The spotlight is back on the Nigerian movie industry tonight, as the 12th edition of the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA) takes center stage. Widely regarded as the “African Oscars,” this year’s ceremony arrives with renewed energy, a new hosting duo, and a competitive lineup that has kept fans talking since the nominations were unveiled in March.

Following last night’s vibrant Cultural Night, where stars like Omowunmi Dada, Uzor Arukwe and Stan Nze dazzled in elaborate traditional regalia under the theme “Honouring Craft, Celebrating Culture,” the industry has shifted gears toward the main event.

This year marks a historic transition in the show’s presentation. For the first time in over a decade, the legendary IK Osakioduwa passes the baton. Taking over the hosting duties is Bovi Ugboma; The Nigerian comedy heavyweight known for his razor-sharp wit.

Co-hosting alongside the South African actress and global humanitarian, Nomzamo Mbatha, she would be bringing a touch of continental elegance and Shaka iLembe grit to the stage.

The jury, led by the veteran Joke Silva, faces a heavy task. Two films, “Gingerrr” and “The Herd,” lead with nine nominations each, but the competition is fierce across all 32 categories

Stay tuned as we bring you real-time updates, red-carpet fashion critiques, and the full list of winners as they are announced. From the technical categories to the fan’s favorite public-voted awards, we are tracking every moment of the award

tonight.

Best Digital Content Creator

Dr Judgina – Situationally Transmitted Delusion – Elozonam Ogbolu and Genoveva Umeh

The Marriage List – Destiny Ogie Osarewinda

Leave To Live – Emmanuel Kanaga and Sophia Chisom[WINNER]

The Rate Race – Benedict Ehimare Oriaifo

Luxury Koko – Maryam Apaokagi-Greene (Taaoma)

August Meeting Election – Steve Chuks

Did I Just Hear Muah – Akwaman

 

Best Indigenous Language (East Africa)

Inside Job – Kamau Wandug’u, Joe Mahinda, and Barbara Njeri Maina

Sayari – Omar Hamza and June Wairegi

Addis Fikir – Leul Shoaferaw[WINNER]

My Son – Isarito Mwakalindile

Kimote – Hassan Mageye

 

Best Short Film

Rise – Jessie J. Rowlands

Fleas – Jordy Sank

Telephone – Fimisinuola Adejonwo

Hussainin – Orire Nwani and Josh Olaoluwa[WINNER]

My Body, God’s Temple – Uzoamaka Power

 

Best Indigenous Language (West Africa)

The Serpent’s Gift – Winifred Mena-Ajakpovi

Lisabi: A Legend Is Born – Lateef Adedimeji[WINNER]

Labake Olododo – Alice Iyabo Ojo, Olukanmi Abayomi, Alaba Onaolapo, Kene Okwuosa, Ladun Awobokun

Aljana – Grace Yachat Yakubu

Olorisha – Abiola Adeshina

 

Best Indigenous Language (North Africa)

The Omnipresent – Youssef Ben Khalifa

The Delivery – Abdalla Ezyan

The Hidden Voice – Houssem Eddine Abdelwahed

This Is Portsaid – Abdalla Ezyan

Artal Alhanin – Our Memories – Mohamed Awad and Mohamed Abdulraham Eldouma[WINNER]

 

Best Indigenous Language Film (South Africa)

“Tlhaho Ya Mosadi” – Naledi Galane, Promise Ramoroka, Ernest Ramoroka, Modipadi Mokgohioa (WINNER)

“Bet I Love You” – Joseph Duke, Keamogetse Modise

“Sebata (The Beast) – African Entertainers

“Ben Made It” – Thabang Mathuumetse, Thapelo Dikhutso

“Terra of Queens and Kuma 2” – Neo Leonardo Mokoena

 

Best Indigenous Language (Central Africa)

Mabanda – Kang Quintus[WINNER]

Safou: A Gift From Nature – Nyasha Makamba

Golden Spoon – Egbe Francis Ettabrown

 

Best Documentary

“Beyond Olympic Glory” – Shedrack Salami (WINNER)

“The Good x The Bad of Afrobeat” – Louis Ejiofor

“The People Shall” – Mark Maina, Nick Wambugu

“Not Adressing This Anymore” – Huzzain Bello

“BOU” – Mwaka Gerald Remmy

 

Best Short Film

“Hussainin” – Orire Nwani, Josh Olaoluwa (WINNER)

