The Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA) are back for their 12th edition, and the nominees for 2026 have officially been revealed. The film award ceremony is scheduled to be held in Lagos on May 9, 2026. Joke Silva has been named Head Judge for this edition, as she has worked in the industry for decades.
This year’s edition spans 32 award categories, 18 determined by a jury panel, and 11 open to audience voting, plus two special honors: a Lifetime Achievement Award and a Trailblazer Award. Two brand-new categories have also been introduced, Best Indigenous Language (North Africa) and Best Indigenous Language (Central Africa), marking one of the most expansive editions in the show’s history.
The Herd, directed by Daniel Etim Effiong, is the film with the most nominations this year, with nine in major and technical categories. Lateef Adedimeji, on the other hand, is the most-nominated person, with three nominations that highlight his versatility across different genres.
Below are the nominations:
Best Digital Content Creator
Elozonam Ogbolu & Genoveva Umeh
Destiny Ogie Osarewinda
Emmanuel Kanaga & Sophia Chisom
Taaooma
Steve Chuks
Akwaman
Best Scripted M-Net Originals
Adam to Eve
Mother of the Brides
The Yard
The Low Priest
Bobo
Best Indigenous M-Net Originals
Inimba
Kukoyi
Undugu
Out N’ About (Hara)
Kamapala Creme
The Chocolate Empire
Mgbuka
Best Unscripted M-Net Originals
Nigerian Idol (Season 10)
Ultimate Girls Trip: Africa
Chappa Chappa My Love
Out N’ About
Undugu
Best Short Film
Rise – Jessie J. Rowlands
Fleas – Jordy Sank
Telephone – Fimisinuola Adejonwo
Hussaini – Orire Nwani, Josh Olaoluwa
My Body, God’s Temple – Uzoamaka Power
Best Indigenous Language Film (West Africa)
The Serpent’s Gift – Winifred Mena-Ajakpovi
Lisabi (A Legend is Born) – Lateef Adedimeji
Labake Olododo – Alice Iyabo Ojo, Olukanmi Abayomi, Aalaba Onaolapo, Kene Okwuosa, Ladun Awobokun
Aljana – Grace Yachat Yakubu
Olorisha – Abiola Adeshina
Best Indigenous Language Film (East Africa)
Inside Job – Kamau Wandug’u, Joe Mahinda, Barbara Njeri Maina
Sayari – Omar Hamza, June Wairegi
Addis Fikir – Leul Shoaferaw
My Son – Isarito Mwakalindile
Kimote – Hassan Mageye
Best Indigenous Language Film (Southern Africa)
Bet I Love You – Joseph Duke, Keamogetse Modise
Sebata (The Beast) – African Entertainers
Ben Made It – Thabang Mathuumetse, Thapelo Dikhutso
Terra of Queens and Kuma 2
Tlhaho Ya Mosadi
Best Indigenous Language Film (North Africa)
The Omnipresent
The Delivery
The Hidden Voice
This is Portsaid
Artal Alhanin: Our Memories
Best Indigenous Language Film (Central Africa)
Mabanda – Kang Quintus
Safou (A Gift From Nature) – Nyasha Makamba
Golden Spoon – Egba Francis Ettabrown
Best Supporting Actor
The Yard – Simileoluwa Hassan
Gingerrr – Lateef Adedimeji
Colours of Fire – Gabriel Afolayan
To Kill a Monkey – Bucci Franklin
King of Thieves 2 – Femi Adebayo
Red Circle – Lateef Adedimeji
Owabbe Thieves – Femi Branch
Behind the Scenes – Uzor Arukwe
Best Supporting Actress
The Herd – Linda Ejiofor
Oversabi Aunty – Olamide Kidbaby
Gingerrr – Bisola Aiyeola
The Covenant Series – Sola Sobowale
Aljana – Nadia Dutch
The Herd – Amal Umar
MTV Shuga Mashariki – Juliebrenda Nyambura
Behind the Scenes – Funke Akindele
Best Lead Actor
Oversabi Aunty – Mike Ezuruonye
Lisabi (A Legend is Born) – Lateef Adedimeji
To Kill a Monkey – William Benson
Grandpa Must Obey – Kanayo O. Kanayo
Bet I Love You – Khumbuza Meyiwa
Colours of Fire – Uzor Arukwe
3 Cold Dishes – Wale Ojo
Red Circle – Femi Branch
Best Lead Actress
The Serpent’s Gift – Linda Ejiofor
To Kill a Monkey – Bimbo Akintola
The Lost Days – Ifeoma Fafunwa
