NOLLYWIRE EDITORIAL

AMVCA 2025 Nominations: 'Lisabi: The Uprising', 'Seven Doors', and 'House of Ga’a' Lead the Nominations

By Nollywire Editorial · 24 March 2025

The AMVCA 2025 nominations are here, and as always, the list offers a mix of expected names and surprise contenders. This year’s lineup underscores the growing dominance of historical epics with films like 'Lisabi: The Uprising,' 'Seven Doors,' and 'House of Ga’a' leading the charge. It’s also a strong year for female-led narratives, with performances from Chioma Akpotha, Uzoamaka Onuoha, and Bimbo Ademoye in the Best Lead Actress category.

Notably, comedy continues to carve out a space at the AMVCAs, with Mr. Macaroni (Adebowale Adedayo) earning a nod for his role in ‘Lisabi: The Uprising,’ proving once again that digital content creators are making a seamless transition to mainstream cinema. Meanwhile, the Best Indigenous Language category highlights the continued investment in local storytelling, with ‘Mai Martaba’, ‘Kaka’, and ‘Anikulapo: Rise of the Spectre’ competing for top honours.

Let's take a look at the AMVCA list!

Best Digital Content Creator

Jide ‘Pounds’ Ibitoye (Jide Pounds) Dorcas Ariyiike Owolagba (Ariyiike Dimples) Iyo Prosper Elozonam Maryam Apaokagi (Taaooma)

Best Multichoice Talent Factory Movie

Gone (West Africa) Everything Light Touches (West Africa) The Immersive Alarm (East Africa) Deadbeat (East Africa) Mwananga (Southern Africa) 'Rivals in Time (Southern Africa)

Best Unscripted M-Net Original

Nigerian Idol: Pastor Wants A Wife (Zambia) Overall Best Husband Material The Queens of Kopala

Best Scripted M-Net Original

Uriri All Mine My Fairytale Wedding Italo The Caller Kam U Stay

Best Indigenous Language Film (West Africa)

Seven Doors Lisabi: The Uprising Kaka Anikulapo: Rise of the Specter Mai Martaba

Best Indigenous Language Film (East Africa)

The Caller Makosa Di Tangu Sabotage Wa Milele? (Forever)

Best Indigenous Language Film (South Africa)

Walvis Tale The Vow Mwizukanji Man of Gold Lukas

Best Indigenous M-Net Original

Mai Shayi The Caller Show Me The Way Ebighi Ebi Subterranea Onye Agbata Obim Amoanimaa’s Era

Best Short Film

Sukari Brukaci What Are You Really Afraid Of? In Bloom: ‘Afefe’ The Incredible Sensational Fiancee of Seyi Ajayi

Best Supporting Actress

Meg Otanwa—Inside Life Tina Mba—Suspicion Ireti Doyle—All’s Fair in Love Ini Dima-Okojie—Skeleton Coast Mercy Aigbe—Farmer’s Bride Omoni Oboli—The Uprising: Wives on Strike 3 Darasimi Nadi—Aburo

Best Supporting Actor

Gabriel Afolayan—Inside Life Adedayo Adebowale Macaroni—Lisabi: The Uprising Aliu Gafar—Seven Doors Femi Jacobs—Freedom Way Richard Mofe-Damijo—Christmas In Lagos Uzor Arukwe—Suspicion Mike Afolarin—House of Ga’a Efa Iwara—Princess on a Hill

Best Lead Actress

Chioma Chukwuka—Seven Doors Gbubemi Ejeye—Farmer’s Bride Uzoamaka Onuoha—Agemo Uche Montana—Thinline Uzoamaka Aniunoh—Phoenix Fury Hilda Dokudo—The Uprising: Wives On Strike 3 Bimbo Ademoye—Anikulapo: Rise of the Specter

Best Lead Actor

Gideon Okeke—Tokunbo Bucci Franklin—The Weekend Femi Branch—House of Ga’a Thapelo Makoena—Skeleton Coast Bimbo Manuel—Princess On A Hill Stan Nze—Suspicion Femi Adebayo—Seven Doors Adedimeji Lateef, Lisabi: The Uprising

Best Editing

Inkabi—Tongai Furusa Christmas in Lagos—Martini Akande Skeleton Coast—Jordan Koen Soft Love—Holmes Awa and Paballo Modingoane Lisabi: The Uprising—Ayomikun Oteju Z. Princess on A Hill—Laughter Ephraim and Peter Ugbede

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 Skeleton Coast—Wesley Johnston Soft Love—Ebrahim Hajee Lisabi: The Uprising—Barnabas Emordi and Nora Awolowo Agemo—Papama Tangela

Best Sound/Sound Design

Inkabi Seven Doors Freedom Way Lisabi: The Uprising Ajakaju: Beast Of Two Worlds Suspicion

Best Score/Music

Inkabi—Seoli Bongani Mashaba Freedom Way—Ahuurra Andrew, Kehinde “Louddaaa” Alabi, and Cobhams Asuquo Seven Doors—Tolu Obanro Soft Love—Kolade Morankinyo (MPSE) and Efa Iwara (Love and Hate) Skeleton Coast—Chris Letcher

Best Art Direction

Anikulapo: Rise of the Specter Christmas In Lagos Farmer’s Bride Seven Doors The Man Died Lisabi: The Uprising

Best Costume Design

Toyin Ogundeji—Anikulapo: Rise of the Spectre Bolanle Austen-Peters, Yolanda Okereke, Juliana Dede, Gloria Oyu—House Of Ga’a Oluwatoyin Balogun, Oyeade Adeimpe Adedimeji—Lisabi: The Uprising Opeyemi Sogeke—Phoenix Fury Adedamola Adeyemi—Christmas In Lagos

Best Makeup

Anikulapo: Rise of the Specter—Hakeem Onilogbo (Hakeem Effect) Lisabi: The Uprising—Hakeem Onilogbo (Hakeem Effect) 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 Writing TV Series

Untying Kantai—Abel Mutua Musyoka Tuki—Louise Kamwangi Roses and Ivy—Biodun Stephen and Abimbola Akinrinbola Anikulapo: Rise of the Specter—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 Writing in a Movie

The Weekend—Egbemawei Dimiyei Sammy, Vanessa Kanu, and Frederick O. Anyaebunam Jr. Skeleton Coast—Omolola Lamikanra Freedom Way—Blessing Uzzi Phoenix Fury—Ifeoma N. Chukwuogo A Ghetto Love Story—Victoria Eze House of Ga'a—Tune Babalola Christmas in Lagos—Jade Osiberu

Best Documentary

Walvis Tale: David Benade and Tim Huebschle Dundun—Ifeoluwa Fatogun and Ebi Atawodi 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—Mohammad Rida Gueznai

Best Scripted Series

Clarence Peters’ Inside Life Seven Doors Princess On A Hill Cheta’M Roses & Ivy

Best Unscripted Series

Style Magnate Skillers (The Builders Show) Ebuka Turns Up Africa Wa Milele? (Forever) Uzoamaka Tries Palmwine

Best Director

Robert O. Peters—Skeleton Coast Norman Maake—Inkabi Bolanle Austen-Peters—House of Ga’a Awam Amkpa—The Man Died Daniel Emeka Oriahi—The Weekend Femi Adebayo, Adebayo Tijani, Tope Adebayo—Seven Doors

Best Movie

Lisabi: The Uprising Skeleton Coast Suspicion Inkabi House of Ga’a Freedom Way Christmas in Lagos Farmer’s Bride