BON AWARDS 2025 - Celebrating Excellence as Nollywood’s Most Authentic Honours Night

 

The 17th edition of the Best of Nollywood (BON) Awards, held on December 14, 2025, at the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and the Creative Arts, Iganmu, Lagos, once again lived up to its reputation as Nollywood’s most authentic and credible awards platform. Hosted by Bukunmi “KieKie” Adeaga-Ilori and VJ Adams, the ceremony brought together filmmakers, actors, and creatives to celebrate excellence across film, television, and series.

Farmers Bride emerged as Best Movie of the Year, while its directors, Adebayo Tijani and Jack’enneth Okpumene, also claimed the Best Director award. In the acting categories, Black Out recorded major wins, with Padita Agu taking home Best Actress for her powerful performance, and Gideon Okeke receiving Best Actor for his gripping and emotionally layered portrayal.

The ceremony also shone a spotlight on supporting performances that elevated their films. Bucci Franklin won Best Supporting Actor for his role in The Waiter, while Mercy Aigbe claimed Best Supporting Actress for My Mother Is a Witch. UK-based actor Raz Adoti was named Most Promising Actor for his lead role in Son of the Soil, while the female counterpart award went to Lina Idoko for her standout performance in I Am Anis.

Femi Adebayo’s Seven Doors was one of the standout productions of the night, dominating the technical categories with wins including Best Series, Best Cinematography, Best Production Design, Best Costume, and Best Special Effects, affirming the growing quality and ambition of Nollywood’s series landscape. Indigenous storytelling was also celebrated, with Abanisete winning Indigenous Movie of the Year.

One of the most celebrated moments of the evening was the presentation of a Special Recognition Award to Funke Akindele, honouring her lasting impact on Nollywood as a filmmaker and cultural force who has significantly expanded the industry’s reach both locally and globally.

Widely regarded as Nollywood’s most authentic awards platform, the Best of Nollywood Awards, founded and coordinated by Seun Oloketuyi, once again reinforced its reputation for celebrating artistic merit, technical excellence, and culturally rooted storytelling across film, television, and indigenous cinema, remaining a trusted benchmark for honouring the very best of Nollywood, both on screen and behind the scenes