21st Africa Movie Academy Awards: Burkina Faso and Nigeria Lead the 2025 AMAA Nominations: Full List

21st Africa Movie Academy Awards: Burkina Faso and Nigeria Lead the 2025 AMAA Nominations: Full List

The 21st Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) nominations have officially been unveiled, honoring the continent’s most outstanding cinematic achievements. Filmmakers from eight African nations are competing for top honors, with a vibrant mix of historical epics, emotional dramas, and socially charged stories.

Leading the field is Burkina Faso’s epic drama Katanga: Dance of the Scorpions, which scored 10 nominations, highlighting the nation’s growing reputation for bold and authentic storytelling on the global stage.

Close behind is Nigeria’s historical action drama Lisabi: The Uprising, which earned seven nominations, reinforcing Nollywood’s continued dominance in African cinema.

A Celebration of African Excellence

The nominations were revealed during a star-studded virtual ceremony hosted by Nigerian actors Lilian Aluko, Emeka Ossai, Charles Inojie, and Adaora Anyanwu. Spanning 26 categories, this year’s AMAA lineup celebrates innovation, cultural depth, and technical artistry across the African film industry.

From Burkina Faso’s gripping tale of rebellion to Uganda’s emotional Small Gods and South Africa’s introspective The Heart is a Muscle, the 2025 contenders reflect Africa’s rich diversity of storytelling traditions.

Regional Powerhouses and Rising Voices

Other notable contenders include Ethiopia’s For Love, For Land, For Power and Ghana’s Last Stop, both of which received multiple nominations for technical and performance excellence.

Nigeria maintains a strong presence across major categories, positioning its films and talents for potential sweeps. Two standout Nigerian entries — 3 Cold Dishes and Lisabi: The Uprising — are competing for Best Film, alongside Katanga and Algeria’s Algiers.

Directing and Acting Categories Showcase Continental Talent

In the Best Director race, Nigeria secures two of the eight coveted spots:

• Niyi Akinmolayan for Lisabi: The Uprising, lauded for his visceral action and historical authenticity.
• Asurf Oluseyi for 3 Cold Dishes, praised for its sharp pacing and strong ensemble performances.

They face competition from Burkina Faso’s Dany Kouyaté (Katanga), South Africa’s Imran Hamdulay (The Heart is a Muscle), and Ethiopia’s Theodros Teshome.

Star Performances Shine in Lead Acting Categories

In the Best Actor category, Lateef Adedimeji represents Nigeria with his commanding portrayal of the Yoruba hero in Lisabi: The Uprising. His performance, a blend of defiance and emotional depth, earns him a spot among continental peers such as Mahamadi Nana (Katanga) and Ayden Croy (Old Righteous Blues).

For Best Actress, Nigeria fields a formidable trio:

• Linda Ejiofor-Suleiman for The Serpent Gift
• Shaffy Bello for The Masked King
• Osas Ighodaro for 3 Cold Dishes, sharing the spotlight with international co-stars Fat Toure and Maud Guerard.

They will compete against strong entries from Ethiopia, Uganda, and Algeria, making it one of the most competitive categories this year.

Technical Brilliance and National Recognition

Beyond the top awards, Nigeria’s impact is also evident in technical categories.
Lisabi: The Uprising earned nods for Visual Effects and Make-Up, while 3 Cold Dishes was recognized for Cinematography and Editing.

In the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) Award for Best Nigerian Film, Lisabi will compete with Recall, Freedom Way, and The Serpent Gift.

A Landmark Year for African Cinema

The 2025 AMAA nominations highlight the creative evolution of African storytelling — from historical sagas and cultural narratives to groundbreaking technical craftsmanship. With Burkina Faso and Nigeria leading the pack, the stage is set for a thrilling celebration of Africa’s finest filmmakers and cinematic voices.

