AMVCA 2026: 5 Lessons From the Ceremony – Film Efiko

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Over the weekend, we were at the 12th edition of the AMVCA 2026 ceremony at the Eko Hotel and Suites in Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria. While there, we learned a few things about the state of the Nigerian film industry. Five of those lessons are below.

5. Box-office success & excellence may not mix

Gingerrr, Behind the Scenes, and Oversabi Aunty, three of Nollywood’s highest grossing films ever, got multiple nominations but altogether scored 0 wins.

So perhaps the AMVCA is learning a lesson that commercial viability is not a substitute for artistic
coherence and excellence. Does this mean Nollywood is entering a phase where its institutions understand the difference between popularity and quality? We hope so. 

4. Maybe coproductions need own categories

One of the main themes of the night was My Father’s Shadow overshadowing The Herd. This felt a little unfair given the difference in budgets and the privileges the former had courtesy of its coproduction status. Maybe a distinct category needs to be created?

3. Canal+ needs the AMVCA as diplomacy

The AMVCA is more than an awards platform. The awards are one of the few places where every faction of the industry still gathers under a single umbrella: mainstream filmmakers, veterans, streaming players, actors, marketers and television executives. For Canal+, friendliness to the entire ecosystem is strategic. It’s a French company but it needs to keep the influential English film industry on its side. 

2. Speed is not always a virtue at award shows

The show was boring after the first half-hour and before the last half-hour. And first-time host Bovi was not the problem. That blame should go to the structure of the show. The lull occured mostly when Bovi was off-stage.

What was the issue? The stretch of time with only awards…