Nollywood stars Lateef Adedimeji and Tina Mba, alongside 3 Cold Dishes—a film co-produced by Afrobeats icon Burna Boy—were among the standout winners at the 2025 Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA).
The 21st edition of the prestigious event took place on Sunday at the Balmoral Convention Centre in Ikeja GRA, Lagos, celebrating outstanding achievements in African cinema.
3 Cold Dishes stole the spotlight, winning Best Nigerian Film and Best Young/Promising Actor for Ruby Akubueze. The gripping multilingual thriller, co-produced by Burna Boy and Osas Ighodaro, tells the story of three women from Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire, and Benin who reunite years after surviving human trafficking to take justice into their own hands.
Lateef Adedimeji won Best Actor in a Leading Role for Lisabi: The Uprising, while Tina Mba earned Best Actress in a Supporting Role for her powerful performance in The Serpent Gift.
The five-hour celebration, organized by the Africa Film Academy, opened with an energetic performance by the Ebony Band. AMAA CEO Raymond Anyiam-Osigwe, in his address, praised African filmmakers for putting the continent’s stories on the global stage.
“We applaud Nollywood and all African creatives who continue to make the continent proud. True growth comes when we collaborate, not compete,” he said.
The jury, made up of six members, presented 26 awards across categories such as acting, directing, cinematography, and technical achievements, honoring the best in African storytelling.
South Africa’s The Heart Is a Muscle emerged as Best Film, also winning awards for Cinematography, Editing, and Best Debut Feature for director Imran Hamdulay. Burkina Faso’s Katanga: Dance of the Scorpions was another big winner, taking home Best Film in an African Language, Screenplay, and Costume Design.
The event also featured a short stage play with veteran actor Pete Edochie portraying a divine figure and Tony Umez playing a man in search of answers.
Musical performances by Made Kuti, the Rizyn Band, and DJ Kenchello added flair to the evening. Made Kuti’s soulful rendition of his grandfather Fela Kuti’s classic Palava brought the audience to its feet.
A touching tribute segment honored African filmmakers who passed away between January and November 2025.
Notable attendees included Bukky Wright, Keppy Ekpeyong Bassey, Lancelot Imasuen, Jide Achufusi, and former Lagos Commissioner Uzamat Yusuf.
Full List of Winners
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Best Nigerian Film: 3 Cold Dishes
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Best Young/Promising Actor: Ruby Akubueze – 3 Cold Dishes
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Best Actor in a Supporting Role: Clemento Ashietey – Last Stop
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Best Actress in a Supporting Role: Tina Mba – The Serpent Gift
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Best Actor in a Leading Role: Lateef Adedimeji – Lisabi: The Uprising
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Best Actress in a Leading Role: Florence Mariserena – Small Gods
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Best Debut Feature by a Director: The Heart Is a Muscle – Imran Hamdulay
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Best Director: Dany Kouyaté – Katanga: Dance of The Scorpions
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Best Film: The Heart Is a Muscle – South Africa
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Best Film in an African Language: Katanga: Dance of The Scorpions – Burkina Faso
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Best Short Film: The Missing Piece – Kenya
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Best Animation: Dawn – Cameroon
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Best Documentary: The Journey East – DRC
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Best Diaspora Short: Cartes – USA
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Best Film by an African Living Abroad: Ancestral Visions of the Future – Lesotho/France/Germany
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Costume Design: Katanga: Dance of The Scorpions
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Sound: Algiers
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Best Diaspora Documentary: Rediscovering Fenon – USA/Algeria/Martinique
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Best Diaspora Narrative Feature: Romeo N Juliet 4EVA – Jamaica
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Production Design: 3 Cold Dishes
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Make-up: Lisabi: The Uprising
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Soundtrack: Old Righteous Blues
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Visual Effects: For Land, For Love, For Power
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Cinematography: The Heart Is a Muscle
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Editing: The Heart Is a Muscle
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Screenplay: Katanga: Dance of The Scorpions – Burkina Faso
