Uganda’s film industry is gearing up for one of its major annual celebrations after the iKON Awards 2026 nominees were announced across 26 categories, with 121 films selected for voting ahead of the ceremony scheduled for December 12 in Kampala.
The nominees for the fourth edition of the awards were unveiled on October 24, 2026, highlighting productions, performers and technical professionals from Uganda and other parts of Africa.
The ceremony will take place at Serena Hotel under the theme “Beyond Border,” which aims to encourage cross-border partnerships and collaboration within the African film industry.
Humphrey Nabimanya, founder of the iKON Awards, emphasised the importance of filmmakers working together to strengthen the continent’s creative sector.
“Collaboration is essential to building a strong film industry because no single filmmaker can tell Africa’s stories alone,” Nabimanya said.
According to the announcement, the selection includes 24 nominations from across Africa, alongside a wide range of categories recognising filmmaking, acting, production and storytelling.
Among the films competing for Best Film are Adui, directed by Ayeny T Steve; Janani: Last Stand, by Catherine Bish and Matt Bish; Kimote, by Hassan Mageye; Small Gods, by Ian Prior, Andreas Roald and Dan Wechsler; and You May Kiss the Bride Goodbye, credited to a team of filmmakers.
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.
The acting categories also feature a competitive mix of performers. Best Lead Actor nominees include Angel Toni Acer for Fatal, Bizimana Hussain for Small Gods, Isaac Mendez Kintu for Kimote, Olot Bonny Olem for Adui and Peter Odeke for Janani: Last Stand.
In the Best Lead Actress category, nominees include Debbie Kagisha for Fatal, Florence Mariserena for Small Gods, Julie Kisakye for Nkinzi, Vivian Kintu Linda for Ruthless and Catherine Uwera Mbabazi for You May Kiss the Bride Goodbye.
The awards will also recognise supporting performances, screenwriting, cinematography, costume design, production design, makeup and special effects, editing and sound. These categories highlight the technical and creative contributions that shape the finished film beyond the performances seen on screen.
Other categories focus on animation, short films, student productions, documentaries and television series. The animation nominees include Amara & the Spirit of Nyamuganda, Lice N Shine and Made in China: Kato’s Wire Car, while the documentary category features titles such as Ajon – The Spirit of Teso, Ekitibwa Kyo Lubugo, Beyond the Genocide, Tuko Pamoja: Kigezi and Wanawake.
The television categories recognise productions including Choices, Crossroads and Loving Beyond, alongside individual performances in TV series. The iKON Rising Star category also spotlights emerging talent, with nominees including Achan Keisha, Craig Dyllian Eminat, Julie Kisakye, Mayra Ariana Lubowa and Simon Peter Walusimbi.
The regional African film categories extend the awards’ reach beyond Uganda, with nominations representing countries including Kenya, Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Senegal, Nigeria, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Morocco, Sudan, Tunisia, Egypt, South Africa and Zambia.
These categories include Best East African and Central African Film, Best Francophone Film, Best West African Film, Best North African Film and Best South African Film, bringing a wider range of African storytelling into the awards programme.
Film Categories
Best Film
- Adui — Produced by Ayeny T Steve
- Janani: Last Stand — Produced by Catherine Bish and Matt Bish
- Kimote — Produced by Hassan Mageye
- Small Gods — Produced by Ian Prior, Andreas Roald, and Dan Wechsler
- You May Kiss the Bride Goodbye — Produced by Elly E. Debuni, Emmanuel Ilungole, Nodryn Evanci Kabuye, Vieri Mwanje Kavuma, Colline Manirahari, Chloe Nsiima, and Vanessa Khabuya
Best Director
- Ayeny T Steve — Adui
- Matt Bish — Janani: Last Stand
- Hassan Mageye — Kimote
- Rehema Nanfuka — Nkinzi
- Asher Rosen — Small Gods
Best Lead Actor
- Angel Toni Acer — Fatal
- Bizimana Hussain — Small Gods
- Isaac Mendez Kintu — Kimote
- Olot Bonny Olem — Adui
- Peter Odeke — Janani: Last Stand
Best Lead Actress
- Debbie Kagisha — Fatal
- Florence Mariserena — Small Gods
- Julie Kisakye — Nkinzi
- Vivian Kintu Linda — Ruthless
- Catherine Uwera Mbabazi — You May Kiss the Bride Goodbye
Best Actor in a Supporting Role
- Amanya Joel — Nature’s Revenge
- Roger Masaba Magona — Kimote
- Simon Peter Walusimbi — Nkinzi
