“Freedom Way” Crowned Best Movie at 2025 AMVCA as “Seven Doors” and “Lisabi: The Uprising” Shine Bright
The 11th edition of the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA) was a night of glamor, talent, and cultural celebration as the continent’s brightest stars gathered at the Eko Hotel in Lagos. Hosted by media personalities IK Osakioduwa and David Oke, the ceremony featured performances by Johnny Drille, Kunmie, and Fido, and was opened with a welcome address by John Ugbe, CEO of Multichoice.
The night’s biggest winner, “Freedom Way”, clinched the Best Movie of the Year award and also won Best Writing in a Movie (Blessing Uzzi), solidifying its place as a standout production in African cinema.
“Seven Doors”, a critically acclaimed film, won three major awards including Best Actor (Femi Adebayo), Best Actress (Chioma Chukwuka), and Best Score/Music (Tolu Obanro), cementing its position as one of the year’s most powerful dramas.
Equally commanding was “Lisabi: The Uprising”, which earned three honors: Best Makeup (Hakeem Onilogbo), Best Art Direction, and Best Indigenous Language Film (West Africa).
Top Winners and Nominees:
Best Movie
Freedom Way — WINNER
Inkabi
House of Ga’a
Christmas in Lagos
Farmer’s Bride
Lisabi: The Uprising
Skeleton Coast
Suspicion
Best Lead Actor
Femi Adebayo – Seven Doors — WINNER
Bimbo Manuel – Princess On A Hill
Stan Nze – Suspicion
Gideon Okeke – Tokunbo
Bucci Franklin – The Weekend
Femi Branch – House of Ga’a
Thapelo Makoena – Skeleton Coast
Adedimeji Lateef – Lisabi: The Uprising
Best Lead Actress
Chioma Chukwuka – Seven Doors — WINNER
Gbugbemi Ejeye – Farmer’s Bride
Uzoamaka Onuoha – Agemo
Uche Montana – Thinline
Uzoamaka Aniunoh – Phoenix Fury
Hilda Dokudo – The Uprising: Wives On Strike 3
Bimbo Ademoye – Anikulapo: Rise of the Spectre
Best Director
Awam Amkpa – The Man Died — WINNER
Robert O. Peters – Skeleton Coast
Norman Maake – Inkabi
Bolanle Austen-Peters – House of Ga’a
Daniel Emeka Oriahi – The Weekend
Femi Adebayo, Adebayo Tijani, Tope Adebayo – Seven Doors
Best Supporting Actor
Gabriel Afolayan – Inside Life — WINNER
Richard Mofe-Damijo – Christmas In Lagos
Uzor Arukwe – Suspicion
Adedayo Adebowale Macaroni – Lisabi: The Uprising
Aliu Gafar – Seven Doors
Femi Jacobs – Freedom Way
Mike Afolarin – House of Ga’a
Efa Iwara – Princess on a Hill
Best Supporting Actress
Mercy Aigbe – Farmer’s Bride — WINNER
Ireti Doyle – All’s Fair in Love
Ini Dima-Okojie – Skeleton Coast
Meg Otanwa – Inside Life
Tina Mba – Suspicion
Omoni Oboli – The Uprising: Wives on Strike 3
Darasimi Nnadi – Aburo
Best Score/Music
Seven Doors — Tolu Obanro — WINNER
Freedom Way
Soft Love
Inkabi
Skeleton Coast
Best Cinematography
The Legend of the Vagabond Queen of Lagos — WINNER
Best Editing
Inkabi — Tongai Furusa — WINNER
Best Sound Design
Suspicion — WINNER
Best Makeup
Lisabi: The Uprising — WINNER
Best Art Direction
Lisabi: The Uprising — WINNER
Best Writing in a Movie
Freedom Way — Blessing Uzzi — WINNER
Best Writing in a TV Series
Untying Kantai — Abel Mutua Musyoka — WINNER
Special Recognition:
Trailblazer Award: Kayode Kasum
Industry Merit Award: Nkem Owoh and Sani Mu’azu
From gripping performances to dazzling visuals, this year’s AMVCA reasserted the continent’s position as a powerhouse of creativity. As African cinema continues to evolve, films like Freedom Way, Seven Doors, and Lisabi are setting new benchmarks for storytelling and production excellence.