The nominees for the 11th Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA) have been announced, with Kenyan filmmakers Brian Munene and Abel Mutua receiving multiple nods for their Showmax and Maisha Magic originals.
Showmax’s groundbreaking Kenyan sci-fi film Subterranea secured a nomination in the Best Indigenous M-Net Original category for Brian Munene and Likarion Wainaina.
At the same time, Munene’s gripping thriller The Caller earned three nominations: Best Indigenous M-Net Original, Best Indigenous Language (East Africa), and Best Scripted M-Net Original.
Content creator and filmmaker Abel Mutua received recognition for the Showmax dramedy Untying Kantai, which was nominated in the Best Writing TV Series category. He also earned a nomination for Philit Productions’ Makosa ni Yangu in Best Indigenous Language (East Africa).
Adding to Kenya’s nominees, Maisha Magic Plus sitcom Kam U Stay, penned by Emmy Award-winning writer Damaris Irungu Ochieng, scored a nomination in the Best Scripted M-Net Original category.
Other shortlisted Kenyans include Louise Kamwangi for Girl Effect’s drama series, Tuki?, nominated in the Best Writing TV Series category.
For the full list of nominees across all categories, visit the the AMVCA Season 11 Nominees page.
Voting has officially opened and will run until May 4, 2025, via the Africa Magic website. This means audiences are invited to participate in a celebration of talent that continue to redefine African cinema by voting for their favorite nominees across the voting categories.
Commenting on the nominations, MultiChoice executive head of content and channels, West Africa, Busola Tejumola said: “Seeing this year’s nominees is truly inspiring. Each entry captures a unique aspect of Africa’s vibrant storytellers.
“I believe these selections reflect both the depth and innovation that are shaping our industry, and they point to an exciting future for African content. This year’s AMVCA not only celebrates excellence in storytelling but also sets the stage for the next wave of creative voices across the continent.”
Her comments underscore the awards’ commitment to both artistic excellence and cultural impact.
Submissions were accepted from productions exhibited or broadcast between December 1, 2023, to December 31, 2024, following an entry period that began in December 2024.
The AMVCA now recognises excellence across 27 diverse categories, which include a blend of audience-voted recognitions and juried accolades—among them the Lifetime Achievement and Trailblazer awards.
There are 27 award categories, with 18 non-voting, and nine audience voting categories. There are also 2 recognition awards – Lifetime Achievement and Trailblazer Awards. The non-voting categories will be decided by the AMVCA panel of judges led by the Head Judge and ace filmmaker, Femi Odugbemi.
The nominees for AMVCA 11 represent exceptional talent across various categories, including Best Movie, The Best Lead Actor, Best Lead Actress, Best Supporting Actor and Best Supporting Actress.
The ceremony is set to be broadcast live on May 10, 2025, across all Africa Magic Channels on DStv and GOtv.