“Rise” – Jessie J. Rowlands

“Fleas” – Jordy Sank

“Telephone” – Fimisinuola Adejonwo

“My Body, God’s Temple” – Uzoamaka Power

 

Best Scripted M-Net Original

Adam To Eve – Lizz Njagah and Alexandros Konstantaras

Mother of the Brides – Rogba Arimoro and Bio Arimoro

The Yard – James Kalu Omokwe

The Low Priest – Femi D. Ogunsanwo[WINNER]

Bobo – Maurice Muendo

 

Best Unscripted M-Net Original

“Nigerian Idol (S10)” – Sulaiman Kassim, Anneke De Ridder (WINNER)

“The Real Housewives of Lagos (S3)” – Deola Art Alade, Darey Art Alade

“Ultimate Girls Trip: Africa” – Graeme Swanepoel

“Off Air” – Gbemi and Toolz

“Out N’ About” – Bruk Yibrah

 

Best Indigenous M-Net Original

Inimba – Siphosethu Tshapu, Thandi Ramathesele and Yolanda Ndhlovu[WINNER]

Kukoyi – David Akande

Undugu – Hatibu Madudu

Out N’ About (Harar) – Bruk Yibrah

Kampala Creme (S2) – Joel Ndugwa

The Chocolate Empire – Grace Kahaki and Phillippe Bresson

Mgbuka – Eze Izu

 

Best Supporting Actress

The Herd – Linda Ejiofor( WINNER)

Oversabi Aunty – Olamide Kidbaby

Gingerrr – Bisola Aiyeola

The Covenant Series – Sola Sobowale

Aljana – Nadia Dutch

The Herd – Amal Umar

MTV Shuga Mashariki – Juliebrenda Nyambura

Behind The Scene – Funke Akindele

 

Best Lead Actor

Oversabi Aunty – Mike Ezuruonye

Lisabi: A Legend Is Born – Lateef Adedimeji

To Kill A Monkey – William Benson

Grandpa Must Obey – Kanayo O. Kanayo

Bet I Love You – Khumbuza Meyiwa

Colours of Fire – Uzor Arukwe[WINNER]

3 Cold Dishes – Wale Ojo

Red Circle – Femi Branch

 

Best Cinematography

My Father’s Shadow – Jermaine Edwards

To Kill A Monkey – Kabelo Thathe

The Herd – Emmanuel Igbekele

Finding Nina – Daanong Gyang

The Serpent’s Gift – Emmanuel Igbekele

Stitches – KC Obiajulu

Gingerrr – Emmanuel Igbekele

 

Best Art Direction

The Serpent’s Gift – Zainab Oladipupo

The Herd – Omolade Abisola

Colours of Fire – Ajamolaya Bunmi [WINNER]

Aljana – Olatunji Afolayan and Gideon O Stephen

Suky – Victor Akpan

Inimba – Thabiso Senne

 

Best Documentary

Beyond Olympic Glory – Shedrack Salami[WINNER]

The Good x The Bad of Afrobeat – Louis Ejiofor

The People Shall – Mark Maina and Nick Wambugu

Not Addressing This Anymore – Huzzain Bello

BOU – Mwaka Gerald Remmy

 

Best Score Music

My Father’s Shadow – Duval Timothy, CJ Mirra

3 Cold Dishes – Nissi Ogulu

Osamede – Chubb Okobah

Gingerrr – Tolu Obanro

The Party – Tolu Obanro

MTV Shuga Mashariki – SoFresh

To Kill A Monkey – Oscar Herman-Ackah[WINNER]

 

Best Writing TV Series

The Wives – Donald Tombia, Timendu Aghahowa, Chiemeka Osuagwu

MTV Shuga Mashariki – Annette Shadeya, Natasha Likimani, Mkamzee Mwatela, Arnold Mwanjila, Makgano Mamabolo [WINNER]

Our Husband – Xavier Ighorodje

Addis Fikir – Besufekade Mulu

Baba Oh – Temilola Balogun

The Party – Stephen Okonkwo

Gizat – Yednekachew Ayne

 

Best Writing Movie

The Herd – Lani Aisida

My Father’s Shadow – Wale Davies[WINNER]

Blackout – Ikenna Okpara

Cards On The Table – Shirleen Wangari

Gingerrr – Xavier Ighorodje

Suky – Isaac Ayodeji

3 Cold Dishes – Tomi Adesina

 

