The Ikon Awards has unveiled this year’s nominees during a special live broadcast hosted by media personality Ethan Kavuma and renowned actress Catherine Namugenyi.
The announcement spotlighted outstanding talent across 22 categories, including: Best Film, Best Director, Best Actress in a Leading Role, Best Actor in a Leading Role, Best Actor in a Supporting Role, Best Actress in a Supporting Role, Best Director of Photography, Best Screenplay, Best Sound, Best Editor, Best Costume Design, Best Makeup and Special Effects, Best Production Design, Best Visual Effects, Best Short Film, Best Documentary, Best Animation Film, Best TV Series, Best Actor in a TV Series, Best Actress in a TV Series, Best Student Film, and the Ikon Rising Star.
In addition, the Ikon Executive Committee revealed four prestigious awards: the Best Emerging Film Award, recognizing promising new cinematic work; the Lifetime Achievement Award, honoring an individual’s enduring contributions to the film industry; the African Ikon of the Year, celebrating an influential figure in African cinema; and the African Rising Star Award, highlighting an emerging talent making waves on the continent.
A key highlight of this year’s awards is the expansion of the nominee slots in each of the 22 competitive categories from four to five, offering greater recognition for exceptional talent.
“What makes this year’s Ikon Awards special is the expansion of the nominee slots, creating more room to celebrate outstanding work. This time, we are stronger than ever in championing inclusivity and celebrating diverse voices in the film and television industry,” said Usama Mukwaya, Ikon Awards Producer.
Humphrey Nabimanya, CEO of the Ikon Awards, emphasized that these awards, like others in the film industry, serve the same purpose: uplifting the industry, supporting filmmakers, and attracting investment by marketing films to elevate the industry.
“Our industry is growing, and with that growth, we need more key players to come on board to take it to greater heights. That’s why we’ve introduced special categories to open doors for the film industry,” he said.
He also mentioned that the Icon Awards embrace all types of films because, at the end of the day, we must appreciate the effort Ugandans put into creating content. Whether the quality is high or low, it remains a Ugandan product, and it is the role of the Icon Awards to uplift these filmmakers and help them improve the content they produce.
Looking ahead, he shared that the Ikon Awards will continue to commission content and support filmmakers in producing higher-quality films.
“We received over 300 submissions, and after careful selection, the jury has done an incredible job. Now, let’s wait and see what happens on March 29 at Serena Hotel,” he said.
“Since the first edition of the Ikon Awards, we’ve been sending young filmmakers to Nigeria for masterclasses in the Nollywood industry. Some of them have worked on major sets, and their films are now available on platforms like Amazon Prime and Netflix. We’ve been doing this consistently for the past three years, and we will continue with this effort this year,” he added.
Over 110 nominated for 2025 Ikon Awards
