards night, or will another film steal the spotlight? Stay tuned for what promises to be an unforgettable celebration of African cinema.