Every year, the African Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) stir excitement and conversation across the continent. The annual AMAA nominations drop is eagerly awaited by industry insiders and fans alike as it not only recognizes excellence but signals shifting trends within African cinema. The 2025 nominations, in particular, have caused a stir, with an unexpected array of films and talent taking center stage. This year’s AMAA list reflects a transformative moment in Nollywood—the world’s second-largest film industry by volume and a cultural powerhouse.
This article takes a deep dive into the AMAA 2025 nominations—highlighting the surprising nominees, analyzing what their recognition means for Nollywood’s future, and exploring how this shakeup impacts actors, filmmakers, producers, and investors. Drawing from pure, verifiable, and comprehensive insights, let’s unpack what the AMAA 2025 nominations reveal about the evolving face of Nollywood.
Background: AMAA’s Role in African Cinema
The African Movie Academy Awards have, since their inception in 2005, stood as the continent’s premier film award platform. Their aim is to promote African creativity, technical excellence, and cultural representation in cinema. Over the years, AMAA has helped raise the profile of Nollywood films internationally and provided a stage for emerging talents from across Africa.
Unlike commercially-driven awards, AMAA focuses on artistic and technical merit. It carefully evaluates submissions for originality, storytelling craft, production values, acting, and cultural impact. The awards have become a trusted indicator of quality for African filmmakers looking to reach a global audience.
In recent years, the AMAA jury has increasingly embraced diverse voices, languages, and production styles—from English-language blockbusters to indigenous-language art films. This trend culminated in the 2025 nominations, which have taken the surprises to a new level.
Overview of the 2025 AMAA Nominations Drop
The 2025 nominations reveal three main trends:
Recognition of Underrepresented Regions and Languages
For the first time, films in Hausa and Swahili, as well as productions from East and Southern Africa, have won key nods alongside Nigerian and Ghanaian entries.
Emphasis on Technical Excellence
Many nominated films show clear evidence of international-level sound design, cinematography, and editing—sometimes enabled by co-productions or global funding.
New Voices and Debut Filmmakers
Several newcomers earned nominations in major categories, challenging Nollywood’s traditional star system and signaling openness to fresh narratives.
Notable nominated films include:
*The Weekend* (Nigeria), a psychological thriller breaking narrative molds.
*Nawi: Dear Future Me* (Kenya-Germany), an experimental drama showing international collaboration.
*Sauna* (Northern Nigeria), a female-led political drama in Hausa.
*Skeleton Coast* (South Africa-UK), a genre film with global technical standards.
The full list reflects a Nollywood industry in transition—moving beyond commercial formulas and embracing complexity and artistic risk.
Spotlight on Surprise Nominees
This year’s AMAA nominations drop turned heads because of unexpected entries across all categories. Let’s explore some of the biggest surprises, their contexts, and implications.
Best Film & Best Director: Quiet Contenders, Loud Statements
*The Weekend*, directed by Obinna Ukeje, is a standout surprise in Best Film and Best Director categories. Unlike typical Nollywood dramas, it is a minimalist, psychological thriller focusing on mental health, social isolation, and family dynamics. Its subtle storytelling and restrained performances diverge sharply from Nollywood’s usual fast-paced, emotionally overt style.
Although it lacked mass social media buzz or blockbuster status, the film earned respect on the festival circuit and now recognition from AMAA. This signals a shift toward rewarding nuanced, artistically ambitious films rather than relying on star power or topicality.
Technical & Craft Categories: The Rise of Global Hybrids
*Nawi: Dear Future Me* is a Kenyan-German co-production that garnered nominations for Best Cinematography and Best Sound Design. Developed with international backing, it showcases how African filmmakers increasingly tap into global resources and expertise to elevate production quality.
AMAA’s recognition of such cross-border collaborations demonstrates a commitment to technical standards aligned with global cinema. The awards’ embrace of films benefiting from co-production and international training signals that Nollywood must engage beyond national borders to compete.
Acting Categories: Breakouts Over Brand Names
Michelle Lemuya, an emerging Kenyan actress, secured a Best Actress nomination—an unusual but welcome development that highlights AMAA’s expanding pan-African perspective. Meanwhile, Maryam Booth, a Hausa-language film star from Northern Nigeria’s Kannywood industry, was nominated for Best Supporting Actress. This was another surprise that defies Nollywood’s historic English-language dominance.
These nominations underscore AMAA’s increasing language-agnosticism and openness to diverse cultural narratives, giving hope to actors working outside the mainstream.
What Surprises Reveal About Nollywood
Narrative Shift: From Formulaic to Fearless
Nollywood’s traditional storytelling—melodramatic, moralistic, and formula-driven—is losing ground. Instead, films with complex characters, ambiguous morals, and minimalist storytelling are gaining critical recognition. *The Weekend* and *Sauna* exemplify this shift toward fearless narratives that confront contemporary social issues without simplification.
This evolution challenges filmmakers to be bolder and more original in their storytelling approaches.
Regional Inclusion: Decentralizing Nollywood’s Hub
The rise of Hausa-language films and East African nominees signals a decentralization of Africa’s film industry epicenters. Historically, Nollywood has been dominated by Lagos-based, English-speaking productions. The 2025 AMAA nominations signal an inclusive redefinition of what counts as African cinema.
This decentralization presents opportunities for new markets, fresh stories, and cross-cultural collaborations that enrich the entire continent’s cinematic landscape.
Investment and Market Implications
The technical sophistication and global partnerships revealed in the nominations also indicate shifting investor priorities. There is a growing appetite for quality over quantity, and for films that can appeal to international audiences and festivals.
Producers and financiers should note that AMAA’s nods often boost visibility and marketability. Thus, investing in underrepresented languages, regions, and technical excellence could yield better long-term returns than traditional blockbuster formulas.
Impact on Stakeholders in Nollywood
For Filmmakers
The 2025 AMAA nominations encourage filmmakers to experiment with new genres, languages, and storytelling methods. There is clearly a demand for authentic, diverse narratives that challenge stereotypes. Emerging directors and writers should feel empowered to push boundaries.
For Actors
Actors outside of Nollywood’s traditional hubs and languages can find greater opportunities. The awards are broadening their scope, valuing talent regardless of fame or market size. This democratization bodes well for inclusivity and career growth.
For Producers and Investors
The AMAA nominations demonstrate that quality content, technical skill, and pan-African appeal are key success factors. Investment strategies must evolve to support cross-border productions, technical training, and innovative storytelling.
Looking Ahead: The Future of Nollywood Post-AMAA 2025
The AMAA 2025 nominations drop is not just a list; it is a manifesto for Nollywood’s next phase. As the industry embraces greater diversity, higher technical standards, and daring narratives, the global profile of African cinema is set to rise.
Filmmakers, actors, producers, and investors who adapt to these shifts will find richer creative and commercial opportunities. The awards’ openness to new voices, languages, and production models promises a vibrant and sustainable future.
Ultimately, AMAA 2025 reminds us that Nollywood is not static—it is a living, evolving art form reflective of a diverse, dynamic continent.
