Nollywood actress and model, Beverly Osu, has openly criticised the organisers of the 2025 Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA), claiming the event has strayed from its original purpose and now resembles what she called a “Masquerade parade.”
Sharing her views via her Instagram stories on Thursday night, Osu compared the AMVCA with renowned international film festivals, arguing that while global events are moving towards preserving artistic focus, the AMVCA appears to be headed in the opposite direction.
She wrote, “While Cannes is setting boundaries by banning nudity and massive trains on the red carpet to refocus attention on actors and filmmakers, AMVCA is spiraling in the opposite direction. What was once a celebration of African cinematic excellence now looks like a masquerade parade.”
In a follow-up post, she further expressed her concern over what she sees as misplaced priorities:
“It’s no longer about the craft. It’s about CLOUT. Social media numbers are being prioritized over performances. The Red carpet feels louder than the awards. The heart of the industry, the storytellers, the technicians, the performers are being drowned by corsets and algorithms.”
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The 11th edition of the AMVCA, presented by MultiChoice and sponsored by Amstel Malta, was held last Saturday at the Exhibition Center, Eko Hotels and Suites in Lagos, Nigeria. The ceremony recognised outstanding achievements in television, film, and digital content creation across the continent.
Among the notable winners were Femi Adebayo and Chioma Chukwuka, who took home Best Actor and Best Actress in a Drama for their roles in Seven Doors.
Freedom Way was awarded Best Film, while Lisabi: The Uprising received multiple awards including Best Indigenous Language Film (West Africa), Best Art Director, and Best Makeup Artist.
Veteran actors Nkem Owoh and Sani Mu’azu were also honoured with Lifetime Achievement Awards.
