iKON Awards 2026 nominations announced, featuring films from across Africa

The nominees include 24 entries from across Africa, with the awards ceremony scheduled for December 12 in Kampala under the theme “Beyond Border”.

The fourth edition of the iKON Awards has shortlisted 121 films across 26 categories, with nominations spanning Uganda’s film and television industry and productions from other African countries.

The nominees were announced on October 24, 2026, during an event that included discussions among filmmakers on cross-border collaboration.

Humphrey Nabimanya, founder of the iKON Awards, said cooperation was necessary for the growth of African cinema.

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“Collaboration is essential to building a strong film industry because no single filmmaker can tell Africa’s stories alone,” he said.

The awards ceremony is scheduled for December 12 at Serena Hotel in Kampala, under the theme “Beyond Border”, which organisers say is intended to encourage partnerships between filmmakers across national boundaries.

Regional categories broaden competition

The 2026 nominations include 24 entries from across Africa, reflecting the awards’ wider regional focus. The categories include recognition for East and Central African, West African, North African, Francophone and Southern African films.

The regional categories give productions from different parts of the continent a place in the competition alongside films competing in the main categories.

According to reports published ahead of the nominations announcement, the organisers received more than 300 film submissions, which they described as a record for the awards. The regional categories were introduced as part of this year’s cross-border focus.

The nominees include films such as Adui, Janani: Last Stand, Kimote and Small Gods in the Best Film category. The Best Director category features Ayeny T Steve for Adui, Matt Bish for Janani: Last Stand, Hassan Mageye for Kimote, Rehema Nanfuka for Nkinzi and Asher Rosen for Small Gods.

Other categories recognise performances in leading and supporting roles, screenwriting, cinematography, editing, costume design, production design, animation, documentaries, student films and television series.

The awards also include an iKON Rising Star category, which recognises emerging talent.

The December ceremony will bring the fourth edition of the awards to a close, with the organisers’ stated focus on strengthening collaboration across Africa’s film industry.

Official 2026 iKON Awards Nominees

Best Film

1. Adui — By Ayeny T Steve
2. Janani: Last Stand — By Catherine Bish and Matt Bish
3. Kimote — By Hassan Mageye
4. Small Gods — By Ian Prior, Andreas Roald and Dan Wechsler
5. You May Kiss the Bride Goodbye — By Elly E. Debuni, Emmanuel Ilungole, Nodryn Evanci Kabuye, Vieri Mwanje Kavuma, Colline Manirahari, Chloe Nsiima and Vanessa Khabuya

Best Director

1. Adui — Ayeny T Steve
2. Janani: Last Stand — Matt Bish
3. Kimote — Hassan Mageye
4. Nkinzi — Rehema Nanfuka
5. Small Gods — Asher Rosen

Best Lead Actor

1. Angel Toni Acer — Fatal
2. Bizimana Hussain — Small Gods
3. Isaac Mendez Kintu — Kimote
4. Olot Bonny Olem — Adui
5. Peter Odeke — Janani: Last Stand

Best Lead Actress

1. Debbie Kagisha — Fatal
2. Florence Mariserena — Small Gods
3. Julie Kisakye — Nkinzi
4. Vivian Kintu Linda — Ruthless
5. Catherine Uwera Mbabazi — You May Kiss the Bride Goodbye

Best Actor in a Supporting Role

1. Amanya Joel — Nature’s Revenge
2. Roger Masaba Magona — Kimote
3. Simon Peter Walusimbi — Nkinzi
4. Turinayo Jotham — Small Gods
5. Mutumba Henry — Waka Waka

Best Actress in a Supporting Role

1. Amina Naluggwa Amor — Longing to Belong
2. Hellen Lukoma — You May Kiss the Bride Goodbye
3. Sharon Kanaalo — Fatal
4. Nakakeeto Immaculate — Wrong Number
5. Annet Nandujja — Longing to Belong

Best Costume

1. Adui — Kaaku Mickydad Lovewell and Harry Suts
2. Janani: Last Stand — Josephine Lule
3. Kimote — Elgon Label and Nabakiibi Joan Jojo
4. Sledge — Pius Mugabo, Muzinguzi Ali and Julian Kirabo
5. Waka Waka — Nakimuli Janifer, Namakula Hilder and Roka Stars

Best Production Design

1. Fatal — Bitarinsa Mark
2. Janani: Last Stand — Catherine Bish and Matt Bish
3. Kimote — Joseph Mumpi Sserubiri
4. Sledge — Muhumuza James and Myra Namulindwa Sharifah
5. Waka Waka — Magoola Jotham, Tusiime Robert Quintes and Roka Stars

Best Screenplay

1. Janani: Last Stand — Matt Bish
2. Kimote — Hassan Mageye
3. Nkinzi — Esther Nampewo and Rehema Nanfuka
4. Longing to Belong — Mariam Ndagire
5. Small Gods — Asher Rosen and Luke Reilly

Best Cinematography

1. Adui — Izeak Ekuka
2. At the Edge — Nsubuga Francis Kaasa
3. Janani: Last Stand — Kakande Abdul Majjid and Matt Bish
4. Kimote — Eric Wamasebu
5. You May Kiss the Bride Goodbye — Alex Ireeta

