AMAA 2025: Burna Boy’s 3 Cold Dishes, Lateef Adedimeji, Tina Mba Shine at African Film Awards

The 21st edition of the Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) took place on Sunday at Lagos’ Balmoral Convention Centre, celebrating excellence in African cinema, with Nollywood stars Lateef Adedimeji and Tina Mba, along with Burna Boy’s co-produced film 3 Cold Dishes, emerging as major winners.

3 Cold Dishes secured Best Nigerian Film and Best Young/Promising Actor for Ruby Akubueze. The thriller, co-produced by Burna Boy and actress Osas Ighodaro, tells the story of three women from Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire, and Benin who reunite years after surviving human trafficking to confront those who wronged them.

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

The five-hour event, organized by the Africa Film Academy, opened with a lively performance by the Ebony Band. AFA CEO Raymond Anyiam-Osigwe praised African filmmakers for putting the continent’s stories on the global map, stating, “We salute Nollywood and all creatives whose accomplishments have earned African cinema international recognition. Nigeria’s strength lies in collaboration, not competition.”

This year, a six-member AMAA jury awarded 26 prizes across categories spanning acting, directing, cinematography, and technical achievements.

South Africa’s The Heart Is a Muscle claimed Best Film and also won awards for Cinematography, Editing, and Best Debut Feature Film for director Imran Hamdulay. Burkina Faso’s Katanga: Dance of the Scorpions earned Best Film in an African Language, Best Screenplay, and Best Costume Design.

Adding theatrical flair to the evening, veteran actor Pete Edochie performed as a divine figure in a short stage play, alongside Tony Umez portraying a seeker of truth. Musical performances included Made Kuti, Rizyn Band, and DJ Kenchello, with Kuti delivering a soulful tribute to his grandfather Fela Kuti through a rendition of Palava.

The ceremony also featured a special tribute to African filmmakers and actors who passed away between January and November 2025. Notable attendees included Bukky Wright, Keppy Ekpeyong Bassey, Lancelot Imasuen, Jide Achufusi, and former Lagos Commissioner Uzamat Yusuf.

Complete List of Winners:
• 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
• Best Short Film (Eferé Ozako Award): The Missing Piece – Kenya
• Best Animation (Jubril Malafia Award): Dawn – Cameroon
• Best Documentary: The Journey East – DRC
• Best Diaspora Short: Cartes – USA
• Best Film by an African Living Abroad (Michael Anyiam Osigwe Award): 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