Nollywood stars Lateef Adedimeji and Tina Mba, alongside 3 Cold Dishes — a film co-produced by Afrobeats icon Burna Boy — emerged among the top winners at the 2025 Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA).
The 21st edition of the prestigious awards was held on Sunday at the Balmoral Convention Centre in Ikeja GRA, Lagos, honouring exceptional achievements in African filmmaking and acting.
3 Cold Dishes picked up two major honours: Best Nigerian Film and Best Young/Promising Actor, awarded to Ruby Akubueze.
The multilingual thriller, co-produced by Burna Boy and actress Osas Ighodaro, tells the story of three women from Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire, and Benin who reunite years after escaping human trafficking to take revenge on those who wronged them.
Adedimeji was recognised as Best Actor in a Leading Role for his portrayal in Lisabi: The Uprising, while Mba clinched Best Actress in a Supporting Role for her performance in The Serpent Gift.
The five-hour ceremony, organised by the Africa Film Academy, opened with an energetic performance by the Ebony Band.
In his opening remarks, AFA’s Chief Executive Officer, Raymond Anyiam-Osigwe, commended the strides African filmmakers have made in elevating the continent’s storytelling to global standards.
“We salute Nollywood and all creatives whose accomplishments have earned African cinema international recognition. Nigeria’s strength lies in collaboration, not competition,” he said.
This year’s six-member AMAA jury handed out 26 awards across categories including acting, directing, cinematography, and technical excellence, celebrating outstanding talent across the continent.
South Africa’s The Heart Is a Muscle claimed the Best Film award, as well as wins for Cinematography, Editing, and Best Debut Feature for its director, Imran Hamdulay.
Burkina Faso’s Katanga: Dance of the Scorpions earned multiple honours, including Best Film in an African Language, Best Screenplay, and Best Costume Design.
The event also featured a short stage play starring veteran actor Pete Edochie as a divine figure and Tony Umez as a man seeking answers, adding a theatrical flair to the night.
Musical highlights came from Made Kuti, Rizyn Band, and DJ Kenchello, with Kuti delivering a soulful rendition of his grandfather Fela Kuti’s classic Palava.
A moving tribute was dedicated to African filmmakers and actors who passed away between January and November 2025.
Among the notable attendees were Bukky Wright, Keppy Ekpeyong Bassey, Lancelot Imasuen, Jide Achufusi, and former Lagos Commissioner Uzamat Yusuf.
Full List of Winners:
•NFVCB Award for Best Nigerian Film: 3 Cold Dishes
•Best Young/Promising Actor: Ruby Akubueze – 3 Cold Dishes
•Best Actor in a Supporting Role: Clemento Ashietey – Last Stop
•Best Actress in a Supporting Role: Tina Mba – The Serpent Gift
•Best Actor in a Leading Role: Lateef Adedimeji – Lisabi: The Uprising
•Best Actress in a Leading Role: Florence Mariserena – Small Gods
•Best Debut Feature Film by a Director: The Heart Is a Muscle – Imran Hamdulay
•Best Director: Dany Kouyaté – Katanga: Dance of The Scorpions (Burkina Faso)
•Best Film: The Heart Is a Muscle – South Africa
•Best Film in an African Language: Katanga: Dance of The Scorpions – Burkina Faso
•Eferé Ozako Award for Best Short Film: The Missing Piece – Kenya
•Jubril Malafia Award for Best Animation: Dawn – Cameroon
•Best Documentary: The Journey East – DRC
•Best Diaspora Short: Cartes – USA
•Michael Anyiam Osigwe Award for Best Film by an African Living Abroad: Ancestral Visions of the Future – Lesotho/France/Germany
•Achievement in Costume Design: Katanga: Dance of The Scorpions
•Achievement in Sound: Algiers
•Best Diaspora Documentary: Rediscovering Fenon – USA/Algeria/Martinique
•Best Diaspora Narrative Feature: Romeo N Juliet 4EVA – Jamaica
•Achievement in Production Design: 3 Cold Dishes
•Achievement in Make-up: Lisabi: The Uprising
•Achievement in Soundtrack: Old Righteous Blues
•Achievement in Visual Effects: For Land, For Love, For Power
•Achievement in Cinematography: The Heart Is a Muscle
•Achievement in Editing: The Heart Is a Muscle
•Achievement in Screenplay: Katanga: Dance of The Scorpions – Burkina Faso