Something About The Briggs – Ariyike Owolagba
Her Excellency – Sola Sobowale
Behind the Scenes – Scarlet Gomez
The Herd – Genoveva Umeh
Mother of the Brides – Gloria Anzoie-Young
Best Art Direction
The Serpent’s Gift – Zainab Oladupupo
The Herd – Omolade Abisola
Colours of Fire – Ajamolaya Bunmi
Aljana – Olatunji Afolayan, Gideon Stephen
Suky – Victor Akpan
Inimba – Thabiso Senne
Best Cinematography
My Father’s Shadow – Jermaine Edwards
To Kill a Monkey – Kabelo Thathe
The Herd – Emmanuel Igbekele
Finding Nina – Daanong Gyang
The Serpent’s Gift – Emmanuel Igbekele
Stitches – KC Obiajulu
Gingerrr – Emmanuel Igbekele
Best Costume Design
The Serpent’s Gift – Mary Chukwuka
The Real Housewives of Lagos – Deola & Darey Art Alade
Colours of Fire – Valerie Okeke
Something About The Briggs – Yolanda Okereke
To Kill a Monkey – Ikechukwu Urum, John, Joseph Angel
Best Makeup
Lisabi (A Legend is Born) – Adeola Thelma Bamgboye
Gingerrr – Diablaq Artistry
Abanisete – Adeola Thelma Bamgboye
Warlord – Hakeem Onilogbo (Hakeem Effect)
Suky – Ruth Harcourt
Labake Olododo – Adeola Thelma Bamgboye
Best Sound/Sound Design
My Father’s Shadow – Pius Fatoke, CJ Mirra
Gingerrr – Tolu Obanro
Ben Made It – Vaughan Phillips
The Party – Tolu Obanro
Sebata (The Beast) – Vaughan Phillips
The Herd – Fisayo Adefolaju
Best Score/Music
My Father’s Shadow – Duval Timothy, CJ Mirra
3 Cold Dishes – Nissi Ogulu
Osamede – Chubb Okobah
Gingerrr – Tolu Obanro
The Party – Tolu Obanro
MTV Shuga Mashariki – Sofresh
To Kill a Monkey – Oscar Heman-Ackah
Best Editing
My Father’s Shadow – Omar Guzman Castro
Landline – Nwanguma Peter Chidebere, Dele Doherty
3 Cold Dishes – Asurf Amuwa Oluseyi
Osamede – Winston AIG-Ohioma
To Kill a Monkey – Daniel Anyiam
Best Writing (Movie)
The Herd – Lani Aisida
My Father’s Shadow – Wale Davies
Blackout – Ikenna Okpara
Cards on the Table – Shirleen Wangari
Gingerrr – Xavier Ighorodje
Suky – Isaac Ayodeji
3 Cold Dishes – Tomi Adesina
Best Writing (TV Series)
The Wives – Donald Tombia, Timendu Aghahowa, Chiemeka Osuagwu
MTV Shuga Mashariki – Annette Shadeya, Natasah Likimani, Mkamzee Mwatela, Arnold Mwanjila, Makagano Mamabolo
Our Husband – Xavier Ighorodje
Addis Fikir – Besufekade Mulu
Baba OH – Temilola Balogun
The Party – Stephen Okonkwo
Gizat – Yednekachew Ayne
Best Documentary
Beyond Olympic Glory – Shedrack Salami
The Good x The Bad of Afrobeat – Louis Ejiofor
The People Shall – Mark Maina, Nick Wambugu
Not Addressing This Anymore – Huzzain Bello
BOU – Mwaka Gerald Remmy
Best Series (Scripted)
To Kill a Monkey – Kemi Adetiba
The Yard – James Kalu Omokwe
The Chocolate Empire – Grace Kahaki, Philippe Bresson
Inimba – Siphosethu Tshapu, Thandi Ramathesele, Yolanda Ndhlovu
Kash Money – Grace Kahaki, Philippe Bresson
Best Series (Unscripted)
The Real Housewives of Lagos – Deola & Darey Art Alade
Nigerian Idol (S10) – Sulaiman Kassim, Anneke De Ridder
Ultimate Girls Trip: Africa – Graeme Swanepoel
Off Air – Gbemi and Toolz
Out N’ About – Bruk Yibrah
Best Director
My Father’s Shadow – Akinola Davies Jr.
Cordelia – Tunde Kelani
Osamede – James Kalu Omokwe
The Herd – Daniel Etim Effiong
Gingerrr – Yemi Filmboy Morafa
3 Cold Dishes – Asurf Amuwa Oluseyi
Best Movie
Behind the Scenes – Funke Akindele, Wendy Uwadie Imaseun
Gingerrr – Ope Ajayi, Bisola Aiyeola, Bukunmi Adeaga-Ilori, Wumi Toriola, Bolaji Ogunmola, Onyeka Nnama
The Herd – Daniel Etim Effiong, Efe Ejukorlem, Ulogo Chukwudi, Kene Okwuosa, Craig Shurn, Ladun Awobokun
My Father’s Shadow – Funmbi Ohunbanwo, Rachel Dargavel
3 Cold Dishes – Martial Dansou, Asurf Amuwa Oluseyi, Ly Oumar
The Serpent’s Gift – Winifred Mena-Ajakpovi