The Story ⚡
Africa’s biggest film and TV awards just got a whole lot more interesting.
Here’s what you need to know about the nominations, from the shocking omissions to the history-making nods and what it all means for the direction of Nollywood.
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From Snubs, Surprises And Stranger Things: Here is a breakdown of The AMVCA 11 Nominations + Takeaways
Seven Doors and Lisabi are the front runners in this year’s AMVCA, getting 11 and 10 nods, respectively. See the graphic below for the full nods list.
Biggest Snubs at AMVCA 11
1. In 2024, With Difficulty Comes Ease (WDCE) received critical acclaim for its poignant portrayal of a multicultural widow’s struggles. The Korede Azeez film was a top pick for Best Movie and other categories among industry insiders and Nollywood fans. However, WDCE was snubbed and received no nominations.
2. Content creator Folagade Banks, popularly known as Madam Deola, was surprisingly left out of the Best Digital Creator category. Her phenomenal content went mainstream last year, making her snub a notable omission.
3. Onyinye Odokoro delivered a captivating performance as Zara in the Showmax original series Princess on a Hill. Her compelling on-screen act was expected to earn her a nomination in the Leading Actress category. Unfortunately, she was snubbed, leaving many wondering about the oversight.
4. Wale Ojo’s portrayal of Wole Soyinka in the film adaptation of The Man Died: Prison Notes of Wole Soyinka was expected to earn him a nomination for Best Lead Actor. Although the film received a nod for Best Director, Ojo’s performance was surprisingly overlooked.
5. For five consecutive years, Funke Akindele has been one of the most nominated producers. However, she received no nods for AMVCA 11 in 2025 – no Best Actress, Best Movie, or Best Director. Speculations suggest she might not have submitted entries. Notably, her movie ELJ would have been a strong contender. Her absence left a noticeable gap, making the night feel different without her.
6. Philip Asaya, Ini-Dinma Okojie Blessing Uzero, and Kosisochukwu Ogboruche: It is unthinkable that none of the actors in Kill Boro, an emotionally changed feature from a first-time director got zero nods. This brings to light what the major ruler is for AMVCA lead acts picked. Such a letdown.
2025 AMVCA Lead and Supporting Nods Review
This year’s AMVCA top picks for Best Actor and Actress and supporting counterparts are impressive, with a mix of established stars and newcomers. Only seven individuals feature on both lists, indicating a diverse range of talent. The lineup feels fresh, with some unexpected inclusions that deviate from the usual suspects.
Seven Doors series: Made a significant impact by securing nominations for both its lead actors in the Best Actor and Best Actress categories. This achievement highlights the series’ exceptional casting and acting.
Netflix Naija Past: Four Netflix-distributed titles secured spots on the Best Lead Actor list, marking a notable achievement. However, this may be the last time Netflix makes such an impact in Nigeria, as the streaming giant has privately announced its exit from original productions in the Nigerian market (although it will continue to operate in other African countries).
Inside Life series: Bagged double nods in the supporting category, showcasing its strong ensemble cast.
Darasimi Nadi: Achieved a remarkable feat as a child actor, earning a nomination for Supporting Actress for her role in Aburo Movie. This recognition is a testament to her talent and a promising start to her career.
Ini Dima-Okojie: Received a nod for her role in Skeleton Coast, although the film is yet to be released, and details are scarce.
Generally speaking, this year AMVCA’s Best Supporting Actress category can be seen as a bit stagnant, with established actresses monopolizing nominations. This trend undermines the category’s purpose: to spotlight exceptional performances.
The Box Office Conundrum: Where Are the Top-Grossing Nollywood Big Screen Films?
A striking observation from the 2025 AMVCA nominations is the noticeable absence of top-grossing Nollywood films. Out of the top 10 highest-grossing films, only Farmer’s Bride received a nod, raising questions about the judges’ perception of commercial appeal versus merit.
This disparity suggests that the judges may have found last year’s box office presentations lacking in terms of artistic merit despite their commercial success. This raises an important question: Does commercial appeal necessarily translate to artistic merit?