Best Costume Design

The Serpent’s Gift – Mary Chukuma

The Real Housewives of Lagos S2 – Deola Art Alade, Darey Art Alade

Colours of Fire – Valerie Okeke [WINNER]

Something About The Briggs – Yolanda Okereke

To Kill A Monkey – Ikechukwu Urum and John Joseph Angel

 

Best Sound Design

My Father’s Shadow – Pius Fatoke and CJ Mirra [WINNER]

Gingerrr – Tolu Obanro

Ben Made It – Vaughan Phillips

The Party – Tolu Obanro

Sebata (The Beast) – Vaughan Phillips

The Herd – Fisayo Adefolaju

 

Best Series (Scripted)

To Kill A Monkey – Kemi Adetiba

The Yard – James Kalu Omokwe

The Chocolate Empire – Grace Kahaki and Phillippe Bresson

Inimba – Siphosethu Tshapu, Thandi Ramathesele and Yolanda Ndhlovu

Kash Money – Grace Kahaki and Phillippe Benson

 

Best Make-up

Behind The Scenes – Mojisola Imam

Lisabi: A Legend Is Born – Adeola Thelma Bamgboye [WINNER]

Gingerrr – Dablaq Artistry

Abanisete – Adeola Thelma Bamgboye

Warlord – Hakeem Onilogbo

Suky – Ruth Harcourt

Labake Olododo – Adeola Thelma Bamgboye

 

Best Lead Actress

The Serpent’s Gift – Linda Ejiofor[WINNER]

To Kill A Monkey – Bimbo Akintola

The Lost Days – Ifeoma Fafunwa

Something About The Briggs – Ariyike Owolagba

Her Excellency – Sola Sobowale

Behind The Scenes – Scarlet Gomez

The Herd – Genoveva Umeh

Mother Of The Brides – Gloria Anozie-Young

 

Best Supporting Actor

The Yard – Simileoluwa Hassan

Gingerrr – Lateef Adedimeji

Colours Of Fire – Gabriel Afolayan

To Kill A Monkey – Bucci Franklin[WINNER]

Agesinkole (King Of Thieves) 2 – Femi Adeboye

Red Circle – Lateef Adedimeji

Owanbe Thieves – Femi Branch

Behind The Scenes – Uzor Arukwe

 

Trailblazer Award

Uche Montana (WINNER)

 

Industry Merit Award

Sola Sobowale (WINNER)

Kanayo O. Kanayo (WINNER)

 

Best Director

My Father’s Shadow – Akinola Davies Jr

Cordelia – Tunde Kelani

Osamede – James Kalu Omokwe

The Herd – Daniel Etim Effiong

Gingerrr – Yemi Filmboy Morafa

3 Cold Dishes – Asurf Amuwa Oluseyi

 

Best Editing

Cordelia – Kazeem Agboola

My Father’s Shadow – Omar Guzman Castro

Landline – Nwanguma Peter Chidebere and Dele Doherty

3 Cold Dishes – Asurf Amuwa Oluseyi

Osamede – Winston Aig-Ohioma

To Kill A Monkey – Daniel Anyiam[WINNER]

 

Best Movie

Gingerrr – Ope Ajayi, Bisola Aiyeola, Bukunmi Adeaga-Ilori, Wumi Toriola, Bolaji Ogunmola, Onyeka Nnama

The Herd – Daniel Etim Effiong, Efe Ejukoriem, Ulogo Chukwudi, Kene Okwuosa, Craig Shurn, Ladun Awobokun

My Father’s Shadow – Funmbi Ogunbanwo and Rachel Dargavel

3 Cold Dishes – Martial Dansou, Asurf Amuwa Oluseyi and Ly Oumar

The Serpent’s Gift – Winifred Mena-Ajakpovi

Behind The Scenes – Funke Akindele and Wendy Uwadiae Imaseun

 

Best Series (Unscripted)

The Real Housewives Of Lagos S3 – Deola Art Alade and Darey Art Alade

Nigerian Idol S10 –

Suleiman Kassim and Anneke De Ridder

Ultimate Girls Trip: Africa – Graeme Swanepoel and Jemma Ford

Offair With Gbemi And Toolz – Gbemi Olateru-Olagbegi and Toolz Oniru-Demuren

Out N’ About (Harar) – Bruk Yibrah