The 12th edition of the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards came to a close in Lagos at Eko Hotel and Suites, delivering a night packed with standout wins, emotional moments, and major milestones for African film.
With Bovi Ugboma and Nomzamo Mbatha leading the ceremony as hosts, and IK Osakioduwa stepping away after more than a decade in the role, the night already carried a sense of transition and significance before the first award was even announced.
One of the strongest highlights of the evening was My Father’s Shadow, which walked away with the top honour for Best Film. The win capped off an impressive international journey for the project, which has already gained recognition at major global festivals and award platforms.
Another defining moment came from Linda Ejiofor-Suleiman, who made history by securing both Best Lead Actress for The Serpent’s Gift and Best Supporting Actress for The Herd on the same night. Her double win placed her in rare company within the awards’ history.
Uzor Arukwe also earned recognition, taking home Best Lead Actor for Colours of Fire, while Bucci Franklin delivered one of the most heartfelt speeches of the night after winning Best Supporting Actor for To Kill A Monkey.
Elsewhere, My Father’s Shadow continued its dominant run with multiple wins, further cementing its impact both locally and internationally after previous recognition across Cannes and BAFTA stages.
One of the most talked-about emotional moments of the night came from Lateef Adedimeji, who dedicated his win for Best Indigenous Language Film (West Africa) for Lisabi: A Legend Is Born to his wife, Mo Bimpe. The moment carried even more weight following the couple’s recent announcement that they welcomed triplets.
From major wins to personal milestones, this year’s ceremony ended on a note that celebrated not just films, but the people behind them.
Here is the complete list of winners from AMVCA 12:
Best Lead Actor
- Lisabi – Lateef Adedimeji
- To Kill a Monkey – William Benson
- Colours of Fire – Uzor Arukwe – WINNER
- 3 Cold Dishes – Wale Ojo
- Red Circle – Femi Branch
Best Lead Actress
- Her Excellency – Sola Sobowale
- The Serpent’s Gift – Linda Ejiofor-Suleiman – WINNER
- 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
Best Supporting Actress
- The Herd – Linda Ejiofor-Suleiman – 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 Scenes – Funke Ayotunde Akindele
Best Movie
- Gingerrr – Bisola Aiyeola & Team
- The Herd – Daniel Etim Effiong & Team
- My Father’s Shadow – Funmbi Ogunbanwo and Rachel Dargavel – WINNER
- 3 Cold Dishes – Asurf Oluseyi and Team
- The Serpent’s Gift – Winifred Mena-Ajakpovi
- Behind the Scenes – Funke Akindele and Wendy Imaseun
Best Director
- My Father’s Shadow – Akinola Davies Jr. – WINNER
- Cordelia – Tunde Kelani
- Osamede – James Kalu Omokwe
- The Herd – Daniel Etim Effiong
- Gingerrr – Yemi Filmboy Morafa
- 3 Cold Dishes – Asurf Amuwa Oluseyi
Best Cinematography
- My Father’s Shadow – Jermaine Edwards
- To Kill A Monkey – Kabelo Thathe – WINNER
- The Herd – Emmanuel Igbekele
- Finding Nina – Daanong Gyang
- The Serpent’s Gift – Emmanuel Igbekele
- Stitches – KC Obiajulu
- Gingerrr – Emmanuel Igbekele
Best Costume Design
- The Serpent’s Gift – Mary Chukuma
- The Real Housewives of Lagos (S3) – Deola Art Alade and Darey Art Alade
- Colours of Fire – Valerie Okeke – WINNER
- Something About The Briggs – Yolanda Okereke
- To Kill a Monkey – Ikechukwu Urum & John Joseph Angel
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 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 Art Direction
- The Serpent’s Gift – Zainab Oladupupo
- The Herd – Omolade Abisola
- Colours of Fire – Ajamolaya Bunmi – WINNER
- Aljana – Olatunji Afolayan and Gideon Stephen
- Suky – Victor Akpan
- Inimba – Thabiso Senne
Special Awards
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Trailblazer Award: Uche Montana
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Industry Merit Award: Sola Sobowale and Kanayo O. Kanayo
Best Indigenous Language Film (West Africa)
- The Serpent’s Gift – Winifred Mena-Ajakpovi
- Labake Olododo – Iyabo Ojo & Team
- Aljana – Grace Yachat Yakubu
- Olorisha – Abiola Adeshina
- Lisabi: A Legend is Born – Lateef Adedimeji – WINNER
Best Digital Content Creator
- Luxury Koko – Maryam Apaokagi-Greene (Taaooma)
- The Marriage List – Destiny Ogie Osarewinda
- The Rate Race – Benedict Ehimare Oriaifo
- August Meeting Election – Steve Chuks
- Did I Just Hear Muah – Akwaman
- Leave To Live – Emmanuel Kanaga and Sophia Chisom – WINNER
Best Scripted M-Net Original
- Adam To Eve – Lizz Njagah & Alexandros Konstantaras
- Mother of the Brides – Rogba Arimoro and Bio Arimoro
- The Yard – James Kalu Omokwe
- Bobo – Maurice Muendo
- The Low Priest – Femi D. Ogunsanwo – WINNER
Best Indigenous M-Net Original
- Kukoyi – David Akande
- Undugu – Hatibu Madudu
- Out N’ About (Harar) – Bruk Yibrah
- Kampala Creme – Joel Ndugwa
- The Chocolate Empire – Grace Kahaki and Phillippe Bresson
- Mgbuka – Eze Izu
- Inimba – Siphosethu Tshapu, Thandi Ramathesele and Yolanda Ndhlovu – WINNER
Best Unscripted M-Net Original
- The Real Housewives of Lagos (S3) – Deola Art Alade & Darey Art Alade
- Ultimate Girls Trip: Africa – Graeme Swanepoel
- Off Air – Gbemi & Toolz
- Out N’ About – Bruk Yibrah
- Nigerian Idol (S10) – Sulaiman Kassim & Anneke De Ridder – WINNER
Best Scripted Series
- To Kill a Monkey – Kemi Adetiba
- The Yard – James Kalu Omokwe
- The Chocolate Empire – Grace Kahaki and Philippe Bresson
- Kash Money – Grace Khaki & Phillipe Benson
- Inimba – Siphosethu Tshapu, Thandi Ramathesele and Yolanda Ndhlovu – WINNER
Best Documentary
- Beyond Olympic Glory – Shedrack Salami
- The Good x The Bad of Afrobeat – Louis Ejiofor
- The People Shall – Mark Maina & Nick Wambugu
- Beyond Olympic Glory – Shedrack Salami – WINNER
Best Short Film
- Rise – Jessie J. Rowlands
- Fleas – Jordy Sank
- Telephone – Fimisinuola Adejonwo
- My Body, God’s Temple – Uzoamaka Power
- Hussainin – Orire Nwani and Josh Olaoluwa – WINNER
Best Makeup
- Behind The Scenes – Mojisola Imam
- Lisabi (A Legend Is Born) – Adeola Thelma Bamgboye
- Gingerrr – Diablaq Artistry
- Abanisete – Adeola Thelma Bamgboye
- Suky – Ruth Harcourt
- Labake Olododo – Adeola Thelma Bamgboye
- Warlord – Hakeem Onilogbo (Hakeem Effect) – WINNER
