“Seven Doors,” “Abanisete,” “Son of the Soil” Dominate 2025 BON Awards Nominations

Best of Nollywood Awards (BON) unveiled its 2025 nominee list on Monday, revealing a competitive field across 24 categories ahead of the December 14 ceremony in Lagos.

Seven Doors leads the nominations with 10 nominations, including recognition for Femi Adebayo in Best Actor, Chioma Chukwu in Best Actress, Best Series, Best Cinematography, Best Child Actor and Best Director for Adebayo Tijani and Tope Adebayo.

Ibrahim Yekini’s Abanisete follows with eight nominations, while Chee Keong Cheung’s Son of the Soil secured seven nominations, among several distinguished projects.

The Best Actress category features a strong lineup with Folu Storms’ lead performance in Red Circle competing against Gbugbemi Ejeye, Efe Irele, Chioma Chukwu, Padifa Agu and Florence Okechukwu. Stan Nze earned a Best Supporting Actor nomination for The Serpent’s Gift, facing competition from Femi Branch, Lateef Adedimeji, Bucci Franklin, Taye Arimoro and Neo Akpofure.

Mercy Aigbe distinguished herself with double nominations in the Best Supporting Actress category for both My Mother Is A Witch and Farmers Bride, competing against Kehinde Bankole, Bolaji Ogunmola, Tina Mba and Susan Jimah.

Sarah Kwaji’s Out of Darkness contends in the Best Social Message Film category alongside Fury, Longing, Blackout and My Mother Is A Witch, highlighting films that address pressing social issues. The Best Indigenous Film category features Niyi Akinmolayan’s My Mother Is A Witch competing with Iyalode, The Serpent’s Gift, Agemo, Abanisete, Brotherly Love and Olomi.

Emerging talent receives recognition in the Most Promising Actor and Actress categories, with Razaq Adeoti and Sunshine Rosman from Son of the Soil nominated alongside Dolapo Oyebanji, Korede Lawal, Abdul-Azeem Ibrahim and Linda Idoko. The Best Child Actor category features Darasimi Nnadi, Ijelu Folajimi, Adesina Daniel and Royal Aziomaku.

Her Excellency, The Serpent’s Gift, The Waiter, Farmers Bride, My Mother Is A Witch and Abanisete will compete for the prestigious Best Movie award, while the Best Documentary category recognizes Beyond Olympic Glory, When Nigeria Laughs and Not Addressing This Anymore, showcasing nonfiction storytelling that captured significant cultural moments.