The Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards (AMVCA) is undergoing a significant transformation for its 10th edition, introducing changes to categories and voting systems.
The upcoming edition will feature winners in 25 categories instead of 33, including two special recognition awards, marking a shift from the previous format.
One notable change is in the Best Actor or Best Actress categories in Leading or Supporting Role winners. Instead of relying on the audience voting system, a jury will now play a crucial role in selecting the deserving recipients. This change aims to bring a fresh perspective to the evaluation process and align with global trends and benchmarks.
The non-voting categories will include Best Director, Art Direction, Cinematography, Costume Design, Best Writing in a Movie and TV Series, Best Movie and TV Series, Best Short Film, Best Documentary, Best Sound Design, Editing, and Makeup. These categories will not involve public voting, ensuring a more specialized assessment by industry experts.
In contrast, public voting will still play a role in determining winners in specific categories. These include Best Scripted and Unscripted Africa Magic Original, Best Digital Content Creator, Best Indigenous Language (West, East, and Southern Africa), Best Multichoice Talent Factory Film, and Best Indigenous Africa Magic Original. This gives the audience a say in recognising outstanding contributions in these areas.
Busola Tejumola, the MultiChoice executive head of content, expressed the significance of this evolution in the AMVCA. She said that as the awards mark their 10th anniversary, they embark on a bold journey to reassess categories, align with global standards, and ensure a more dynamic and reflective recognition of achievements in the industry.
Performance awards will be consolidated under the umbrella categories of ‘Best Actor’ or ‘Best Actress’ in a leading or supporting role, with the jury taking on the responsibility of selecting the winners.
Submissions for films publicly exhibited between December 1, 2022, and December 31, 2023, are now open, with the entry portal scheduled to close on February 14. The organisers are optimistic that these changes will enhance the prestige of the AMVCA, reflecting the dynamism and evolution of the African film and television industry.
The voting process and results will continue to be scrutinized and verified by Deloitte, ensuring transparency and integrity in the awards’ outcomes.
