AMVCA 2026 Nominees: Lateef Adedimeji, Bimbo Akintola, and Daniel Etim Effiong Lead the Field
The nominations are a strong reflection of the high-octane year Nollywood has had. Lateef Adedimeji appears in both the Best Supporting Actor and Best Lead Actor categories for “Gingerr” and “Red Circle,” while powerhouses like Bimbo Akintola, Sola Sobowale, and Linda Ejiofor compete for Best Lead Actress. With a Best Director field including Akinola Davies Jr, Tunde Kelani, and Daniel Etim Effiong, this is officially the most competitive race in years.”
Best Director
- Akinola Davies Jr — My Father’s Shadow
- Tunde Kelani — Cordelia
- James Omokwe — Osamede
- Daniel Etim Effiong — The Herd
- Yemi Filmboy Morafa — Gingerr
- Asurf Amuwa Oluseyi — 3 Cold Dishes
Best Indigenous Language Film (West Africa)
- The Serpent’s Gift — Winifred Mena-Ajakpovi
- Lisabi: A Legend Is Born — Lateef Adedimeji
- Labake Olododo — Alice Iyabo Ojo, Olukanmi Abayomi, Alaba Onaolapo, Kene Okwuosa, Ladun Awobokun
Aljana — Grace Yachat Yakubu - Olorisha — Abiola Adeshina
Best Indigenous Language Film (East Africa)
- Inside Job — Kamau Wandug’u, Joe Mahinda, and Barbara Njeri Maina Sayari — Omar Hamza and June Wairegi
- Addis Fikir — Leul Shoaferaw
- My Son — Isarito Mwakalindile
- Kimote — Hassan Mageye
Best Indigenous Language Film (South Africa)
- Bet I Love You — Joseph Duke and Keamogetse Modise
- Sebata- The Beast
- Ben Made It — Thabang Mathumetse and Thapelo Dikhutso
- Terra of Queens and Kuma 2 — Neo Leonardo Mokoena
- Tlhaho Ya Mosadi — Naledi Galane, Promise Ramoroka, Ernest Ramoroka, Modipadi Mokgohioa
Best Indigenous Language Film (North Africa)
- The Omnipresent — Youssef Ben Khalifa
- The Delivery — Abdalla Ezyan
- The Hidden Voice — Houssem Eddine Abdelwahed
- This Is Portsaid — Abdalla Ezyan
- Artal Alhanin: Our Memories — Mohamed Awad and Mohamed Abdulraham Eldouma
Best Indigenous Language Film (Central Africa)
- Mabanda — Kang Quintus
- Safou: A Gift from Nature — Nyasha Makamba
- Golden Spoon — Egbe Francis Ettabrown