Best Makeup and Special Effects

1. Janani: Last Stand — Esther Nakaziba
2. Kimote — Kebirungi Rose Lily
3. Adui — Nominees to be determined
4. Small Gods — Nantege Joan
5. You May Kiss the Bride Goodbye — Esther Nakaziba

Best Editing

1. Janani: Last Stand — Matt Bish
2. Kimote — Kyobe Sebbowa
3. Small Gods — Abolfazl Talooni
4. Waka Waka — Marvin Rain Ssentongo
5. You May Kiss the Bride Goodbye — Joshua Alibet

Best Sound

1. Longing to Belong — Isiko Abubaker
2. Janani: Last Stand — Nominees to be determined
3. Kimote — Kyobe Sebbowa
4. Nkinzi — Joses Arins and Isma Ssemujju
5. Small Gods — Nominees to be determined

Best Animation Film

1. Amara & the Spirit of Nyamuganda — Denis Junior Dhikusooka
2. Lice N Shine — Maria Byoma
3. Made in China: Kato’s Wire Car — Musisi Alex

Best Short Film

1. Infinity — Produced by Miriam Nsimbi, Ernest Nsimbi and Rukia Nabbanja
2. Last Taxi to Kawempe — Produced by Walta Gabriel Busulwa and Akello Francisca Isabella
3. Mfuko the Duffle Bag — Produced by Donny Shots, Kayongo Aloysius and Ian Owora
4. No (Nedda) — Produced by Mulumba Douglas and Bugaba Clinton Cyrus
5. Twisted — Produced by Derrick Christopher Ntale and Sharifah Namulindwa

Best Student Film

1. Young Motherhood — Enock Mike Nyakaana
2. Unseen — Lubeera Saphina
3. Beyond Tradition — Peter Muwulya

Best Documentary

1. Ajon – The Spirit of Teso — Peter Abraham Okolimo
2. Ekitibwa Kyo Lubugo — Bayan Nalubwama
3. Beyond the Genocide — Zion Sulaiman Mukasa Matovu
4. Tuko Pamoja: Kigezi — Cindy Evelyn Magara
5. Wanawake — Mulindwa Jeremiah

Best TV Series

1. Choices — Richard Mulindwa
2. Crossroads — Ayeny T Steve
3. Loving Beyond — Jerry Sesanga

Best Actor in a TV Series

1. Blair Koono — Kavule Town
2. Isaac Mendez Kintu — Loving Beyond
3. Sekimpi Johnmary — Borders
4. Kenny Rukundo — Choices

Best Actress in a TV Series

1. Diana Kahunde — Choices
2. Juliet Nantambi — Choices
3. Nambuusi Florence Iga — Loving Beyond
4. Tania Shakirah Kankindi — Borders

iKON Rising Star

1. Achan Keisha — Speak
2. Craig Dyllian Eminat — Loving Beyond
3. Julie Kisakye — Nkinzi
4. Mayra Ariana Lubowa — Nkinzi
5. Simon Peter Walusimbi — Nkinzi

Regional African film categories

Best East African & Central

1. Son of Shadow — Chabel Ngoubili (Congo)
2. Mvera — Daudi O. Anguka (Kenya)
3. S.HE Gets Me — Millicent Ogutu and Brian Munene (Kenya)
4. Sayari — Omar Hamza and June Wairegi (Kenya)
5. The One at Home — Damas Donald Wakae and Mathew Valerian (Tanzania)

Best Francophone

1. Ceddo — Maxence Muller (Senegal)
2. Sadya — Thierno Seydou Nouro Sy (Senegal)
3. Son of Shadow — Chabel Ngoubili (Congo)
4. The Ghost of the Seine — Martin Pizarro Veglia (France)
5. The Legendary Past of the Sugarcane People — Céline Aho-Nienne (Réunion)

Best West African Film

1. To Adaego with Love — Produced by Brenda Ogbukaa Garuba (Nigeria)
2. Amlan — Produced by Ohouot Assi Gilbert Philippe (Côte d’Ivoire)
3. Suluku (The Human Totem) — Produced by Kwaku Addo and Wallace Huthson (Ghana)
4. Njem — Produced by Abayomi Olukanmi (Nigeria)
5. Heroes of Africa — Produced by Matilda Asare (Ghana)

Best North African Film

1. I Will Remember You — Mohamed Rida Gueznaï (Morocco)
2. Khartoum — Giovanna Stopponi and Talal Afifi (Sudan)
3. The Devil’s Seed — Mohamed Khalil Bahri (Tunisia)
4. Wed — Produced by Habib Mestiri (Tunisia)
5. Yamna’s Daughter — Marwa Ali Elsharkawi (Egypt)

Best South African Film

• Carisa — Jason Jacobs and Devon Delmar (South Africa)
• The Heart Is a Muscle — Imran Hamdulay (South Africa)
• Service to Heart — Paul S. Wilo (Zambia)
• Prank – Joke’s on You — Besta Phiri (Zambia)