EntertainmentNewsNigeriaFull list of nominees for AMVCA 2023

The nominees for the 2023 edition of the African Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards, AMVCA, were unveiled on Sunday.

The AMVCAs recognise and celebrate the best of talent and creativity in the African film and television industry, by giving actors and other professionals the platform to showcase their skills and get the recognition they rightfully deserve. It has become one of the most prestigious awards in the continent’s entertainment industry.

The categories unveiled featured 14 voting categories which are open to the public, and 21 non-voting categories, whose winners will be decided by the panel of judges headed by veteran filmmaker, Femi Odugbemi.

Below are the categories and the nominees.

BEST UNSCRIPTED ORIGINAL: Come Play Naija, Off Air with Gbemi and Tools, Judging Matters, Rock That Aisle Again, Sankofa, Kan-See-Me, and King Bugar.

BEST ORIGINAL DRAMA SERIES: Unmarried, Ricordi, The Rishantes, To Have and To Hold, Accra Medic, Dirty Laundry, Njila, Pete, Junior Drama Club, A Infiltrada, and Pazia.

BEST ORIGINAL COMEDY SERIES: Flatmates, The Johnsons, My Siblings and I, Co-Habits, RSM, Uncle Limbani, Mussulando, Njoro Wa Uba, Popi, and The Return Of Original Comedy.

BEST ORIGINAL TELENOVELA: Itura, Covenant, Huba, Dede, Prestige, Salem, Mahinga, Mpali, and Maida.

BEST ACTRESS IN A DRAMA, MOVIE OR TV SERIES: Bimbo Ademoye (Anikulapo), Ini Dima-Okojie (Flawsome), Immaculata Oko Kasum (Ile Owo), Osas Ighodaro (Man of God), Enado Odigie (Flawsome), Nimo Loveline (The Planters Plantation), Queen Nwokoye (Strained), Nse Ikpe-Etim (Shanty Town), Ini Edo (Shanty Town), and Scarlet Gomez (Wura).

BEST ACTRESS IN A COMEDY/TV SERIES: Mercy Johnson Okojie (Battle on Buka Street), Funke Akindele (Battle on Buka Street), Rosely Ngissah (Red Carpet), Mercy Johnson Okojie (Passport), Bimbo Ademoye (Selina), Albert Oluwatoyin (Visa on Arrival), and Grace Wacuka (Married to Work).

BEST ACTOR IN A COMEDY DRAMA, MOVIE OR TV SERIES: Nosa Afolabi (The Razz Guy), Samuel Perry ‘Broda Shaggi’ (Inside Life), Kunle Idowu (Unintentional), Adokiye Horsfall ‘Romeo_WJ’ (Inside Life), Nkem Owoh (Battle on Buka Street), Samuel Perry ‘Broda Shaggi’ (Survivors), Charles Etubiebi (Just Friends), Charles Inojie (City Hustler), Chinedu Ikedieze (Aki & PawPaw), and Nedu Ani ‘Nedu Wazobia’ (Inside Life).

BEST ACTOR IN A DRAMA, MOVIE OR TV SERIES: Blossom Chukwujekwu (The Trade), Chidi Mokeme (Shanty Town), Chimezie Imo (Choke), Daniel Etim-Effiong (Kofa), Femi Adebayo (King of Thieves), NKakalukanyi Patriq (Tembele), O.C. Ukeje (Black Mail), Richard Mofe Damijo (Four Four Forty Four), Tobi Bakre (Brotherhood), and Tope Tedela (All the Colours of the World are Between Black and White)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR (MOVIE/TV SERIES): James Webbo (County 49), Yinka Quadri (Anikulapo), Bucci Franklin (The Razz Guy), Taiwo Hassan (Anikulapo), OC Ukeje (Brotherhood), Abdisattar Ahmed (Gacal), and Jeffroberts Walusimbi (Bedroom Chains).

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A DRAMA, MOVIE OR TV SERIES: Ivie Okujaye (On Your Own), Toni Tones (Brotherhood), Sola Sobowale (Anikulapo), Teniola Aladese (Love in a Pandemic), Efe Irele (Four Four Forty Four), and Gina Castel (Kofa).

BEST ONLINE SOCIAL CONTENT CREATOR: Tee Kuro (Nollywood Epic Love Story Parody: The Finale), Steve Chuks (Husband’s Side Chick), Isbae U (My Sweet Mother-In-law), Abiola (VIP Bathroom), Elozonam and Kiekie (Back From the Future), Kenzy Udosen (Quick Pronunciations), Oluwadolarz and Abayomi Alvin (Soldiers at War: Compilation), Edem Victor (The Activist), Adeaga Bukunmi ‘Kiekie’ (Fake Alert with Mercy Johnson), and Bimbo Ademoye (Iya Barakat Teropi Secxxion).

