The nominations for the 12th edition of the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA) were announced on Sunday, March 29, with The Herd and Gingerr securing the most nominations.
The ceremony, which is one of the most closely watched award seasons in African film and television is scheduled to take place on May 9, 2026.
This year’s nominations place The Herd at the forefront of the competition, where it shares the lead with Gingerrr. Both films secured nine nominations each across acting, directing, and technical categories.
The Herd earned nominations in major categories including Best Overall Movie, Best Director for Daniel Etim Effiong, and Best Writing in a Movie. It also received acting nominations for Genoveva Umeh in the Best Lead Actress category, and for Linda Ejiofor and Amal Umar in Best Supporting Actress. In addition, the film was recognised in technical fields such as Cinematography, Sound Design, and Art Direction.
Following closely behind is To Kill A Monkey, which received eight nominations. The film was recognised in several key areas, including acting and production categories. My Father’s Shadow secured seven nominations, with notable strength in technical categories such as Cinematography, Sound Design, and Music Score.
Other films with multiple nominations include The Serpent’s Gift, 3 Cold Dishes, and Behind The Scenes, all of which appear in the Best Overall Movie category alongside The Herd, Gingerrr, and My Father’s Shadow.
The AMVCA organisers confirmed that the 2026 edition will feature a total of 32 award categories. These include 18 categories decided by a jury, 11 open to public voting, and three special recognition awards, namely the Lifetime Achievement Award and the Trailblazer Award.
A notable development this year is the introduction of two new categories: Best Indigenous Language Film – North Africa and Best Indigenous Language Film – Central Africa.
Veteran actress Joke Silva was appointed Head Judge for this edition, taking over from Femi Odugbemi, who previously held the role.
In terms of content, the nominated films have a wide range of themes. The Herd is a character-driven story centred on insecurity and survival, while Gingerrr explores contemporary life with drama and humour. To Kill A Monkey takes a more intense direction, focusing on moral tension and consequence, while My Father’s Shadow examines family relationships and personal identity.
Public voting has opened for selected categories, allowing audiences to participate in determining some of the winners ahead of the ceremony.
See the full list of nominees below:
Best Supporting Actor
Simileoluwa Hassan — The Yard
Lateef Adedimeji — Gingerr
Gabriel Afolayan — Colours of Fire
Bucci Franklin — To Kill a Monkey
Femi Adebayo — King of Thieves 2
Lateef Adedimeji — Red Circle
Femi Branch — Owambe Thieves
Uzor Arukwe — Behind the Scenes
Best Lead Actor
Mike Ezuruonye — Oversabi Aunty
Lateef Adedimeji — Lisabi 2
William Benson — To Kill a Monkey
Kanayo O. Kanayo — Grandpa Must Obey
Khumbuza Meyiwa — Bet I Love You
Uzor Arukwe — Colours of Fire
Wale Ojo — 3 Cold Dishes
Femi Branch — Red Circle
Best Lead Actress
Linda Ejiofor — The Serpent’s Gift
Bimbo Akintola — To Kill a Monkey
Ifeoma Fafunwa — The Lost Days
Ariyike Owolagba — Something About the Briggs
Sola Sobowale — Her Excellency
Scarlet Gomez — Behind the Scenes
Genoveva Umeh — The Herd
Gloria Anozie-Young — Mother of the Brides
Best Supporting Actress
Linda Ejiofor — The Herd
Olamide Kidbaby — Oversabi Aunty
Bisola Aiyeola — Gingerrr
Sola Sobowale — The Covenant
Nadia Dutch — Aljana
Amal Umar — The Herd
Juliebrenda Nyambura — MTV Shuga Mashariki
Funke Akindele — Behind The Scenes
Best Director
Akinola Davies Jr — My Father’s Shadow
Tunde Kelani — Cordelia
James Omokwe — Osamede
Daniel Etim Effiong — The Herd
Yemi Filmboy Morafa — Gingerr
Asurf Amuwa Oluseyi — 3 Cold Dishes
Best Digital Content Creator
Elozonam Ogbolu
Genoveva Umeh
Destiny Ogie Osarewinda
Emmanuel Kanaga
Sophia Chisom
Benedict Ehimare Oriaifo
Taaooma
Steve Chuks
Akwaman
Best Art Direction
Zainab Oladipupo — The Serpent’s Gift
Omolade Abisola — The Herd
Ajamolaya Bunmi — Colours of Fire
Olatunji Afolayan, Gideon O. Stephen — Aljana
Victor Akpan — Suky
Thabiso Senne — Inimba
Best Cinematography
Jermaine Edwards — My Father’s Shadow
Kabelo Thathe — To Kill A Monkey
Emmanuel Igbekele — The Herd
Daanong Gyang — Finding Nina
Emmanuel Igbekele — The Serpent’s Gift
KC Obiajulu — Stitches
Emmanuel Igbekele — Gingerrr
Best Costume Design
Mary Chukwuma — The Serpent’s Gift
Deola Art Alade, Darey Art Alade — The Real Housewives Of Lagos
Valerie Okeke — Colours Of Fire
Yolanda Okereke — Something About The Briggs
Ikechukwu Urum, John Joseph Angel — To Kill A Monkey
Best Makeup
Mojisola Imam — Behind The Scenes
Adeola Bamgboye — Lisabi: A Legend Is Born
Dablaq Artistry — Gingerrr
Adeola Bamgboye — Abanisete
Hakeem Effect — Warlord
Ruth Harcourt — Suky
Adeola Bamgboye — Labake Olododo
Best Sound/Sound Design
Pius Fatoke, CJ Mirra — My Father’s Shadow
Tolu Obanro — Gingerrr
Vaughan Phillips — Ben Made It
Tolu Obanro — The Party
Vaughan Phillips — Sebata: The Beast
Fisayo Adefolaju — The Herd
Best Score/Music
Duval Timothy, CJ Mirra — My Father’s Shadow
Nissi Ogulu — 3 Cold Dishes
Chubb Okobah — Osamede
Tolu Obanro — Gingerrr
Tolu Obanro — The Party
Sofresh — MTV Shuga Mashariki
Oscar Heman-Ackah — To Kill A Monkey
Best Editing
Kazeem Agboola — Cordelia
Omar Guzman Castro — My Father’s Shadow
Wanguma Peter Chidebere, Dele Doherty — Landline
Asurf Amuwa Oluseyi — 3 Cold Dishes
Winston Aig-Ohioma — Osamede
Daniel Anyiam — To Kill A Monkey
Best Writing (Movie)
Lani Aisida — The Herd
Wale Davies — My Father’s Shadow
Ikenna Okpara — Blackout
Shirleen Wangari — Cards On The Table
Xavier Ighorodje — Gingerrr
Isaac Ayodeji — Suky
Tomi Adesina — 3 Cold Dishes
Best Writing TV Series
Besufekade Mulu — Addis Fikir
Temilola Balogun — Baba Oh
Stephen Okonkwo — The Party
Yednekachew Ayne — Gizat
Best Documentary
Beyond Olympic Glory
The Good, The Bad of Afrobeat
The People Shall
Not Addressing This Anymore
BOU
Best Series Unscripted
The Real Housewives Of Lagos S3
Nigerian Idol S10
Ultimate Girls Trip: Africa
Offair With Gbemi And Toolz
Out N About (Harar)
Best Series Scripted
To Kill A Monkey
The Yard
The Chocolate Empire
Inimba
Kash Money
Best Movie
Gingerrr
The Herd
My Father’s Shadow
3 Cold Dishes
The Serpent’s Gift
Behind The Scenes
