Filmmaker Mildred Okwo has raised concerns about the future of the Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards (AMVCA), suggesting that the ongoing edition could be its final outing.
In a post on X on Monday, Okwo wrote, “I will be very surprised if this AMVCA is not the farewell edition.”
Her comment comes amid discussions around the commercial direction of the awards, especially following ownership changes involving MultiChoice and its shifting content strategy.
In a separate post, she noted that the awards may struggle to remain financially viable under new ownership.
“I doubt the new owners will be interested in shows that don’t make a serious ROI in the first few years of buying the business. It costs a lot of money to produce that show,” she wrote.
The concerns come as MultiChoice continues to expand its streaming platform Showmax, positioning it as a key focus of its future entertainment strategy amid growing competition in the digital space.
Meanwhile, organisers of the Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards have confirmed the close of voting for the 12th edition, with winners set to be announced on May 9.
In a statement shared on Sunday, they thanked viewers for participating in the process.
“And that’s a wrap! Voting for #AMVCA12 is officially closed. Thank you for showing up, showing love, and backing your favourites all the way,” the organisers said.
They added, “Now we wait to see who takes home the wins on May 9th.”
The ceremony will be broadcast live across Africa Magic channels, with the red carpet scheduled for 4:00 p.m. WAT and the main show at 7:00 p.m.
This year’s edition features 32 categories, including jury selected awards, audience voted categories, and special honours such as Lifetime Achievement and Trailblazer awards.
Veteran actress Joke Silva is serving as Head Judge for the 2026 edition, succeeding Femi Odugbemi.
Organisers have also introduced new categories aimed at improving regional representation, including Best Indigenous Language Film for North Africa and Central Africa.
Mildred Okwo was a member of the Nigerian Official Selection Committee (NOSC) until 2022, when she resigned alongside Shaibu Huseini, Kenneth Gyang, and Ego Boyo over the controversial decision not to submit any Nigerian film for the International Feature Film category of the 95th Academy Awards (2023 Oscars).