BEST SHORT FILM OR ONLINE VIDEO: Teju’s Tale (Teniola Zara King), The Song Maiden (Nkem Nwaturuocha), Sixteen Rounds (Usama Mukwaya and Loukman Ali), Away (Victor Onwudiwe and Goodnews Erico Isika), Pa Aromire (Adeoye Adetunji), Convictus (Gbenga Salu), and Love Language (Uzoamaka Aniunoh).

BEST WRITER IN MOVIE OR TV SERIES: Jade Osiberu (The Trade), Tunde Apalowo and Jeffery Musa David (Kanaani), Sodi Kurubo, Stephanie Dadet and Victor Aghahowa (Diiche: Episode 5), Funke Akindele, Jack’enneth Opukeme, Stephen Oluboyo and Jemine Edukugho (Battle on Buka Street), Yinka Laoye (King of Thieves), Uche Ateli (Choke), and Sola Dada (Anikulapo).

BEST ART DIRECTOR (MOVIE OR TV SERIES): Olugbenga Ogunshina and Joy Kadiri (Brotherhood), Pat Nebo and Temple Chima Adighije (Crime and Justice), Wale Adeleke (King Of Thieves), Olatunji Afolayan (Battle on Buka Street), Olalekan Isiaka (Shanty Town), Toka Mcbaror (Almajiri), and Uche Nwaohiri and Tunde Lawal (Diiche).

BEST LIGHTING DESIGNER IN MOVIE OR TV SERIES: Francis Wanyahdeh (Crime and Justice), Mathew Yusuf (Brotherhood), Lanre Omofaiye (Anikulapo), Walter Odhiambo (Shanty Town), Ismail Adewunmi (Ile Owo), Muri Salami (Four Four Forty Four), Francis Wanyahdeh & Ebuka Enejere (Diiche), Renaldo Van Den Berg, Emmanuel Patrick, David Otuokere (Real Housewives of Lagos), Godwin Lawal (Tarella), and Segun Adeleke (Flawsome).

BEST DOCUMENTARY: Awaiting Trial (Chude Jideowo), 100 of Us (Best Okoduwa), Truck Blind Spot (Nathaniel George), Green: The Amazons (Charles F. Solomon, Oluchi Nsofor, Aaron Olayemi and Famous Odion), Nigeria: The Debut (Nora Awolowo), Way to the Top (Charles F. Solomon), and Baby Blues (Nora Awolowo).

BEST INDIGENOUS LANGUAGE MOVIE OR TV SERIES (SWAHILI): Safari (Phoebe Ruguru and Njue Kevin), Barakatatu (Malcolm Hamisi), Click Click Bang (Philip Karanja Njenga), Frida (Wilson Nkya & Jane Moshi), Mpiganaji (Daniel Manege), Dau (Freddy Feruzi), and (Mvanmizi: The Intruder (Wilson Nkya).

BEST INDIGENOUS LANGUAGE MOVIE OR TV SERIES (YORUBA): Anikulapo (Kunle Afolayan), Ogeere (Ololade Tijani-Ebong), Abebi Seranko Seniyan (Funmi Bank Anthony and Abdullahi Abdulrasaq), Mr Raji (Okusanya Bayonle Samson), and Morenikeji (Karamot Adeboye).

BEST INDIGENOUS LANGUAGE MOVIE OR TV SERIES (HAUSA): Aisha (Abubakar Bashir Maishadda), Kwana Casa’In (Evans Ejiogu), Lulu Da A (Ty Shaban), and Guzama (Nancy Yiljep).

BEST INDIGENOUS LANGUAGE MOVIE OR TV SERIES (IGBO): Ifediche (Brown Ene, Victor Onwudiwe and Ben Cassie), The Bride Price (Imego) (Trinity Ugonabo), Uhuruchi (Victor Iyke), Ijeoma (Shileola A. Ibironke), and Ego Mbute (Shileola A. Ibironke).

BEST SOUNDTRACK IN MOVIE OR TV SERIES: Kent Edunjobi (Anikulapo), Adam Songbird and Tolu Obanro (King of Thieves), Jaysynths and Hotkid (Shanty Town), Joel Christian Goffin (Black Mail), Gbas Gbos by Tolu Obanro and Adam Songbird (Battle on Buka Street), Q Rodney Abia, Angelo Anosike and Kayode Kasum (Obara’m), and Abiola Olayinka & Habeeb Adebayo (L.I.F.E.).

BEST PICTURE EDITOR IN MOVIE OR TV SERIES: Martini Akande (Brotherhood), Holmes Awa and Daniel Tom (Crime and Justice), Temitope Folarin (Anikulapo), Adio Solanke (Ile Owo), Sanjo Adegoke (King Of Thieves), Kimera Paul (Tembele), Banjo Onyekachi, Winston Aig-Ohioma and Oluwaseun Adeosun (Diiche), Steve Sodiya (Ijakumo, the Born Again Stripper), and Valentine Chukwuma (Battle on Buka Street).

