It was a night of glitz, legacy, and cultural pride as the 11th Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA) crowned Femi Adebayo’s Seven Doors and Abdullateef and Mo’ Bimpe Adedimeji’s Lisabi: The Uprising as the standout films of 2025.
Held in Lagos with the usual razzle-dazzle of Nollywood’s elite, the awards night saw Seven Doors clinch two of the most coveted categories — Best Lead Actor for Femi Adebayo and Best Lead Actress for Chioma Chukwuka, who shared her surprise and joy through an emotional Instagram video, as she was unable to attend the ceremony.
But it was Lisabi: The Uprising that made the loudest cultural statement, securing Best Indigenous Language Film (West Africa) among other wins, including Best Make-Up, Best Art Direction, and Best Costume Design. The husband-wife duo behind the film, Adedimeji Lateef and Oyebade Adebimpe, expressed heartfelt gratitude in their acceptance speech, thanking their team and dedicating the win to Nigerian heritage and storytelling.
Icons Honoured, New Voices Celebrated
The ceremony also paid tribute to Nollywood veterans Sani Mu’azu and Nkem Owoh, both receiving Lifetime Achievement Awards for their decades-long contributions to the film industry. Rising director Kayode Kasum was presented with the prestigious Trailblazer Award, marking him as a visionary force in contemporary African cinema.
Other notable wins included Mercy Aigbe for Best Supporting Actress (Farmer’s Bride), Clarence Peters’ Inside Life for Best Supporting Actor and Best Series, and Blessing Uzzi’s Freedom Way for Best Movie (Viewer’s Choice) and Best Writing.
The night underscored a powerful shift in Nollywood — one that balances rich tradition with modern innovation, rewarding both heritage-themed epics and boundary-pushing storytelling.
FULL LIST HIGHLIGHTS:
Best MovieLisabi: The Uprising — Adedimeji Lateef and Adebimpe Oyebade Adedimeji
Skeleton Coast — Mondjila Studios
Suspicion — Tosin Igho
Inkabi — Princess Mhlongo
House of Ga’a — Bolanle Austen-Peters and Joseph Umoibom
Freedom Way — Blessing Uzzi — Winner
Christmas in Lagos — Jadesola Osiberu
Farmer’s Bride — Kene Okwuosa, Moses Babatope, Craig Shurn, and Colette Otusheso
Best Indigenous Language (West Africa)
Seven Doors — Femi Adebayo
Lisabi: The Uprising — Adedimeji Latest and Adebimpe Oyebade Adedimeji – Winner
Kaka — Prince Daniel
Anikulapo: Rise of the Spectre — Kunle Afolayan
Mai Martaba — Prince Daniel
Best Supporting Actor
Clarence Peters’ Inside Life — Gabriel Afolayan – Winner
Lisabi: The Uprising — Adedayo Adebowale Macaroni
Seven Doors — Aliu Gafar
Freedom Way — Femi Jacobs
Christmas in Lagos — Richard Mofe-Damijo
Suspicion — Uzor Arukwe
House of Ga’a — Mike Folarin
Princess On A Hill — Efa Iwara
Best Supporting Actress
Clarence Peters’ Inside Life — Meg Otanwa
Suspicion — Tina Mba
All’s Fair in Love — Ireti Doyle
Skeleton Coast — Ini Dima-Okojie
Farmer’s Bride — Mercy Aigbe – Winner
The Uprising: Wives on Strike 3 — Omoni Oboli
Aburo — Darasimi Nnadi
Best Lead Actor
Tokunbo — Gideon Okeke
The Weekend — Bucci Franklin
House of Ga’a — Femi Branch
Skeleton Coast — Thapelo Makoena
Princess on A Hill — Bimbo Manuel
Suspicion — Stan Nze
Seven Doors — Femi Adebayo – Winner
Lisabi: The Uprising — Adedimeji Lateef
Best Lead Actress
Seven Doors — Chioma Chukwuka – Winner
Farmer’s Bride — Gbubemi Ejeye
Agemo — Uzoamaka Onuoha
Thinline — Uche Montana
Phoenix Fury — Uzoamaka Aniunoh
The Uprising: Wives on Strike 3 — Hilda Dokubo
Anikulapo: Rise of the Spectre — Bimbo Ademoye
Best Cinematography
Yen Ara Asaase Ni (This Is Our Land) — Onasis Gaisie, Michael Sefa, and Apagnawen Annankra
Inkabi — Chuanne Blofield
The Legend of the Vagabond Queen of Lagos — Leo Purman — Winner
Skeleton Coast — Wesley Johnston
Soft Love — Ebrahim Hajee
Lisabi: The Uprising — Barnabas Emordi and Nora Awolowo
Agemo — Papama Tangela
Best Sound/Sound Design
Inkabi — Vaughn Philips
Seven Doors — Tolu Obanro, Pius Fatoke, and Adam Songbird
Freedom Way — Ahuurra Andrew and Olusola Wilson
