What's behind the snub of top stars and films in the AMVCA nominations

Joke Silva, the Head Judge for the 12th edition of the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards and a veteran Nollywood actress, has shed light on the reasons behind the omission of certain actors and films from the 2026 nominations, acknowledging that award decisions can be subjective at times.

n

Following the unveiling of the nominees list in March, Silva addressed concerns regarding the nomination process, which sparked reactions from fans and actors, by explaining the rigorous evaluation process undertaken by the judges.

n

The nomination list revealed that films like Gingerrr and The Herd led with nine nominations each, while To Kill A Monkey secured eight nominations and My Father’s Shadow earned seven, showcasing a diverse range of talented productions.

n

In an interview with Guardian Life on Thursday, Silva emphasized that the non-voting categories were carefully reviewed by professionals with in-depth knowledge of film, performance, and technical execution, ensuring a fair and informed assessment.

n

According to Silva, the judging panel comprised highly skilled individuals who understand the intricacies of film, and the final nominations were determined through a thorough grading process carried out by multiple judges to minimize bias.

n

Silva noted that awards can be subjective, which is why a panel of judges is essential, and she expressed her hope that the best productions would ultimately emerge victorious through the aggregation of marks, as every film is graded.

n

Even Silva was surprised that some high-quality projects did not make the final cut, attributing this to the aggregate of scores, which ultimately decides the nominations.

n

Her comments come amidst criticism surrounding notable omissions from the nominees list, including actress Lilian Afegbai's exclusion from the Best Supporting Actress category for her role in To Kill A Monkey, which she publicly expressed disappointment over.

n

Silva explained that an award-worthy performance goes beyond delivering lines convincingly, emphasizing the importance of fully embodying the character and making it believable to the audience.

n

She described a truly award-worthy performance as one where the actor becomes the character, making it believable and authentic to those watching, which is the hallmark of exceptional acting.

n

Despite the backlash and debates surrounding the nominations, Silva expressed pride in the growth and quality of Nollywood productions, citing the high volume of strong projects submitted this year as evidence of the increasing standard of African film and television storytelling.

n

The 12th edition of the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards features 32 categories, including 18 jury-voted awards, 11 audience-voted categories, and three special recognition awards, such as Lifetime Achievement and Trailblazer honours, showcasing the diversity of African talent.

n

The organisers have introduced two new categories, Best Indigenous Language Film (North Africa) and Best Indigenous Language Film (Central Africa), to strengthen the awards' pan-African representation and recognize the rich cultural heritage of the continent.