The 11th Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA) brought glitz and recognition to African cinema during a star-studded evening on May 10, 2025, at the Eko Hotel and Suites in Lagos, Nigeria.
According to a report by Anthony Udugba, the event celebrated the continent’s storytelling talents across 28 competitive categories, where public votes blended with jury decisions to determine the winners. Emotional musical performances from Johnny Drille and Kunmie set the tone for a memorable night.
“Freedom Way,” “Seven Doors,” and “Lisabi: The Uprising” were the evening’s most decorated titles, receiving multiple awards across performance, technical, and creative categories.
Femi Adebayo and Chioma Chukwuka took home Best Lead Actor and Actress for their roles in Seven Doors. Mercy Aigbe and Gabriel Afolayan earned Supporting Actress and Actor honors, with Afolayan recognized for Inside Life.
The Best Movie prize went to Freedom Way, while The Man Died won Best Director. The culturally rich Lisabi: The Uprising picked up Best Indigenous Language Film (West Africa), Makeup, and Art Direction.
The full list also included winners from across East and Southern Africa. Makosa ni Yangu won in the East African language category, while Mwizukanji took the award for Southern Africa. TV content also got the spotlight, with Inside Life winning Best Scripted Series and Wa Milele named Best Unscripted Series.
Veteran actors Nkem Owoh and Sani Mu’azu were honored for their decades-long contributions to African film with Lifetime Awards.
The 2025 AMVCA continued its tradition of honoring diverse talent across the continent, with projects like The Legend of the Vagabond Queen of Lagos, Skeleton Coast, and Suspicion receiving well-deserved recognition for cinematography, sound design, and more.
Here is the full list of winners from the 11th Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA 2025), held on May 10, 2025, at Eko Hotel and Suites in Lagos, Nigeria:
Best Movie
- Freedom Way – Winner
- Christmas in Lagos
- Farmer’s Bride
- House of Gaa
- Inkabi
- Lisabi: The Uprising
- Skeleton Coast
- Suspicion
Best Director
- The Man Died – Winner
- House of Gaa
- Inkabi
- Seven Doors
- Skeleton Coast
- The Weekend
Best Lead Actress
- Chioma Chukwuka (Seven Doors) – Winner
- 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 Lead Actor
- Femi Adebayo (Seven Doors) – Winner
- Gideon Okeke (Tokunbo)
- Bucci Franklin (The Weekend)
- Femi Branch (House of Gaa)
- Thapelo Makoena (Skeleton Coast)
- Bimbo Manuel (Princess on a Hill)
- Stan Nze (Suspicion)
- Adedimeji Lateef (Lisabi: The Uprising)
Best Supporting Actress
- Mercy Aigbe (Farmer’s Bride) – Winner
- Meg Otanwa (Inside Life)
- Tina Mba (Suspicion)
- Ireti Doyle (All’s Fair in Love)
- Ini Dima-Okojie (Skeleton Coast)
- Omoni Oboli (Wives on Strike 3)
- Darasimi Nadi (Aburo)
Best Supporting Actor
- Gabriel Afolayan (Inside Life) – Winner
- Adedayo Adebowale (Lisabi)
- Aliu Gafar (Seven Doors)
- Femi Jacobs (Freedom Way)
- RMD (Christmas in Lagos)
- Uzor Arukwe (Suspicion)
- Mike Afolarin (House of Gaa)
Best Cinematography
- The Legend of the Vagabond Queen of Lagos – Winner
- Agemo
- Inkabi
- Lisabi: The Uprising
- Skeleton Coast
- Soft Love
- Yen Ara Asaase Ni
Best Editing
- Inkabi (Tongai Furusa) – Winner
- 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 Costume Design
- Christmas in Lagos – Winner
- Aníkúlápó (The Rise of the Scepter)
- House of Gaa
- Lisabi
Best Makeup
- Lisabi: The Uprising – Winner
- Aníkúlápó (The Rise of the Scepter)
- Inside Life
- Farmer’s Bride
- Seven Doors
- Suspicion
Best Documentary
- Mai DùnDún – Winner
- I Will Remember You
- On Your Own
- Walvis Tale
Best Series (Scripted)
- Inside Life – Winner
- Cheta M
- Princess on a Hill
- Roses & Ivy
- Seven Doors
Best Series (Unscripted)
- Wa Milele – Winner
- Ebuka Turns Up Africa
- Skillers: The Building Reality Show
- Style Magnate
- Take Me Home
Best Writing (Movie)
- Freedom Way – Winner
- A Ghetto Love Story
- Christmas in Lagos
- House of Gaa
- Skeleton Coast
- The Weekend
Best Writing (TV Series)
- Untying Kanti – Winner
- Aníkúlápó (Rise of the Spectre)
- Cheta M
- Princess on a Hill
- Roses & Ivy
- Seven Doors
Best Art Direction
- Lisabi: The Uprising – Winner
- Aníkúlápó (Rise of the Spectre)
- Christmas in Lagos
- Farmer’s Bride
- Seven Doors
- The Man Died
Best Sound Design
- Suspicion – Winner
- Beast of Two Worlds
- Freedom Way
- Inkabi
- Lisabi: The Uprising
- Seven Doors
Best Music/Score
- Seven Doors – Winner
- Freedom Way
- Inkabi
- Skeleton Coast
- Soft Love
Trailblazer Award
- Kayode Kasum – Winner
Best Short Film
- Brukaci – Winner
- Sukari
- The Incredible Sensational Fiancée of Seyi Ajayi
- What Are You Truly Afraid Of?
Best Unscripted M-Net Original
- Nigerian Idol (Season 9) – Winner
- Husband Material
- Pastor Wants a Wife
Best Indigenous Language (West Africa)
- Lisabi: The Uprising – Winner
- Seven Doors
- Kaka
- Anikulapo: The Rise of the Spectre
- Mai Martaba
Best Indigenous Language (East Africa)
- Makosa ni Yangu – Winner
- The Caller
- Empty Grave
- Sabotage
- Wa Milele (Forever?)
Best Indigenous Language (South Africa)
- Mwizukanji – Winner
- Walvis Tale
- The Vow
- Man of Gold
- Lukas
Best Indigenous M-Net Original
- Zi M Uzo – Winner
Best Scripted M-Net Original
- My Fairytale Wedding – Winner
- Uriri
- All Mine
- Italo
- The Caller
- Kam U Stay
Lifetime Awards
- Nkem Owoh
- Sani Mu’azu
Best MultiChoice Talent Factory
- Everything Light Touches – Winner
- Gone
- The Immersive Alarm
- Deadbeat
- Nwananga
- Rivals in Time
Article updated 3 weeks ago. Content is written and modified by multiple authors.
