AMVCA 2026 UPDATED: Here are the12th edition winners

The biggest night in African cinema is underway. As winners are announced at the 12th Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA) in Lagos, we’ll keep you posted with every big moment, standout acceptance, and celebration.

Best Movie: Fumbi Ogunbanwo & Rachel Dargavel – My Father’s Shadow

My Father’s Shadow has been crowned Best Movie at the 12th AMVCA! Producers Fumbi Ogunbanwo and Rachel Dargavel, alongside the entire cast and crew, delivered a standout cinematic experience that emerged as the night’s biggest winner.

Best Director: Akinola Davies Jr. – My Father’s Shadow

Akinola Davies Jr. has been crowned Best Director at the 12th AMVCA for his masterful work on My Father’s Shadow. The film continues its stellar run tonight with this major directing honor. Notably, Davies and his brother Wale Davies also recently claimed the prestigious Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director, or Producer award at the 2026 EE BAFTA Film Awards.

Best Lead Actor: Uzor Arukwe – Colours of Fire

Uzor Arukwe has claimed the Best Lead Actor award for his powerful and commanding performance in Colours of Fire at the 12th AMVCA. He edged out a formidable list of Nollywood heavyweights, including Wale Ojo, Femi Branch, William Benson, Mike Ezuruonye, Kanayo O. Kanayo, and Lateef Adedimeji, in what was one of the night’s most competitive categories.

Best Actress: Linda Ejiofor – The Serpent’s Gift

In a historic double victory tonight, Linda Ejiofor has won Best Actress for her powerful and captivating lead performance in The Serpent’s Gift. This marks her second award of the night, further cementing her dominance at the 12th AMVCA. She triumphed over strong contenders, including Bimbo Akintola, Genoveva Umeh, Sola Sobowale, and Scarlet Gomez.

Best Supporting Actor: Bucci Franklin – To Kill A Monkey

Bucci Franklin delivered a standout and widely celebrated performance in To Kill A Monkey, earning him the Best Supporting Actor award at the 12th AMVCA. His compelling portrayal of a crime leader (Oboz) struck a chord with audiences and critics alike, playing a major role in making the film one of the most critically acclaimed Nollywood releases of the previous year.

Best Supporting Actress: Linda Ejiofor – The Herd

Linda Ejiofor delivered a standout performance in The Herd, earning her the Best Supporting Actress award at the 12th AMVCA. Her nuanced, emotionally charged portrayal added significant depth to the role edging out huge contenders like Sola Sobowale, Funke Akindele and Bisola Aiyeola.

Best Costume Design: Valerie Okeke – Colours of Fire

Valerie Okeke took home the first award of the evening for her bold, intentional, and unforgettable costume work in the Nollywood epic Colours of Fire (directed by Niyi Akinmolayan, starring Uzor Arukwe, Osas Ighodaro and others). Her designs brought warrior culture, forbidden love, and betrayal to life through stunning visuals that enhanced the storytelling

Best Art Direction: Ajamolaya Bunmi & Yakub Oladejo – Colours of Fire
Colours of Fire continues its strong run! The team delivered immersive, culturally rich worlds that perfectly captured the epic’s warrior culture and dramatic landscapes. Their visionary work elevated every frame of this Nollywood blockbuster.

Best Sound & Sound Design: Pius Fatoke & CJ Mirra – My Father’s Shadow
A massive technical win for My Father’s Shadow! Pius Fatoke and CJ Mirra mastered the audio landscape, bringing depth, emotion, and intensity to every scene through exceptional sound design.

Best Make-Up
Winner: Hakeem Onilogbo (Hakeem Effect) for Lisabi – A Legend Is Born

Africa Magic TV highlighted his exceptional prosthetic and transformative work, noting the impressive brushstrokes and detailing that brought authentic characters to life on screen.
Hakeem Effect, a veteran Nollywood SFX & prosthetic makeup artist with multiple AMVCA and AMAA wins under his belt, continues to raise the bar for practical effects in African cinema.

Best Cinematography: Kabelo Thathe – To Kill A Monkey

Kabelo Thathe clinched Best Cinematography for his masterful work on Kemi Adetiba’s ‘To Kill A Monkey’. His deliberate camera movements, raw textured shots, and emotionally charged visuals told the story beyond dialogue, pure cinematic excellence.

