The Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA) organizers have announced notable changes for the tenth edition of the acclaimed ceremony that honours and showcases outstanding African film talent.
In a statement issued by Africa Magic and Multichoice Nigeria, films publicly exhibited or broadcasted between December 1, 2022, and December 31, 2023, are eligible for nominations. The entry portal opens on January 15th, 2024, and closes on February 14th, 2024.
This year, the award categories have been streamlined from 33 to 27, and the winners of Best Actor or Best Actress in a Leading or Supporting Role will now be determined by a jury, moving away from the previous audience voting system.
A jury, composed of experienced filmmakers from across the continent and led by a head juror, will decide the winners in the 16 non-voting categories, while the public will continue to determine the winners in the remaining 8 audience voting categories. Deloitte will oversee the auditing of the judging process and verify the voting results.
The 27 categories include 16 non-voting and 9 audience voting categories, along with 2 Recognition Awards (Lifetime Achievement and Trailblazer Awards).
Non-voting categories encompass Best Lead Actor and Actress, Best Supporting Actor and Actress, Best Director, Art Direction, Cinematography, and Costume Design. Additional categories include Best Writing in a Movie and TV Series, Best Movie and TV Series, Best Short Film, Best Documentary, and Best Sound Design, Editing, and Makeup.
Public voting categories include Best Scripted and Unscripted Africa Magic Original, Best Digital Content Creator, Best Indigenous Language (West, East, and Southern Africa), Best Multichoice Talent Factory Film, and Best Indigenous Africa Magic Original.
Head of Content and Channels West Africa, MultiChoice, Dr. Busola Tejumola, commented on the upcoming edition, stating, “As we mark the 10th anniversary of the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards, we embark on a bold initiative to reevaluate our award categories to further align with global trends and benchmarks. It would involve retiring specific categories, streamlining others, and revisiting the voting and non-voting classifications.”
Tejumola added, “The AMVCAs remain committed to celebrating the incredible talent in the African film and television industry, the amazing people who do the work in front and behind the cameras and you, our viewers who continue to support the hard work of the television and film industry. Thank you for being an integral part of the AMVCA journey.”
To enter the awards, filmmakers must prepare their movies for consideration through online submission. Visit (https://www.africamagic.tv/AMVCA) for submissions and more details.