Lisabi: The Uprising — Tolu Obanro and Bode Odeyemi
Ajakaju: Beast of Two Worlds — Adams Songbird and Pius Fatoke
Suspicion — Michael Botha and Olaosebikan Okonrende – Winner
Best Editing
Inkabi — Tongai Furusa – Winner
Christmas in Lagos — Martini Akande
Skeleton Coast — Jordan Koen
Soft Love — Holmes Awa and Paballo Modingoane
Lisabi: The Uprising — Anthill Studios
Princess on A Hill — Laughter Ephraim and Peter Ugbede
Best Score/Music
Inkabi — Seoli Bongani Mashaba
Freedom Way — Ahuurra Andrew, Kehinde ‘Louddaaa’ Alabi, and Cobhams Asuquo
Seven Doors — Tolu Obanro – Winner
Soft Love — Kolade Morankinyo (MPSE) and Efa Iwara (Love and Hate)
Skeleton Coast — Chris Letcher
Best Art Direction
Anikulapo: Rise of the Spectre — Kunle Afolayan and Solihull Quadri Afolabi
Christmas in Lagos — Joy Kadiri
Farmer’s Bride — Daniel Okoi
Seven Doors — Tunji Afolayan
The Man Died— Theo Lawson
Lisabi: The Uprising — Solihull Badu Noutical and Ayanmo Yakub – Winner
Best Make-Up
Anikulapo: Rise of the Spectre — Hakeem Onilogbo (Hakeem Effect)
Lisabi: The Uprising — Hakeem Onilogbo (Hakeem Effect) – Winner
Seven Doors — Hakeem Onilogbo (Hakeem Effect)
Clarence Peters’ Inside Life — Kpoudosu Winifred
Suspicion — Tracy Izogie and Adeleke Toluwulashe Maigari
Farmer’s Bride — Abejide Oluwatosin Mercy
Best Writer (movie)
The Weekend — Egbemawei Dimiyei Sammy, and Vanessa Kanu, and Frederick O. Anyaebunam Jnr
Skeleton Coast — Omolola Lamikanra
Freedom Way — Blessing Uzzi – Winner
Phoenix Fury — Ifeoma N. Chukwuogo
A Ghetto Love Story — Victoria Eze
Christmas in Lagos — Jadesola Osiberu
House of Ga’a — Tunde Babalola
Best Costume Design
Anikulapo: Rise of the Spectre — Toyin Ogundeji
House of Ga’a — Bolanle Austen-Peters, Yolanda Okereke, Juliana Dede, and Gloria Ovu
Lisabi – The Uprising — Oluwatoyin Balogun and Oyebade Adebimpe Adedimeji
Phoenix Fury — Opeyemi Sogeke
Christmas in Lagos — Adedamola Adeyemi – Winner
Best Writing (TV Series)
Untying Kantai — Abel Mutua Musyoka – Winner
Tuki? — Louise Kamwangi
Roses and Ivy — Biodun Stephen and Abimbola Akinrinbola
Anikulapo: Rise of the Spectre — Shola Dada
Princess on A Hill — Bibi Ukpo, Niyi Adeniji, and Sonia Nwosu
Cheta’M — Ifeanyi Chidi Barbara
Seven Doors — Adebayo Tijani, Yinka Laoye, and Soyombo-Oluyombo Oluwagbemiga
Best Documentary
Walvis Tale — David Benade and Tim Huebschle
Dundun — Ifeoluwa Fatogun and Ebi Atawodi – Winner
O.Y.O (On Your Own) — Daniel Omokhagbo Itegboje
Women of Salt: The Resilience of Ebonyi’s Woman — Jessica Eneh, Eric Chidom, Kelechi Agbara, and Vera Okoh
I Will Remember You — Mohamed Rida Gueznai
Best Series (Scripted)
Princess on A Hill — Chuka Ejorh, Shayo Oke Sobo, Tolu Ajayi, and Abiola Soyo
Cheta’M — James Omokwe
Roses and Ivy — Biodun Stephen
Clarence Peters’ Inside Life — Clarence Peters – Winner
Seven Doors — Femi Adebayo
Best Director
Skeleton Coast — Robert O. Peters
Inkabi — Norman Make
House of Ga’a — Bolanle Austen-Peters
The Man Died — Awam Amkpa — Winner
The Weekend — Daniel Emeke Oriahi
Seven Doors — Femi Adebayo, Adebayo Tijani, and Tope Adebayo
Trailblazer Award
Kayode Kasum
Industry Merit Award
Sani Mu’azu and Nkem Owoh
Nollywood’s brightest talents were honoured, but more importantly, the stories that define Africa’s voice were celebrated on a night that will be remembered for years to come.
| Posted: at | |
TRENDING GISTS 
Panic In Abuja As Pastor Shoots Two Immigration Officers After Being Mistaken Them For Robbers
Retired Teacher, Mallam Kabiru Killed, Wife Abducted As Bandits Invade Zamfara School Quarters
Nigerian Student Suffers Anxiety Attack After Disappointing 2025 UTME Result; Lands In The Hospital (Video)
Army Busts Gunrunning Syndicate in Plateau, Two Arrested With AK-47 (Photos)
"I’m Not Bothered" — Ibrahim Chatta Reacts To AMVCA Snub, Says He’s Not Chasing Awards (Video)
Ringside Rumble? Fans Hype Possible Boxing Showdown Between Small Doctor And Portable
16-Year-Old Maths Wizard, Olamide Aderibigbe Scores 336 Overall In UTME; Scores 98 in Maths