Nollywood’s Big Contenders for 2025 Awards
Two major Nollywood films,Seven DoorsandAbanisete, have taken the lead in the race for the 2025 Best of Nollywood Awards. Each has received a significant number of nominations, withSeven Doorssecuring nine andAbaniseteearning eight. The announcement of these nominations took place at an event held at Mayami in Lagos.
The 2025 edition of the awards is set to take place in Lagos on December 14. This year’s ceremony promises to be a grand affair, featuring a lineup of top-tier celebrities and a unique Guinness World Record attempt for the ‘Longest Red Carpet’. The red carpet will stretch across the newly built Coastal Road, marking a bold and innovative move for the event.
This year’s awards will include 25 competitive categories, with a new addition being the “Best Series” category. This new category aims to highlight the increasing influence of episodic storytelling within Nigeria’s film and television industry.
During the unveiling of the nominations, Toke Benson-Awoyinka, the Lagos State Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, expressed her excitement about the return of the awards to Lagos.
“Lagos is the home of excellence, the state of aquatic splendour, so people’s expectations are high,” she said.
Benson-Awoyinka also praised the red carpet record attempt, noting that it was perfectly suited for Lagos.
“It’s because it’s Lagos; that’s the only reason you can have a runway on a highway,” she joked.
Another notable attendee at the event was Yinka Adebayo, the Group Executive Director, West & Central Africa, at Omnicom Media Group. He commended the organizers for keeping the event relevant over the years.
“Doing this consistently for 17 years is something we must commend Seun Oloketuyi and his team for,” he said.
Seven DoorsandAbaniseteare leading the pack in several major categories, including Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Director, Movie of the Year, Best Production Design, and Best Special Effects. Their strong performances have positioned them as favorites in these prestigious categories.
Other films that have made a strong impression includeFarmer’s BrideandMy Mother Is a Witch, both of which have received multiple nominations across key acting and technical categories.
The Movie of the Year category is expected to be highly competitive, withAbanisete,My Mother Is a Witch, andFarmer’s Brideall vying for the top prize.