BEST SOUND EDITOR IN MOVIE OR TV SERIES: Kolade Kayode Morakinyo (Shanty Town), Dare Olaitan and Adio Solanke (Ile Owo), Kolade Morakinyo and Pius Fatoke (Battle on Buka Street), Shiloh Godson (Black Mail), Anu Afolayan (Anikulapo), Kazeem Agboola (Ijakumo, the Born Again Stripper, Q Rodney Abia, Angelo Anosike and Kayode Kasum (Obara’m), Ismail Kyobe Ssebowa (Bedroom Chains), Grey Jones (The Set Up: 2), and Fredrick Karumba (Click Click Bang).

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHER: Yinka Edward (Crime and Justice), Ekuka Ishaq (Tembele), Jonathan Kovel (Shanty Town), Loukman Ali (Brotherhood), Charles Oleghe (Diiche), Idowu Adedapo (Ijakumo, the Born Again Stripper), Mex Ossai, Philip Okpokoro, Esmond Igho, KC Obiajulu and Goke Oyerinde (Real Housewives of Lagos), Jonathan Kovel (Anikulapo), Idowu Adedapo (Flawsome), and Paul Gambit (Jolly Roger).

BEST DIRECTOR: Obi Emelonye (Black Mail), Kunle Afolayan (Anikulapo), Babatunde Apalowo (All the Colours of the World are Between Black and White), Loukman Ali (Brotherhood), Dimeji Ajibola (Shanty Town), Mugisha Herbert Morris (Tembele), Adebayo Tijani and Tope Adebayo (King of Thieves), Jade Osiberu (The Trade), Bolanle Austen-Peters (Man Of God), and Tolu Ajayi, Fiyin Gambo, Ifeoma Chukwuogo and James Omokwe (Diiche).

BEST MAKEUP ARTIST MOVIE OR TV SERIES: Hakeem Effects Onilogbo (Anikulapo), Maryam Ndukwe and Hakeem Effects Onilogbo (Shanty Town), Francisca Otaigbe (King of Thieves), Carina SFX (The Trade), Sandra Oyiana-Ogbeni (Tarella), Feyzo Artistry (Ile Owo), and Hakeem Effects Onilogbo and Jemila Sedik (Battle On Buka Street).

BEST MOVIE (EAST AFRICA): Click Click Bang (Philip Karanja Njenga), Karamoja (Eleanor Nwabiso), Bedroom Chains (Hassan Mageye), Baba Twins (Lucy Mwangi), Married to Work (Nadira Shakur), Dial M For Maya (Gashumba Emmanuel), Tembele (Mugisha Herbert Morris), Gacal (Omar Hamza), Mvamizi (The Intruder) (Wilson Nkya and Philipo Ngonyani), and Frida (Wilson Nkya and Jane Moshi).

BEST MOVIE (SOUTH AFRICA): Silver Lining (Emmanuel Mwape), Jewel (Elvis Chucks), and Ke Bona Spoko (Leburugraphy).

MULTICHOICE TALENT FACTORY: Leaked, Revisit, Stinger, Cheza, A Quiet Intruder, and Strings.

BEST MOVIE (WEST AFRICA): Four Four Forty Four (Winifred Mena Ajakpovi), Anikulapo (Kunle Afolayan), Kanaani (Rent-A-Studio and Native Media TV), Obara’m (Kayode Kasum), Choke (Chris Odeh), Brotherhood (Jade Osiberu), and Red Carpet (Samira Yakubu).

BEST TELEVISION SERIES: Crime and Justice (Yinka Edward), Diiche (James Omokwe), The Plan (Dimbo Atiya, Rahama Sadau and Safina Mellisa), When Are We Getting Married? (Ife Olujuyigbe and Kayode Kasum), Visa on Arrival: Season 1 (Bovi Ugboma and Ann Obaseki), Real Housewives of Lagos (Adeola Art-Alade and Dare Art Alade), Single Kiasi (Grace Kahaki and Philippe Bresson), Flawsome (Tola Odunsi and Akin Akinkugbe), County 49 (Millicent Ogutu), and Game On: Season 2 (Vincent Nwachukwu).

BEST COSTUME DESIGNER MOVIE/TV SERIES: Millicent Jack (Four Four Forty Four), Ezugworie Franca (Brotherhood), Bolanle Austen-Peters, Clement Effanga and Juliana Dede (Man of God), Toyin Ogundeji (Anikulapo), Adeola Art-Alade (The Real Housewives of Lagos: Reunion Episode), Bunmi Fashina, Tiannah Empire & Secrets of April (Shanty Town), and Kingsley Okoye Rex (Nnewi: The Land of Gold).

BEST OVERALL MOVIE: Anikulapo (Kunle Afolayan), Battle on Buka Street (Funke Akindele), Brotherhood (Jade Osiberu), King Of Thieves (Femi Adebayo), Four Four Forty Four (Winfred Mena-Ajakpovi), Ile Owo (Kayode Kasum), and Tembele (Mugisha Herbert Morris).