‘My Father’s Shadow’ dominates 2026 AMVCA as Linda Ejiofor makes history
The 2026 Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA) saw My Father’s Shadow, a film by Nigerian-British filmmaker Akinola Davies Jr., emerge as the biggest winner, clinching six awards including Best Overall Movie and Best Director.
The awards ceremony was held on Saturday at the Eko Hotels and Suites in Lagos, bringing together leading figures in the African film industry.
The film, set during the annulled 1993 Nigerian presidential election, also won Best Sound Design, Best Music Score, Best Cinematography and Best Writing in a Movie.
Linda Ejiofor made history at the ceremony, winning both Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress in a standout double victory.
Uzor Arukwe won Best Lead Actor for Colours of Fire, directed by Niyi Akinmolayan, while the film also picked up Best Costume Design.
Bucci Franklin won Best Supporting Actor for To Kill a Monkey, which also secured Best Cinematography and Best Editing.
Other notable winners included Lisabi: A Legend Is Born, which won Best Indigenous Movie (West Africa), and Hussaini, which won Best Short Film.
Nigerian Idol (Season 10) won Best Unscripted M-Net Original, while Uche Montana received the Trailblazer Award. Sola Sobowale and Kanayo O. Kanayo were honoured with Industry Merit Awards.
Full list of winners
Best Supporting Actor
Bucci Franklin – To Kill a Monkey – WINNER
Simileoluwa Hassan – The Yard
Lateef Adedimeji – Gingerrr
Gabriel Afolayan – Colours Of Fire
Femi Adebayo – King Of Thieves 2
Lateef Adedimeji – Red Circle
Femi Branch – Owambe Thieves
Uzor Arukwe – Behind The Scenes
Best Supporting Actress
Linda Ejiofor – The Herd – WINNER
Olamide Kidbaby – Oversabi Aunty
Bisola Aiyeola – Gingerrr
Sola Sobowale – The Covenant
Nadia Dutch – Aljana
Amal Umar – The Herd
Juliebrenda Nyambura – MTV Shuga Mashariki
Funke Akindele – Behind The Scenes
Best Lead Actor
Uzor Arukwe – Colours Of Fire – WINNER
Mike Ezuruonye – Oversabi Aunty
Lateef Adedimeji – Lisabi: A Legend Is Born
William Benson – To Kill a Monkey
Kanayo O. Kanayo – Grandpa Must Obey
Khumbuza Meyiwa – Bet I Love You
Wale Ojo – 3 Cold Dishes
Femi Branch – Red Circle
Best Lead Actress
Linda Ejiofor – The Serpent’s Gift – WINNER
Bimbo Akintola – To Kill a Monkey
Ifeoma Fafunwa – The Lost Days
Ariyike Owolagba – Something About The Briggs
Sola Sobowale – Her Excellency
Scarlet Gomez – Behind The Scenes
Genoveva Umeh – The Herd
Gloria Anozie-Young – Mother Of The Brides
Best Director
Akinola Davies Jr. – My Father’s Shadow – WINNER
Tunde Kelani – Cordelia
James Omokwe – Osamede
Daniel Etim Effiong – The Herd
Yemi Filmboy Morafa – Gingerrr
Asurf Amuwa Oluseyi – 3 Cold Dishes
Best Overall Movie
My Father’s Shadow – WINNER
Gingerrr
The Herd
3 Cold Dishes
The Serpent’s Gift
Behind The Scenes
Best Digital Content Creator
Emmanuel Kanaga, Sophia Chisom – WINNER
Elozonam Ogbolu, Genoveva Umeh
Akwaman
Destiny Ogie Osarewinda
Benedict Ehimare Oriaifo
Taaooma
Steve Chuks
Best Indigenous Language Film (West Africa)
Lisabi: A Legend Is Born – WINNER
The Serpent’s Gift
Labake Olododo
Olorisha
Aljana
Best Indigenous Language Film (East Africa)
Addis Fikir – WINNER
