The Best of Nollywood (BON) Awards returns to Lagos on December 14, and organizers are going big: a Guinness World Record attempt for the longest red carpet will turn the city into one massive runway before the trophies roll out. The 2025 slate is a heavyweight mix of box-office juggernauts and festival favorites, with Abanisete, Seven Doors, Farmer’s Bride, My Mother Is a Witch, and The Waiter squaring off across the marquee categories.
Beyond bragging rights, this is a pulse check on Nollywood right now: star-powered performances (Tobi Bakre, Chioma Chukwuka, Folu Storms), precision direction (Niyi Akinmolayan; Adebayo Tijani & collaborators), and craft excellence from sound to special effects. Notables include Mercy Aigbe landing two Supporting Actress nods (My Mother Is a Witch; Farmer’s Bride) and multiple technical recognitions for Seven Doors, Iyalode, and Abanisete.
2025 BON Awards — Full Nominee List
Best Actor
1. Ibrahim Yekini — Abanisete
2. Gideon Okeke — Blackout
3. Femi Adebayo — Seven Doors
4. Razaq Adoti — Son of the Soil
5. Tobi Bakre — Farmer’s Bride
6. Jide Awobona — Inspector Jero
Best Actress
1. Folu Storms — Red Circle
2. Gbubemi Ejeye — Farmer’s Bride
3. Padita Agu — Blackout
4. Efe Irele — My Mother Is a Witch
5. Chioma Chukwuka — Seven Doors
6. Tierny Olalere — Fury
Best Kiss
1. Tobi Bakre & Gbubemi Ejeye — Farmer’s Bride
2. Timini Egbuson & TJ Omusuku — Reel Love
3. Kunle Remi & Tope Olowoniyan — The Party
4. Padita Agu & Demola Adedoyin — Planning Forever
5. Tobi Bakre & Folu Storms — Red Circle
Best Director
1. Niyi Akinmolayan — My Mother Is a Witch
2. Adebayo Tijani & Tope Adebayo — Abanisete
3. Adebayo Tijani & Jack’enneth Opukeme — Farmer’s Bride
4. Tope Adebayo & Adebayo Tijani — Her Excellency
5. Toka McBaror — The Waiter
6. Adebayo Tijani, Tope Adebayo & Femi Adebayo — Seven Doors
Movie of the Year
1. Abanisete
2. My Mother Is a Witch
3. Farmer’s Bride
4. The Waiter
5. Her Excellency
6. The Serpent’s Gift
Best Supporting Actor
1. Stan Nze — Serpent’s Gift
2. Femi Branch — Owambe Thieves
3. Adedimeji Lateef — Red Circle
4. Buchi Franklin — The Waiter
5. Taye Arimoro — Son of the Soil
6. Neo Akpofure — My Mother Is a Witch
Best Supporting Actress
1. Mercy Aigbe — My Mother Is a Witch
2. Bolaji Ogunmola — Longing
3. Tina Mba — The Serpent’s Gift
4. Mercy Aigbe — Farmer’s Bride
5. Susan Jimah — Take My Breath Away
6. Kehinde Bankole — Iyalode
Best Social Message
Out in the Darkness; My Mother Is a Witch; Fury; Longing; Mayomi; Blackout; Single Mother
Best Costume
Owambe Thieves; Abanisete; Iyalode; Labake Olododo; Seven Doors; Olomi; The Serpent’s Gift
Best Sound
Red Circle; Agemo; Anjola; Fury; Reel Love; Ewu Ife
Best Soundtrack
My Mother Is a Witch; Take My Breath Away; Olomi; Durotimi; The Serpent’s Gift
Best Use of Food
Owambe Thieves; Longing; Alakada: Bad and Boujee; 07.03 (The 7th of the 3rd); Farmer’s Bride; Owambe Thieves
Best Child Actor
Ahmad Isa — Finding Nina • Yoma Davidson — Den Of Safety • Royal Aziomaku — Seven Doors • Adeshina Daniel — Telephone
Best Child Actress
Ijelu Folajimi — Son of the Soil • Darasimi Nadi — Agemo • Diva Owoniyi — Den of Safety • Kamdi Ugochkwu — A Ride with Forever • Angel Unigwe — In My Circle
Most Promising Actor
Razaaq Adoti — Son of the Soil • Yomi Orimadegun — The Boy from the Window • Korede Lawal — On Our Skin • Abduazeem M. Ibrahim — Finding Nina
Most Promising Actress
Dolapo Oyebamiji — Olomi • Lila Idoko — I Am Anis • Sylvia Ebere — Flipside • Sunshine Rosman — Son of the Soil • Temitope Luqman — Durotimi
Best Production Design
Seven Doors; Labake Olododo; Abanisete; Iyalode; Farmer’s Bride
Best Screenplay
Thinline; Ewu Ife; Owambe Thieves; Fixing Others; The Serpent’s Gift; Blackout; Agemo
Best Special Effect
Seven Doors; Labake Olododo; Son Of The Soil; Red Circle; The Waiter; Abanisete; Iyalode
Best Documentary
Beyond Olympic Glory; Nigeria Laughs; Not Addressing This Anymore
Best Editing
Son Of the Soil; The Waiter; Reel Love; Red Circle; Between Silence & Truth; Olomi; Agemo
Best Cinematography
07.03 (7th of The 3rd); My Mother Is a Witch; Abanisete; Agemo; Seven Doors; The Serpent’s Gift; Finding Nina
Best Indigenous Movie
Abanisete; Brotherly Love; Iyalode; The Serpent’s Gift; Agemo; My Mother Is a Witch; Olomi
Best Make-Up
The Waiter; Seven Doors; Iyalode; Abanisete; Labake Olododo; Iyalode
What to watch on the night
• The big duel: Seven Doors, My Mother Is a Witch, Abanisete, and Farmer’s Bride dominate across acting, directing, and craft—expect them to trade wins.
• Star turns: Tobi Bakre (Actor + two “Best Kiss” nods), Folu Storms (Actress + Kiss), Chioma Chukwuka, and Femi Adebayo anchor stacked lead races.
• Double impact: Mercy Aigbe is up twice in Supporting Actress—rare and impressive.
• Craft showcase: From Iyalode’s heritage aesthetics to Seven Doors’ effects and Red Circle’s sound/editing, the tech categories are a masterclass in how far Nollywood’s production values have leapt.
Winners will be revealed December 14 in Lagos—preceded by a record-setting red carpet built to stretch imaginations (and stilettos). Nollywood’s biggest night is loading.
