Nigerian Films ‘Lisabi’ and ‘3 Cold Dishes’ Shine at 2025 AMAA Nominations
At the 21st Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA), Nigerian cinema has made a significant impact, with two films, Lisabi: The Uprising and 3 Cold Dishes, leading the charge. The nominations were announced on October 11, 2025, during a virtual ceremony hosted by Nigerian screen stars Lilian Aluko, Emeka Ossai, Charles Inojie, and Adaora Anyanwu.
Lisabi: The Uprising, directed by Niyi Akinmolayan, garnered seven nominations, including Best Film and Best Director. This epic historical drama revisits the legendary story of Yoruba warrior Lisabi, his rebellion against colonial forces, and the spirit of collective resistance that defined the era.
3 Cold Dishes, directed by Asurf Oluseyi, also earned multiple nominations, including Best Film, Best Director, and Best Cinematography. The pan-African thriller, which features Osas Ighodaro, Fat Toure, and Maud Guerard, explores themes of vengeance, sisterhood, and redemption across three continents, a bold narrative that underscores the growing sophistication of Nigerian and African filmmaking.
Other Nigerian titles that earned recognition include Freedom Way, Amanyanbo, Red Circle, and The Serpent Gift, all of which received nods in various technical and performance categories.
Among the individual nominees, Lateef Adedimeji was shortlisted for Best Actor in a Leading Role for his powerful portrayal in Lisabi: The Uprising, while veteran actress Tina Mba earned a Best Supporting Actress nomination for The Serpent Gift. Rising star Ruby Akubueze also secured a Best Young/Promising Actor nomination for her standout performance in 3 Cold Dishes.
Other African films competing in the top categories include Ethiopia’s For Love, For Land, For Power, South Africa’s The Heart is a Muscle, Ghana’s Last Stop, Uganda’s Small Gods, and Algeria’s Algiers. The Best Director category is one of the most competitive in recent AMAA history, with Akinmolayan (Lisabi), Oluseyi (3 Cold Dishes), Dany Kouyaté (Katanga), and Theodros Teshome (For Love, For Land, For Power) all vying for the top prize.
Since its founding in 2005, the Africa Movie Academy Awards has been regarded as the continent’s most prestigious film honour—a platform that not only celebrates artistic excellence but also showcases Africa’s storytelling power to global audiences. With its strong presence across the nominations list, Nigeria once again reaffirms its position as a creative powerhouse in African cinema, driven by bold narratives, technical mastery, and an ever-expanding global audience.