Inside Job
Sayari
My Son
Kimote
Best Indigenous Language Film (South Africa)
Tlhaho Ya Mosadi – WINNER
Bet I Love You
Sebata: The Beast
Ben Made It
Terra Of Queens And Kuma 2
Best Indigenous Language Film (North Africa)
Artal Alhanin: Our Memories – WINNER
The Omnipresent
The Delivery
The Hidden Voice
This Is Portsaid
Best Indigenous Language Film (Central Africa)
Mabanda – WINNER
Safou: A Gift From Nature
Golden Spoon
Best Scripted M-Net Original
The Low Priest – WINNER
Adam to Eve
Mother of the Bride
The Yard
Bobo
Best Unscripted M-Net Original
Nigerian Idol S10 – WINNER
Ultimate Girls Trip: Africa
Chapa Chapa My Love
Out N’ About (Harar)
Undugu
Best Indigenous M-Net Original
Inimba – WINNER
Kukoyi
Undugu
Out N’ About (Harar)
Kampala Creme
The Chocolate Empire
Mgbuka
Best Short Film
Hussaini – WINNER
Fleas
Rise
Telephone
My Body, God’s Temple
Best Cinematography
Jermaine Edwards – My Father’s Shadow – WINNER
Kabelo Thathe – To Kill a Monkey
Emmanuel Igbekele – The Herd
Daanong Gyang – Finding Nina
KC Obiajulu – Stitches
Best Editing
Daniel Anyiam – To Kill a Monkey – WINNER
Kazeem Agboola – Cordelia
Omar Guzman Castro – My Father’s Shadow
Asurf Amuwa Oluseyi – 3 Cold Dishes
Winston Aig-Ohioma – Osamede
Best Sound Design
Pius Fatoke, CJ Mirra – My Father’s Shadow – WINNER
Tolu Obanro – Gingerrr
Vaughan Phillips – Ben Made It
Fisayo Adefolaju – The Herd
Vaughan Phillips – Sebata: The Beast
Best Music Score
Duval Timothy, CJ Mirra – My Father’s Shadow – WINNER
Nissi Ogulu – 3 Cold Dishes
Chubb Okobah – Osamede
Tolu Obanro – Gingerrr
Oscar Heman-Ackah – To Kill a Monkey
Best Art Direction
Ajamolaya Bunmi – Colours Of Fire – WINNER
Zainab Oladipupo – The Serpent’s Gift
Omolade Abisola – The Herd
Olatunji Afolayan, Gideon Stephen – Aljana
Victor Akpan – Suky
Best Costume Design
Valerie Okeke – Colours Of Fire – WINNER
Mary Chukwuma – The Serpent’s Gift
Deola Art Alade, Darey Art Alade – The Real Housewives Of Lagos
Yolanda Okereke – Something About The Briggs
Ikechukwu Urum, John Joseph Angel – To Kill a Monkey
Best Makeup
Hakeem Effect – Warlord – WINNER
Mojisola Imam – Behind The Scenes
Adeola Bamgboye – Lisabi: A Legend Is Born
Dablaq Artistry – Gingerrr
Ruth Harcourt – Suky
Best Writing TV Series
Annette Shadeya, Natasha Likimani, Mkamzee Mwatela, Arnold Mwanjila, Makgano Mamabolo – MTV Shuga Mashariki – WINNER
Donald Tombia, Timendu Aghahowa, Chiemeka Osuagwu – The Wives
Xavier Ighorodje – Our Husband
Besufekade Mulu – Addis Fikir
Stephen Okonkwo – The Party
Best Writing in a Movie
Wale Davies – My Father’s Shadow – WINNER
Lani Aisida – The Herd
Ikenna Okpara – Blackout
Shirleen Wangari – Cards On The Table
Xavier Ighorodje – Gingerrr
Tomi Adesina – 3 Cold Dishes
Best Documentary
Beyond Olympic Glory – WINNER
The Good, The Bad of Afrobeat
The People Shall
Not Addressing This Anymore
BOU
Best Scripted Series
Inimba – WINNER
To Kill a Monkey
The Yard
The Chocolate Empire
Kash Money
Best Unscripted Series
Nigerian Idol – WINNER
The Real Housewives Of Lagos
Ultimate Girls Trip: Africa
Offair With Gbemi And Toolz
Out N’ About (Harar)
Trailblazer Award
Uche Montana – WINNER
Industry Merit Award
Sola Sobowale – WINNER
Kanayo O. Kanayo – WINNER
