Filmmaker Funke Akindele left the 12th edition of the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA) without a win despite her film Behind the Scenes receiving four nominations.
The film, which grossed over N2 billion at the Nigerian box office, was nominated for Best Supporting Actress, Best Supporting Actor, Best Lead Actress and Best Movie but lost in all categories.
The ceremony held on Saturday at Eko Hotel and Suites saw actress Linda Ejiofor emerge as one of the biggest winners of the night with two awards.
Linda won Best Lead Actress for her role in The Serpent’s Gift and Best Supporting Actress for The Herd.
Actor Uzor Arukwe won Best Lead Actor for his performance in Colours of Fire.
Bucci Franklin clinched Best Supporting Actor for To Kill a Monkey, beating nominees including Femi Adebayo for Agesinkole 2, Gabriel Afolayan for Colours of Fire, Uzor for Behind the Scenes and Lateef Adedimeji for Red Circle.
The Best Movie award went to My Father’s Shadow, directed by Akinola Davies Jr.. The film made history as the first Nigerian movie selected for the official competition at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival.
Veteran actors Kanayo O. Kanayo and Sola Sobowale received the Industry Merit Award.
Actress Uche Montana won the Trailblazer Award, while makeup artiste Hakeem Onilogbo won Best Makeup.
Lisabi: A Legend is Born by Lateef won Best Indigenous Language Film (West Africa), while Leave To Live by Emmanuel Kanaga and Sophia Chisom won Best Digital Content Creator.
The event was hosted by comedian Bovi Ugboma and South African actress Nomzamo Mbatha.
