2025 Africa Movie Academy Awards honour top filmmakers

2025 Africa Movie Academy Awards winners include “3 Cold Dishes,” “Lisabi,” and “The Heart Is a Muscle,” celebrating Africa’s cinematic excellence.

2025 Africa Movie Academy Awards winners were announced on Sunday night at the Balmoral Convention Centre in Ikeja, Lagos, as the prestigious ceremony celebrated the finest talents in African cinema.

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Now in its 21st year, the AMAA brought together top filmmakers, actors, and industry professionals from across the continent to honour creativity, storytelling, and cultural impact.

The multilingual thriller “3 Cold Dishes”, co-produced by Burna Boy and actress Osas Ighodaro, emerged as one of the evening’s biggest winners, clinching Best Nigerian Film and Best Young/Promising Actor for Ruby Akubueze.

Lateef Adedimeji’s commanding portrayal in “Lisabi: The Uprising” earned him Best Actor in a Leading Role, while veteran actress Tina Mba won Best Actress in a Supporting Role for her performance in “The Serpent Gift.”

South Africa’s “The Heart Is a Muscle” dominated the continental categories, winning Best Film*, Best Cinematography, Best Editing, and Best Debut Feature for director Imran Hamdulay.

Burkina Faso’s “Katanga: Dance of the Scorpions” also made a powerful impression, claiming Best Film in an African Language, Best Screenplay, and Best Costume Design.

The ceremony, marked by elegance and emotion, paid tribute to African film practitioners who passed away between January and November 2025 and featured musical performances that underscored the continent’s creative diversity.

Among other notable 2025 Africa Movie Academy Awards winners were:

• Best Actress in a Leading Role: Florence Mariserena – Small Gods
• Best Actor in a Supporting Role: Clemento Ashietey – Last Stop
• Best Documentary: The Journey East – DRC
• Best Animation: Dawn – Cameroon
• Best Short Film: The Missing Piece – Kenya
• Best Diaspora Feature: Romeo N Juliet 4EVA – Jamaica

The night also highlighted the technical brilliance of African cinema, with awards for Achievement in Production Design going to “3 Cold Dishes”, Achievement in Soundtrack to “Old Righteous Blues”, and Achievement in Visual Effects to “For Land, For Love, For Power.”

As the curtain closed on this year’s event, AMAA organisers reaffirmed their mission to celebrate African excellence and promote cross-continental collaboration in film.

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The 2025 Africa Movie Academy Awards winners reflected not just talent but a growing confidence in African storytelling, with filmmakers continuing to push creative boundaries and amplify authentic voices across the globe.