The 2026 AMVCA, held at Eko Hotels and Suites in Lagos, was a big night for Nigerian cinema, with “My Father’s Shadow” emerging as the standout film of the event.
Directed by Akinola Davies Jr., the movie won six major awards, including Best Overall Movie, Best Director, Best Cinematography, Best Sound Design, Best Music Score, and Best Writing in a Movie. The film is set around Nigeria’s historic 1993 presidential election.
The night, however, belonged to Linda Ejiofor, who made history by winning both Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress , a rare double victory.
In other major categories:
Uzor Arukwe won Best Lead Actor for “Colours of Fire”, which also picked up Best Costume Design.
Bucci Franklin earned Best Supporting Actor for “To Kill a Monkey”, a film that also won Best Editing.
“Lisabi: A Legend Is Born”, produced by Lateef Adedimeji, secured Best Indigenous Film (West Africa).
Other highlights:
“Hussaini” won Best Short Film
Nigerian Idol (Season 10) was named Best Unscripted M-Net Original
Uche Montana received the Trailblazer Award
Veteran actors Sola Sobowale and Kanayo O. Kanayo were honored with Industry Merit Awards for their contributions to the film industry.
This year’s awards highlight the growing strength of Nollywood, with improved storytelling, production quality, and global relevance. “My Father’s Shadow” in particular reflects a shift toward deeper, historically grounded narratives in African filmmaking.