See full list of nominations below:

EFERE OZAKO AMAA 2025 AWARD FOR BEST
SHORT FILM

• The Missing Piece – Kenya
• Vandals – Mozambique
• Echoes From The Past- Nigeria/UK
• Abu Judy -Egypt
• Chikha-Queen – Morrocco
• MIA – Burkina Faso
• Stigma – Tunisia
• LEES WAXUL – Senegal
• The last Harvest – Cape Verde

JUBRIL MALAFIA AMAA 2025 AWARD FOR BEST
ANIMATION

• Dawn – Cameroun
• My Brother, My Brother- Egypt/France/Germany
• The Travails of Ajadi – Nigeria
• Nkizzi’s First Day – Uganda
• Amara and the Spirit of Nyamagunda – Uganda
• Monologue – Nigeria/UK

AMAA 2025 AWARD FOR BEST DOCUMENTARY

• The Journey East – DRC
• Double Minority – Nigeria
• The Empty Grave – Tanzania/UK
• Khartoum – Sudan/UK
• Ancestral Visions of the Future -Lesotho/France/Germany

OUSMANE SEMBENE AMAA 2025 AWARD FOR
BEST FILM IN AN AFRICAN LANGUAGE

• Katanga: Dance of The Scorpions -B/Faso
• Small Gods – Uganda/UK
• Lukas: Namibia
• Lobola Man – South Africa
• Lisabi: The Uprising
• The Heart is a Muscle: South Africa

MICHAEL ANYIAM OSIGWE AMAA 2025 AWARD
FOR BEST FILM BY AN AFRICAN LIVING
ABROAD

• Lemohang Jeremiah – Ancestral Visions of the
• Future – Lesotho/France/Germany
• Katanga: Dance of The Scorpions – Dany Kouyate (B/Faso)
• Khartoum – Ibrahim Snoopy – Sudan

AMAA 2025 AWARD FOR BEST DIASPORA SHORT

• Cartes – USA
• Superman Doesn’t steal – USA
• Harvest – USA

AMAA 2025 AWARD FOR BEST DIASPORA
DOCUMENTARY

• The Billy Preston Story – USA
• Carnival: ‘They Cant Steal Our Joy – Canada
• Missing Rio Doce – Brazil/France
• Rediscovering Fenon – USA/Algeria/Martinique

AMAA 2025 AWARD FOR BEST DIASPORA

NARRATIVE FEATURE

• Sisters Maid – Brazil
• Romeo N Juliet 4EVA – Jamaica
• The Model, The Mannequin and Me – USA

AMAA 2025 AWARD FOR ACHIEVEMENT IN
PRODUCTION DESIGN

• Katanga: Dance of The Scorpions
• The Heart is a Muscle
• 3 Cold Dishes
• Last Stop
• Red Circle

AMAA 2025 ACHIEVEMENT IN COSTUME DESIGN

• Katanga: Dance of The Scorpions
• The Lost Days
• The Masked King
• The Serpent Gift
• Hunting Jessica Brok

AMAA 2025 AWARD FOR ACHIEVEMENT IN MAKEUP

• Spelonk
• Lisabi: The Uprising
• Amanayanbo
• The Masked King
  The Heart is a Muscle

AMAA 2025 AWARD FOR ACHIEVEMENT IN
SOUNDTRACK

• Recall
• Freedom Way
• Old Righteous Blues
• Kites
• Le Point- The Bridge

AMAA 2025 AWARD FOR ACHIEVEMENT IN
VISUAL EFFECT

• For Land, For Love, For Power
• Lisabi
• Spelonk
• Hunting Jessica Brok
• Amanayanbo: The Eagle King

AMAA 2025 AWARD FOR ACHIEVEMENT IN SOUND

• Algiers
• Old Righteous Blues
• Le Point – The Bridge
• Hunting Jessica Brok
• Katanga: Dance of The Scorpions -B/Faso

AMAA 2025 AWARD FOR ACHIEVEMENT IN
CINEMATOGRAPHY

• 3 cold dishes
• Old Righteous Blues
• Spelonk
• Small gods
• For love, for land, for power
• The Heart is a muscle
• Katanga: Dance of The Scorpions -B/Faso

