Nollywood stars Lateef Adedimeji and Tina Mba, alongside 3 Cold Dishes, a movie co-produced by Afrobeats superstar Burna Boy, were among the biggest winners at the 2025 Africa Movie Academy Awards.

The 21st edition of the continental film awards took place on Sunday at the Balmoral Convention Centre, Ikeja GRA, Lagos, celebrating some of Africa’s finest filmmakers and actors.

3 Cold Dishes clinched Best Nigerian Film and Best Young/Promising Actor for Ruby Akubueze.

Co-produced by Burna Boy and actress Osas Ighodaro, the multilingual thriller follows three women from Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire and Benin who reunite years after surviving human trafficking to exact revenge on their abusers.

Adedimeji won Best Actor in a Leading Role for his performance in Lisabi: The Uprising, while Mba earned Best Actress in a Supporting Role for The Serpent Gift.

The five-hour ceremony, organised by the Africa Film Academy, opened with a lively performance by the Ebony Band.

In his opening address, AFA’s Chief Executive Officer, Raymond Anyiam-Osigwe, praised African filmmakers for driving the continent’s storytelling to global prominence.

“We salute Nollywood and all creatives whose accomplishments have earned African cinema international recognition. Nigeria’s strength lies in collaboration, not competition,” he said.

The six-member AMAA jury presented 26 awards across acting, directing, cinematography, and technical categories, recognising outstanding achievements in African cinema.

South Africa’s The Heart Is a Muscle emerged Best Film, also winning awards for Cinematography, Editing, and Best Debut Feature for director Imran Hamdulay.

Burkina Faso’s Katanga: Dance of the Scorpions took home Best Film in an African Language, Best Screenplay, and Best Costume Design.

The event also featured a short stage play starring veteran actor Pete Edochie as a divine figure and Tony Umez as a man in search of answers.

Musical performances by Made Kuti, Rizyn Band, and DJ Kenchello added rhythm to the evening, highlighted by Kuti’s soulful rendition of his grandfather Fela Kuti’s classic Palava.

A special tribute honoured African film practitioners who passed away between January and November 2025.

Notable guests included Bukky Wright, Keppy Ekpeyong Bassey, Lancelot Imasuen, Jide Achufusi, and former Lagos Commissioner Uzamat Yusuf, among others.

See the list of winners below:

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