The 2025 Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) brought together some of the continent’s brightest filmmaking talents on Sunday night at the Balmoral Convention Centre, Ikeja GRA, Lagos, in a grand celebration of African cinema’s growing global influence.
The 21st edition of the prestigious awards saw South Africa’s The Heart Is a Muscle emerge as the night’s biggest winner, clinching the Best Film award along with honors for Cinematography, Editing, and Best Debut Feature Film for its director, Imran Hamdulay.
Nigeria also made a strong showing, with the Burna Boy and Osas Ighodaro co-produced thriller, 3 Cold Dishes, taking home Best Nigerian Film and Best Young/Promising Actor for Ruby Akubueze.
Nollywood star Lateef Adedimeji continued his stellar run with a Best Actor in a Leading Role win for his gripping performance in Lisabi: The Uprising, while Tina Mba earned Best Actress in a Supporting Role for her work in The Serpent Gift.
Burkina Faso’s Katanga: Dance of the Scorpions also impressed audiences and judges alike, securing awards for Best Film in an African Language, Best Screenplay, Best Costume Design, and Best Director for Dany Kouyaté.
Other notable winners included Florence Mariserena, who won Best Actress in a Leading Role for Small Gods, and Clemento Ashietey, who bagged Best Actor in a Supporting Role for Last Stop.
The event paid tribute to African film practitioners who passed away between January and November 2025, alongside captivating live performances that highlighted the continent’s rich creative diversity.
Full List of Key Winners – AMAA 2025:
- Best Film: The Heart Is a Muscle – South Africa
- Best Director: Dany Kouyaté – Katanga: Dance of the Scorpions (Burkina Faso)
- Best Nigerian Film: 3 Cold Dishes
- Best Actor in a Leading Role: Lateef Adedimeji – Lisabi: The Uprising
- Best Actress in a Leading Role: Florence Mariserena – Small Gods
- Best Actress in a Supporting Role: Tina Mba – The Serpent Gift
- Best Young/Promising Actor: Ruby Akubueze – 3 Cold Dishes
- Best Debut Feature Film: The Heart Is a Muscle – Imran Hamdulay
- Best Film in an African Language: Katanga: Dance of the Scorpions – Burkina Faso
- Achievement in Makeup: Lisabi: The Uprising – Hakeem Effect
The night underscored the power of collaboration across African film industries, reaffirming the AMAA’s role as a global platform celebrating the creativity, resilience, and cultural pride of African storytellers.
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