Best Writing (Movie): Wale Davies & Akinola Davies – My Father’s Shadow

Brothers Wale Davies and Akinola Davies took home Best Writing (Movie) for the screenplay of My Father’s Shadow. The film masterfully blends intimate family drama with the high-stakes political tension of Nigeria’s 1993 presidential election. Its narrative tension, emotional depth, and authentic portrayal of father-son bonds have been widely praised.

Best Digital Content Creator: Emmanuel Kanaga & Sophia Chisom – Leave to Live

Emmanuel Kanaga (Kanaga Jnr) and Sophia Chisom just took home Best Digital Content Creator for their innovative and gripping series Leave to Live. Their fresh storytelling, viral impact, and creative digital excellence stood out big time.

Best Editing: Daniel Anyiam – To Kill A Monkey

Daniel Anyiam delivered excellence in To Kill A Monkey. His sharp editing shaped every moment into a gripping narrative that kept audiences locked in from start to finish.

Best Indigenous Language (West Africa): Mobi Opeyade & Dimeji Lateef – Lisabi – A Legend Is Born

Best Indigenous Language (Central Africa): Kang Quintus – Mabanda

Kang Quintus makes history as the first-ever winner in the Best Indigenous Language (Central Africa) category for his powerful film Mabanda.

Best Indigenous Language (North Africa): Artal Alhanin—Mohamed Awad and Mohamed Abdulraham Eldouma

Best Indigenous Language (Southern Africa): — Tlhaho Ya Mosadi — Naledi Galane, Promise Ramoroka, Ernest Ramoroka & Modipadi Mokgohioa

Best Indigenous Language (East Africa): — Addis Fikr — Leul Shoaferaw

Leul Shoaferaw’s visionary work on Addis Fikr has elevated regional narratives and brought authentic East African stories to the forefront of continental cinema.

Best Score/Music: Duval Timothy & CJ Mirra – My Father’s Shadow

My Father’s Shadow continues its impressive run at the 12th AMVCA! Duval Timothy and CJ Mirra delivered a powerful, emotionally resonant score that perfectly complemented the film’s dramatic storytelling and elevated every scene with unforgettable musical depth.

Best Unscripted M-Net Original: Sulaiman Kassim & Anneke de Ridder – Nigerian Idol (Season 10)

Sulaiman Kassim and Anneke de Ridder took home the award for Best Unscripted M-Net Original with Nigerian Idol Season 10, celebrating their exceptional work in crafting one of Africa’s most entertaining and culturally impactful unscripted productions.

Best Scripted M-Net Original: Femi D. Ogunsanwo – Low Priest

Femi D. Ogunsanwo triumphed in the competitive category, winning Best Scripted M-Net Original for Low Priest at the 12th AMVCA. His compelling storytelling and sharp scripting brought this original production to life with depth, intrigue, and cultural resonance that stood out among strong contenders.

Best Series (Unscripted): Bruk Yibrah – Out N’ About (Harar)

Bruk Yibrah claimed the award for Best Series (Unscripted) with Out N’ About (Harar). The production delivered engaging, authentic, and entertaining unscripted content that resonated strongly with audiences and judges alike at the 12th AMVCA.

Best Series (Scripted): Siphosethu Tshapu, Thandi Ramathesele & Yolanda Ndhlovu – Inimba

Siphosethu Tshapu, Thandi Ramathesele, and Yolanda Ndhlovu have won Best Series (Scripted) for their outstanding work on Inimba. The trio delivered a powerfully scripted series that impressed both audiences and the AMVCA jury with its quality and storytelling excellence.

Best Indigenous M-Net Original: Siphosethu Tshapu, Thandi Ramathesele & Yolanda Ndhlovu – Inimba

In another strong showing for the team, Siphosethu Tshapu, Thandi Ramathesele, and Yolanda Ndhlovu also secured Best Indigenous M-Net Original for Inimba. Their authentic representation and culturally grounded narrative earned them this special honor at the 12th AMVCA. A double celebration for the Inimba crew tonight!

Best Documentary: XtroVarts

Best Short Film: Nwani Orire & Josh Olaolu

Trailblazer Award: Uche Montana

Uche Montana was presented the Trailblazer Award by Johnnie Walker and recognised for her work in shaping the industry’s direction. Her new film, Monica 2, broke viewing records on YouTube, gaining over 10 million views in 48 hours.

Lifetime Achievement Award: Sola Sobowale and Kanayo O. Kanayo