The AMVCA’s emphasis on recognizing excellence in filmmaking may have led to a disconnect between box office performance and award recognition. This highlights the ongoing debate about the relationship between commercial success and artistic merit in the Nollywood industry.
Inkabi‘s Nomination Raises Eyebrows, Snubbing Other Notable Films
Hakeem Effect’s Triple Nod
Renowned Nollywood makeup artist Hakeem Onilogbo, aka Hakeem Effect, secured three Best Makeup nods for his work on Anikulapo: Rise of the Spectre, Lisabi: The Uprising, and Seven Doors.
All three films are available to stream on Netflix. Hakeem Effect has won 5 AMVCA awards in the past, and this triple nomination solidifies his position as one of the industry’s top makeup artists.
Platform Titles Overview
The industry is only as big as titles commissioned from distribution platforms that drive growth and scale in storytelling. Here is a recap of how the platform’s efforts were mirrored in this year’s nominations.
Netflix-Backed Nollywood Epics Secure 33 AMVCA Nods Amidst Funding Uncertainty
The impressive haul of nominations is a testament to the creative prowess of Nollywood’s filmmakers, who have consistently pushed the boundaries of storytelling and production quality. Films like Seven Doors, Lisabi: The Uprising, Anikulapo: Rise of the Spectre, and House of Ga’a have garnered significant recognition, with a total of 33 nominations.
However, the celebratory mood is tempered by the looming uncertainty over funding, as Netflix’s financial commitments to original Nollywood content remain unclear.
Prime Originals
At the AMVCA nomination night on March 23, 2025, Prime Originals Suspicion and Christmas in Lagos secured multiple nods.
Suspicion earned nominations for:
Best Makeup (Tracy Izogie and Adeleke Toluwulashe Maigari)
Best Supporting Actor (Uzor Arukwe)
Best Supporting Actress (Tina Mba)
Best Lead Actor (Stan Eze)
Best Sound Design (Micheal Botha and Olaosebikan Okonrende)
Best Movie (Tosin Igho)
Christmas in Lagos grabbed:
Best Costume Design (Adedamola Adeyemi)
Best Supporting Actor (Richard Mofe-Damijo)
Best Art Direction (Joy Kadiri)
Best Writing Movie (Jadesola Osiberu)
Best Editing (Martini Akande)
Best Movie (Jadesola Osiberu)
A Hidden Gem: Princess on a Hill Shines with Great Pacing and Direction
It’s exciting to see a show like Princess on a Hill receiving well-deserved recognition. Despite not having achieved mainstream popularity yet, the show has clearly made an impact on those who have watched it.
With its great pacing, invigorating direction, and gut-wrenching drama, it’s no wonder that Princess on a Hill is being labeled a must-watch.
The show’s ability to deliver impactful drama despite not having the biggest budgets showcases the talent, creativity, and dedication of the cast and crew.
If you’re looking for a new show to obsess over, consider giving Princess on a Hill a try. You might just discover your new favourite series!
A Missed Opportunity: Why AMVCA Needs a Kids’ Category
The AMVCA’s recognition of Darasimi Nadi’s impressive performance in the Supporting Actress category highlights the talent of young Nigerian actors. However, with stiff competition, her chances of winning are slim.
This insight underscores the need for a Kids’ Category, which would provide a fair platform for young actors like Darasimi to shine and receive the recognition they deserve.
The Skeleton Buzz
The anticipated Pan-African film Skeleton Coast has earned 8 prestigious nods before its official release. Directed by Robert O. Peters, the movie promises a thrilling adventure set against the stunning backdrop of the Skeleton Coast in Namibia.
The film boasts an impressive team, including executive producers Panashe Daringo and Charles Okpaleke, producer Rogers Ofime, and co-producer Arafat Bello-Osagie.
Despite the accolades, the title has yet to reveal its distribution pathway. The industry and audiences await the film’s main release, wondering if the 8 nods are deserved.
The upcoming release will be closely watched. Will it live up to the hype and deliver a worthy cinematic experience?
In Summary
This award season for AMVCA is underway – we await the live ceremony for the winner’s reveal happening in May 2025.
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