AMAA 2025 AWARD FOR ACHIEVEMENT IN
EDITING

• For Love, For Land, For power
• Spelonk
• The Heart is a Muscle
• 3 Cold Dishes
• Algiers

AMAA 2025 AWARD FOR ACHIEVEMENT IN
SCREEN PLAY

• Old Righteous Blues
• Le Point – The Bridge
• For Love, For Land, For Power
• Small Gods
• Red circle
• Katanga: Dance of The Scorpions -B/Faso

AMAA 2025 – NATIONAL FILM AND VIDEO CENSORS BOARD (NFVCB) AWARD FOR BEST NIGERIAN FILM

• Lisabi: The Uprising
• Recall
• Freedom Way
• The Serpent Gift
• Amanayanbo
• 3 Cold Dishes
• Red Circle
• The Masked King

AMAA 2025 AWARD FOR BEST YOUNG/ PROMISING ACTOR

• Alejandro Cooper- Lukas
• Turinayo Jatham – Small gods
• Tiwalola Adebola-Walter – Freedom Way
• Kisi Ogborueche – Kill Boro
• Ruby Akubueze – 3 Cold Dishes

AMAA 2025 AWARD FOR BEST ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

• Kojo Boakye – Two of a Kind
• Femi Jacobs – Freedom Way
• Clemento Ashietey – Last Stop
• Abdulai Saidu Kamara – Code of Honor

AMAA 2025 AWARD FOR BEST ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

• Zohra Chetioui – Le Point- The Bridge
• Tina Mba – The Serpent Gift
• Fadela Brown – Old Righteous Blues
• Bukky Wright – Red Circle

AMAA 2025 AWARD FOR BEST ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE

• Keenan Arrison – The Heart is a Muscle
• KalkidanTessema – For love, for land, for power
• Adjetey Anang – Last Stop
• Lateef Adedimeji – Lisabi: The Uprising
• Ayden Croy- Old Righteous Blues
• Bizimana Hussain – Small Gods
• Mahamadi Nana – Katanga: Dance of The
• Scorpions -B/Faso
• Nabil Asli – Algiers

AMAA 2025 AWARD FOR BEST ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE

• Linda Ejiofor-Suleiman – The Serpent Gift
• Analisa Munyana – Mucoma: The Battle of the Couple
• Shaffy Bello – The Masked King
• Danica De La Ray Jones- Hunting Jessica Brok
• Tsigereda Bekele – For Love, For Land, For Power
• Florence Mariserena – Small gods
• Meriem Medjkane – Algiers
• Osas Ighodaro, Fat Toure and Maud Guerard – 3 Cold Dishes

AMAA 2025 AWARD FOR BEST DEBUT FEATURE FILM BY A DIRECTOR

• The Lost Days – Wingonia Ikpi
• Small Gods- Asher Rosen
• Algiers- Chakib Taleb-Bendiab
• Kill Boro- Obayuwana Courage
• The Heart is a Muscle – Imran Hamdulay
• Freedom Way – Afolabi Olalekan

AMAA 2025 AWARD FOR BEST DIRECTOR

• Niyi Akinmolayan- Lisabi: The Uprising (Nigeria)
• The Heart is a Muscle – Imran Hamdulay (South Africa)
• Asurf Oluseyi – 3 Cold Dishes (Nigeria)
• Asher Rosen- Small Gods – (Uganda)
• Theodros Teshome -For Love, For Land, For Power (Ethiopia)
• Dany Kouyate – Katanga:
• Dance of The Scorpions -B/Faso
• Kwabena Gwansah – Last Stop (Ghana)
• Chakib Taleb-Bendiab – Algiers (Algeria)

AMAA 2025 AWARD FOR BEST FILM

• Algiers – Algeria
• 3 Cold Dishes – Nigeria
• The Heart is a Muscle – South Africa
• Small Gods – Uganda
• For Love, For Land, For Power -Ethiopia
• Katanga: Dance of The Scorpions -B/Faso
• Last Stop – Ghana
• Lisabi: The Uprising (Nigeria)

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