AMVCA 2026: A Continental Celebration Of Storytelling As Nominees Span Every Corner Of Africa

In the Best Indigenous Language Film (West Africa) category, nominees include The Serpent’s Gift, Lisabi: A Legend Is Born, Labake Olododo, Olorisha, and Aljana, while East Africa is represented by Inside Job, Sayari, Addis Fikir, My Son, and Kimote. Southern Africa’s list features Bet I Love You, Sebata: The Beast, Ben Made It, Terra Of Queens And Kuma 2, and Tlhaho Ya Mosadi, with North Africa represented by The Omnipresent, The Delivery, The Hidden Voice, This Is Portsaid, and Artal Alhanin: Our Memories. Central Africa completes the regional breakdown with Mabanda, Safou: A Gift From Nature, and Golden Spoon.

In television categories, the Best Scripted M-Net Original includes Adam to Eve, Mother of the Bride, The Yard, The Low Priest, and Bobo. The Best Unscripted M-Net Original features Nigerian Idol S10, Ultimate Girls Trip: Africa, Chapa Chapa My Love, Out N About (Harar), and Undugu, while the Best Indigenous M-Net Original category includes Inimba, Kukoyi, Undugu, Out N’ About (Harar), Kampala Creme, The Chocolate Empire, and Mgbuka.

The Best Short Film category features Fleas, Rise, Telephone, Hussaini, and My Body, God’s Temple. Acting categories remain highly competitive, with the Best Supporting Actor list including Simileoluwa Hassan, Lateef Adedimeji, Gabriel Afolayan, Bucci Franklin, Femi Adebayo, Femi Branch, and Uzor Arukwe, while Best Supporting Actress features Linda Ejiofor, Bisola Aiyeola, Sola Sobowale, Funke Akindele, Nadia Dutch, Amal Umar, Juliebrenda Nyambura, and others.

In lead acting categories, Best Lead Actor nominees include Mike Ezuruonye, Lateef Adedimeji, William Benson, Kanayo O. Kanayo, Khumbuza Meyiwa, Uzor Arukwe, Wale Ojo, and Femi Branch. The Best Lead Actress category features Linda Ejiofor, Bimbo Akintola, Sola Sobowale, Genoveva Umeh, Scarlet Gomez, and others across a strong field of performances.

Technical and creative categories also highlight excellence, with nominees across cinematography, editing, sound design, music score, art direction, costume design, and makeup drawn from films such as My Father’s Shadow, The Herd, Gingerrr, To Kill A Monkey, The Serpent’s Gift, and 3 Cold Dishes, among others. Writing categories for both film and TV further feature titles like The Herd, My Father’s Shadow, Gingerrr, Addis Fikir, and MTV Shuga Mashariki.

At the top tier, Best Director nominees include Akinola Davies Jr., Tunde Kelani, James Omokwe, Daniel Etim Effiong, and others, while Best Overall Movie sees Gingerrr, The Herd, My Father’s Shadow, 3 Cold Dishes, The Serpent’s Gift, and Behind The Scenes competing for the top prize.