The 2025 Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) once again celebrated the brilliance of African cinema, honoring filmmakers, actors, and industry professionals for their outstanding achievements.
The 21st edition of the awards took place on Sunday at the Balmoral Convention Centre, Ikeja GRA, Lagos, gathering the continent’s top creative talents under one roof.
One of the evening’s most talked-about films was the multilingual thriller “3 Cold Dishes,” co-produced by Burna Boy and Osas Ighodaro. The movie walked away with Best Nigerian Film, while rising star Ruby Akubueze was recognized as Best Young/Promising Actor.
Veteran actor Lateef Adedimeji clinched Best Actor in a Leading Role for his compelling performance in “Lisabi: The Uprising,” while Tina Mba impressed the jury with her role in “The Serpent Gift,” earning Best Actress in a Supporting Role.
South Africa’s “The Heart Is a Muscle” dominated several categories, winning Best Film, as well as awards for Cinematography, Editing, and Best Debut Feature Film for director Imran Hamdulay.
Burkina Faso made a strong showing with “Katanga: Dance of the Scorpions,” which earned Best Film in an African Language, Best Screenplay, and Achievement in Costume Design, highlighting the country’s growing presence in African cinema.
Other notable winners included Florence Mariserena, who won Best Actress in a Leading Role for “Small Gods,” and Clemento Ashietey, who was named Best Actor in a Supporting Role for “Last Stop.”
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The ceremony also celebrated African filmmakers in the diaspora. “Ancestral Visions of the Future” (Lesotho/France/Germany) won Best Film by an African Living Abroad, while Jamaica’s “Romeo N Juliet 4EVA” was awarded Best Diaspora Narrative Feature.
Short films and documentaries received recognition as well. Kenya’s “The Missing Piece” earned the Eferé Ozako Award for Best Short Film, and the DRC’s “The Journey East” was named Best Documentary.
In addition to celebrating achievements, the event paid tribute to African film practitioners who passed away between January and November 2025 and featured lively musical performances, making it a night of both recognition and remembrance.
Summary of Major Winners:
• Best Nigerian Film: 3 Cold Dishes
• Best Young/Promising Actor: Ruby Akubueze – 3 Cold Dishes
• Best Actor in a Leading Role: Lateef Adedimeji – Lisabi: The Uprising
• Best Actress in a Leading Role: Florence Mariserena – Small Gods
• Best Actor in a Supporting Role: Clemento Ashietey – Last Stop
• Best Actress in a Supporting Role: Tina Mba – The Serpent Gift
• Best Film: The Heart Is a Muscle – South Africa
• Best Debut Feature Film by a Director: The Heart Is a Muscle – Imran Hamdulay
• Best Film in an African Language: Katanga: Dance of the Scorpions – Burkina Faso
• Best Screenplay: Katanga: Dance of the Scorpions – Burkina Faso
• Achievement in Costume Design: Katanga: Dance of the Scorpions
• Achievement in Cinematography: The Heart Is a Muscle
• Achievement in Editing: The Heart Is a Muscle
• Best Short Film: The Missing Piece – Kenya
• Best Documentary: The Journey East – DRC
The AMAA 2025 underscored the growing influence of African cinema on the global stage, highlighting both emerging talents and seasoned professionals who continue to shape the industry across the continent.