AMVCA 2023: And The Big Nominees Are…

The buzz in town is the official announcement of the nominees of the 9th edition of the prestigious Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards (AMVCA). Organised by Africa Magic in association with MultiChoice, the nominees for the AMVCA that recognises and celebrates outstanding performances in African television and film were announced on Sunday night by Bisola Aiyeola and Adjetey Anang alongside child actors, Jasmine Olarotimi and Nifemi Lawal.

Of the announced categories, 10 are opened to public votes, while the AMVCA panel of judges headed by veteran filmmaker, Femi Odugbemi, will decide others. Moviedom salutes all the nominees, particularly, the big nominees of the AMVCA 2023— Kunle Afolayan Netflix original movie Anikulapo, which bagged the most nominations of the night with 16 nominations; Loukman Ali’s Brotherhood with 11 nominations; Dimeji Ajibola’s Shanty Town with 11 nominations and Funke Akindele’s Battle on Buka Street.

Anikulapo (16 Nominations)
KUNLE Afolayan’s epic fantasy movie, Anikulapo, emerged the movie with the most nomination after the official announcement of nominees on Sunday. The movie, which was recently voted as the most-watched movie on Netflix in Nigeria in 2022, received 16 nominations ahead of Brotherhood, which got 11 nominations and Shanty Town, which also got 11 nominations.

The movie, which according to streaming data provider beat major worldwide releases like RRR and Adams Project to emerge most watched movie on Netflix, featured in the categories of Best Actress in a Drama, movie or TV series (for Bimbo Ademoye), two nominations (For Taiwo Hassan and Yinka Quadri) in the Best Supporting Actor category, Best Supporting Actress (Sola Sobowale), Costume design (Toyin Ogundeji), and best writer.

The Netflix original also earned nomination in the categories of best light designer, best indigenous language movie, best overall movie-Africa, best cinematographer, best director, best makeup, best sound track, best sound editor, best lighting, and best picture editor.

The epic movie, which observers have picked as the most likely big winner at the awards night, tells the story of love, death and betrayal following a young man’s quest for greener pastures, who encounters a mythical bird (Akala) with the power to give him another chance to live. Among the notable Nollywood stars that featured in the movie are: Kunle Remi; Bimbo Ademoye; Sola Sobowale; Hakeem Kae-Kazim; Taiwo Hassan, Adebayo salami and yinka Quadri.

Brotherhood (11 Nominations)
THE box office hit, Brotherhood, grabbed 11 nominations after last Sunday’s announcement of nominees for the 2023 edition of the AMVCA. Directed by Loukman Ali and Produced by Jade Osiberu, the movie was nominated in the categories of Best Actor in a drama, movie or TV series (For Tobi Bakre), Best Supporting Actor (for OC Ukeje), Best Supporting Actress (for Toni Tones), Best Costume Designer, Best Art Director, and Best Lighting Designer.

The movie about two brothers who fell on opposite sides of the law after years of fighting to survive on the streets of Lagos also featured prominently in the categories of Best Overall Movie-Africa, Best Director, Best Cinematographer, Best Picture Editor, and Best Lighting Designer.

Starring notable actors such as Tobi Bakare, Mercy Aigbe, and Sam Dede, Brotherhood was released in September 2022 and it made over 300 million naira at the box office. The popularity of the movie and its acceptance when it was released is the reason observers think it will do well at the award ceremony in May.

Shanty Town (11 Nominations)
THE crime thriller, Shanty Town, directed by Dimeji Ajibola and produced by Chinenye Nworah is one of the movies with the most nomination for AMVCA 2023. The six-part series, which was released on Netflix on January 20, grabbed 11 nominations making it the third best-nominated film for this edition.

Starring Chidi Mokeme, Ini Edo (who doubles as Executive Producer), Nse Ikpe Etim and Richard Mofe Damijo amongst other big names, the movie which follows the story of three Lagos-based hustlers who unite to wage war against the giant and most ruthless crime ring in the state featured on the nomination grid in the categories of Best Actress in a drama, movie or TV series (For Nse Ike-Etim and Ini Edo), Best Actor in a drama (for Chidi Mokeme), Best Costume Designer, Best Art Director, Best Lighting Designer, and Best Director. Others are Best Cinematographer, Best Make-up, Best Soundtrack, Best Sound Editor, and Best Lighting Designer.

Observers have predicted that Chinenye Nworah and her team would likely cart home some awards considering the popularity and reception the series got when it was released. Other Top Nominated Films: Battle on Buka Street, King of Thieves (Agesinkole), Four Four Forty Four, Man of God, Ijakumo the Born Again Stripper