AMVCA 2026: Our picks for Best Director, Lead Actor, overall movie

As the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards draw closer, early signals from audience conversations, reviews, and film performance suggest a competitive field, with a few titles appearing more consistently across categories.

Films such as Gingerrr, The Herd, My Father’s Shadow, and To Kill A Monkey have remained visible in discussions, supported by a mix of audience engagement, reviews, and multiple nominations.

In the Best Overall Movie category, The Herd and Gingerrr are currently among the most popular titles among audiences. The Herd has been noted for its storytelling and performances, with many viewers pointing to its emotional tone. Gingerrr has seen steady audience turnout and repeat viewership, earning over N300 million at the box office, which could work in its favour in a partly audience-driven category. 

My Father’s Shadow is also in contention, particularly among critics who have highlighted its technical approach. Akinola Davies Jr. and his brother, Wale Davies, claimed the Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director, or Producer award at the 2026 EE BAFTA Film Awards. This gives a strong case for other movies in the Best Director category, with the movie often mentioned for its visual style and measured storytelling.

Tunde Kelani (Cordelia) continues to receive recognition based on his experience and contribution to indigenous filmmaking, which may influence voting. 3 Cold Dishes by Asurf Amuwa Oluseyi could sway voters in the category for his interpretation in the Burna Boy-produced movie.

In the acting categories, Bimbo Akintola (To Kill A Monkey) is widely regarded as one of the strongest individual performances in the Best Lead Actress category. Critics highlight her layered portrayal of Inspector Mo Ogunlesi, a veteran cybercrime investigator dealing with profound grief, PTSD, vulnerability, and professional pressure. Linda Ejiofor’s role in The Serpent’s Gift gives her strong cultural and dramatic acclaim for her grounded lead role (with additional supporting buzz from The Herd).

Scarlet Gomez’s role in ‘Behind The Scenes’, which was a commercial powerhouse with N2+ billion at the box office and strong Netflix performance, gives her a lead with her portrayal of a character unraveling amid high-stakes drama. Genoveva Umeh (The Herd) and Ariyike Owolagba (Something About The Briggs) bring fresh energy

Scarlet Gomez has the strongest path to victory due to massive commercial success and OkayAfrica’s prediction for the win. However, Bimbo Akintola feels like the critical darling and could prevail (or split votes in her favor) if jurors prioritise performance quality over popularity. Linda Ejiofor is a very credible dark horse

William Benson’s (To Kill A Monkey) performance gets the most consistent praise in the best lead actor category for depth, subtlety, and emotional range. Critics highlight his portrayal of Efe (a troubled, morally conflicted tech genius/hustler grappling with poverty, betrayal, and ambition) as restrained yet powerful, conveying grief, defiance, and disillusionment effectively. The series gained massive visibility through Netflix, went viral, and amplified his reach. 

Lateef Adedimeji (Lisabi: A Legend Is Born) is a strong contender with widespread acclaim for his intense, physically demanding lead role in this historical epic (which he also produced). He earned multiple nominations this season (including supporting roles), showing industry dominance. Khumbuza Meyiwa brings pan-African representation but lower visibility in Nigerian-centric buzz.

William Benson has the clearest critical momentum and could take it, especially if jurors prioritise standout individual craft in a high-profile project. Lateef Adedimeji is a very close second and could win on broader industry/fan support.

For Best Supporting Actor, Bucci Franklin leads popular predictions for his role in Kemi Adetiba’s To Kill A Monkey, while actors Lateef Adedimeji, who had two nominations in the category for his roles in Gingerrr and Red Circle, and Gabriel Afolayan (Colours Of Fire) are commonly mentioned in fan and critic conversations.

Within Best Indigenous Language Film (West Africa), Lisabi: A Legend Is Born and The Serpent’s Gift lead critical acclaim for their cultural focus. At the same time, Labake Olododo and Olorisha continue to come up in conversations among audiences interested in indigenous storytelling.

Although complete box office data is limited, films with higher visibility and steady audience discussion appear better positioned, especially in categories influenced by public voting. Based on current trends, The Herd, Gingerrr, and My Father’s Shadow are likely to remain central in the major categories, while To Kill A Monkey could see results in acting and series categories.