The Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) announced its full slate of nominees for its 21st edition, spotlighting a new crop of African storytellers vying for continental acclaim on October 11, 2025.
Hosted at Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja, the nominees were introduced by a mix of Nollywood talent—including Lilian Aluko, Emeka Ossai, Charles Inojie, and Adaora Anyanwu—alongside dignitaries from the film regulatory sphere like Dr. Shaibu Husseini and Steve Ayorinde, who also represented the AMAA jury.
Standout Films & Contenders
A few films emerged as early favourites, grabbing multiple nominations:
Lisabi
Katunga
Freedom Way
These titles join a competitive field across the various categories, from technical awards to acting honours.
The announcement covered both core film categories (Best Film, Best Director, Best Actor/Actress, etc.) and technical or creative areas (e.g. Costume, Makeup, Cinematography).
Among nominees, works crafted in indigenous languages were highlighted in categories like the Ousmane Sembène Award for Best Film in an African Language.
Films by African creators in the diaspora were also acknowledged in diaspora-specific categories, staying true to AMAA’s pan-African vision.
The 2025 nominations underscore a few key trends and ambitions within the continent’s film landscape:
Broadening Recognition: The inclusion of filmmakers from across Africa and its diaspora continues AMAA’s mission of spotlighting diverse voices.
Language Inclusion: Awards for indigenous language films help affirm that storytelling in African vernaculars holds equal prestige to mainstream productions.
Technical Excellence: With categories spanning from sound to costume design, AMAA encourages growth in all facets of film production, not just on-screen talent.
Industry Momentum: The buzz around nominees like Lisabi, Katunga, and Freedom Way sets the stage for heightened attention—distribution, streaming, festival circuits—for these works.
