Among the evening’s standout winners was “3 Cold Dishes,” a multilingual thriller co-produced by Grammy-winning artist Burna Boy and actress Osas Ighodaro. The film earned the NFVCB Award for Best Nigerian Film and Best Young/Promising Actor for Ruby Akubueze, marking a strong showing for Nigerian cinema.
In the acting categories, Lateef Adedimeji won Best Actor in a Leading Role for his stirring performance in “Lisabi: The Uprising,” while Tina Mba earned Best Actress in a Supporting Role for her role in “The Serpent Gift.”
South Africa’s “The Heart Is a Muscle” dominated the top categories, clinching the Best Film award alongside honors for Cinematography, Editing, and Best Debut Feature for director Imran Hamdulay. Burkina Faso’s “Katanga: Dance of the Scorpions” also enjoyed a triumphant night, winning Best Film in an African Language, Best Screenplay, and Best Costume Design.
The event paid tribute to African filmmakers who passed away between January and November 2025 and featured vibrant musical performances that celebrated the continent’s cultural diversity.
Key Winners at AMAA 2025:
- NFVCB Award for Best Nigerian Film: 3 Cold Dishes
- Best Young/Promising Actor: Ruby Akubueze – 3 Cold Dishes
- Best Actor in a Supporting Role: Clemento Ashietey – Last Stop
- Best Actress in a Supporting Role: Tina Mba – The Serpent Gift
- Best Actor in a Leading Role: Lateef Adedimeji – Lisabi: The Uprising
- Best Actress in a Leading Role: Florence Mariserena – Small Gods
- Best Debut Feature Film by a Director: The Heart Is a Muscle – Imran Hamdulay
- Best Director: Dany Kouyaté – Katanga: Dance of The Scorpions – Burkina Faso
- Best Film: The Heart Is a Muscle – South Africa
- Best Film in an African Language: Katanga: Dance of The Scorpions – Burkina Faso
- Eferé Ozako Award for Best Short Film: The Missing Piece – Kenya
- Jubril Malafia Award for Best Animation: Dawn – Cameroun
- Best Documentary: The Journey East – DRC
- Best Diaspora Short: Cartes – USA
- Michael Anyiam Osigwe Award for Best Film by an African Living Abroad: Ancestral Visions of the Future – Lesotho/France/Germany
- Achievement in Costume Design: Katanga: Dance of The Scorpions
- Achievement in Sound: Algiers
- Best Diaspora Documentary: Rediscovering Fenon – USA/Algeria/Martinique
- Best Diaspora Narrative Feature: Romeo N Juliet 4EVA – Jamaica
- Achievement in Production Design: 3 Cold Dishes
- Achievement in Make-up: Lisabi: The Uprising
- Achievement in Soundtrack: Old Righteous Blues
- Achievement in Visual Effects: For Land, For Love, For Power
- Achievement in Cinematography: The Heart Is a Muscle
- Achievement in Editing: The Heart Is a Muscle
- Achievement in Screenplay: Katanga: Dance of The Scorpions – Burkina Faso
With its blend of glamour, cultural pride, and cinematic achievement, AMAA 2025 reaffirmed the growing global influence of African film and the creative power of its storytellers.