Joke Silva is appointed as the chief judge and the nominations are announced!

The African film industry is booming again! The organizer of this event African Magic Audience Choice Awards (AMVCA) Edition 12 has officially kicked off and the stakes have never been higher.

From the appointment of the legendary ‘Nollywood Mama’ to a list of nominations that show how far African cinema has come, here’s everything you need to know about African cinema AMVCA 2026.

Legend at the helm: Joke Silva appointed chief judge

The move by the veteran actress and industry icon earned her a standing ovation across the continent joke silva has been appointed as Referee The 12th AMVCA.

Silva takes over as president of the jury, emphasizing that this year’s award is not just about popularity; Process depth.

“This is a platform to recognize and celebrate excellence…African stories matter,” Silva said in the announcement.

Heavyweights: Who’s leading the way in nominations?

Nominations hosted by AMVCA winners then imo On March 29, the peak battle was announced. There are currently two movies that are evenly matched and dominate the conversation:

• “ginger” – 9 nominations

• “cattle” – 9 nominations

• “Kill a Monkey” – 8 nominations

• “My Father’s Shadow” – 7 nominations

Performance Category: Veterans & New Wave

The “Best Actor” and “Best Supporting Actor” categories are filled with talent.

• Thora Sobowale Continuing her reign, she was recognized in both the lead and supporting categories.

• Genova Ume won her first ever best actress Nominated for Outstanding Performance herd.

• Latif Admeji, Aruqua patternand Bimbo Akintola He is also one of the big names competing for the Academy Awards this year.

What’s new this year?

AMVCA is expanding its reach to ensure representation across the continent. For the first time we see this introduction:

out of 32 categories18 will be decided by a jury led by Joke Silva, 11 are open to public voting and 3 are Special Recognition Awards (including the prestigious lifetime achievement and pioneer honor).

Save the date and how to vote

• Voting ends: April 26, 2026.

• Main events: Saturday, May 9, 2026.

• Voting location: Fans can head to the official African Magic website (www.africamagic.tv/amvca) to make their voices heard.

Who are you supporting this year? Is your favorite movie on the list? Or some major snub? Let us know in the comments!

#AMVCA12 #Nollywood #AfricanCinema #JokeSilva #Gingerrr #TheHerd #AfricaMagic