- Turinayo Jotham — Small Gods
- Mutumba Henry — Waka Waka
Best Actress in a Supporting Role
- Amina Naluggwa Amor — Longing to Belong
- Hellen Lukoma — You May Kiss the Bride Goodbye
- Sharon Kanaalo — Fatal
- Nakakeeto Immaculate — Wrong Number
- Annet Nandujja — Longing to Belong
Best Screenplay
- Janani: Last Stand — Matt Bish
- Kimote — Hassan Mageye
- Nkinzi — Esther Nampewo and Rehema Nanfuka
- Longing to Belong — Mariam Ndagire
- Small Gods — Asher Rosen and Luke Reilly
Best Cinematography
- Adui — Izeak Ekuka
- At the Edge — Nsubuga Francis Kaasa
- Janani: Last Stand — Kakande Abdul Majjid and Matt Bish
- Kimote — Eric Wamasebu
- You May Kiss the Bride Goodbye — Alex Ireeta
Best Costume Design
- Adui — Kaaku Mickydad Lovewell and Harry Suts
- Janani: Last Stand — Josephine Lule
- Kimote — Elgon Label and Nabakiibi Joan Jojo
- Sledge — Pius Mugabo, Muzinguzi Ali, and Julian Kirabo
- Waka Waka — Nakimuli Janifer, Namakula Hilder, and Roka Stars
Best Production Design
- Fatal — Bitarinsa Mark
- Janani: Last Stand — Catherine Bish and Matt Bish
- Kimote — Joseph Mumpi Sserubiri
- Sledge — Muhumuza James and Myra Namulindwa Sharifah
- Waka Waka — Magoola Jotham, Tusiime Robert Quintes, and Roka Stars
Best Makeup and Special Effects
- Janani: Last Stand — Esther Nakaziba
- Kimote — Kebirungi Rose Lily
- Adui — Nominees to be determined
- Small Gods — Nantege Joan
- You May Kiss the Bride Goodbye — Esther Nakaziba
Best Editing
- Janani: Last Stand — Matt Bish
- Kimote — Kyobe Sebbowa
- Small Gods — Abolfazl Talooni
- Waka Waka — Marvin Rain Ssentongo
- You May Kiss the Bride Goodbye — Joshua Alibet
Best Sound
- Longing to Belong — Isiko Abubaker
- Janani: Last Stand — Nominees to be determined
- Kimote — Kyobe Sebbowa
- Nkinzi — Joses Arins and Isma Ssemujju
- Small Gods — Nominees to be determined
Best Short Film
- Infinity — Produced by Miriam Nsimbi, Ernest Nsimbi, and Rukia Nabbanja
- Last Taxi to Kawempe — Produced by Walta Gabriel Busulwa and Akello Francisca Isabella
- Mfuko the Duffle Bag — Produced by Donny Shots, Kayongo Aloysius, and Ian Owora
- No (Nedda) — Produced by Mulumba Douglas and Bugaba Clinton Cyrus
- Twisted — Produced by Derrick Christopher Ntale and Sharifah Namulindwa
Best Animation Film
- Amara & the Spirit of Nyamuganda — Denis Junior Dhikusooka
- Lice N Shine — Maria Byoma
- Made in China: Kato’s Wire Car — Musisi Alex
Best Student Film
- Young Motherhood — Enock Mike Nyakaana
- Unseen — Lubeera Saphina
- Beyond Tradition — Peter Muwulya
Best Documentary
- Ajon – The Spirit of Teso — Peter Abraham Okolimo
- Ekitibwa Kyo Lubugo — Bayan Nalubwama
- Beyond the Genocide — Zion Sulaiman Mukasa Matovu
- Tuko Pamoja: Kigezi — Cindy Evelyn Magara
- Wanawake — Mulindwa Jeremiah
Television & Special Categories
Best TV Series
- Choices — Richard Mulindwa
- Crossroads — Ayeny T Steve
- Loving Beyond — Jerry Sesanga
Best Actor in a TV Series
- Blair Koono — Kavule Town
- Isaac Mendez Kintu — Loving Beyond
- Sekimpi Johnmary — Borders
- Kenny Rukundo — Choices
Best Actress in a TV Series
- Diana Kahunde — Choices
- Juliet Nantambi — Choices
- Nambuusi Florence Iga — Loving Beyond
- Tania Shakirah Kankindi — Borders
iKON Rising Star
- Achan Keisha — Speak
- Craig Dyllian Eminat — Loving Beyond
- Julie Kisakye — Nkinzi
- Mayra Ariana Lubowa — Nkinzi
- Simon Peter Walusimbi — Nkinzi
Regional African Categories
Best East & Central African Film
- Son of Shadow — Chabel Ngoubili (Congo)
- Mvera — Daudi O. Anguka (Kenya)
- S.HE Gets Me — Millicent Ogutu and Brian Munene (Kenya)
- Sayari — Omar Hamza and June Wairegi (Kenya)
- The One at Home — Damas Donald Wakae and Mathew Valerian (Tanzania)
Best Francophone Film
- Ceddo — Maxence Muller (Senegal)
- Sadya — Thierno Seydou Nouro Sy (Senegal)
- Son of Shadow — Chabel Ngoubili (Congo)
- The Ghost of the Seine — Martin Pizarro Veglia (France)
- The Legendary Past of the Sugarcane People — Céline Aho-Nienne (Réunion)
Best West African Film
- To Adaego with Love — Produced by Brenda Ogbukaa Garuba (Nigeria)
- Amlan — Produced by Ohouot Assi Gilbert Philippe (Côte d’Ivoire)
- Suluku (The Human Totem) — Produced by Kwaku Addo and Wallace Huthson (Ghana)
- Njem — Produced by Abayomi Olukanmi (Nigeria)
- Heroes of Africa — Produced by Matilda Asare (Ghana)
Best North African Film
- I Will Remember You — Mohamed Rida Gueznaï (Morocco)
- Khartoum — Giovanna Stopponi and Talal Afifi (Sudan)
- The Devil’s Seed — Mohamed Khalil Bahri (Tunisia)
- Wed — Produced by Habib Mestiri (Tunisia)
- 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)
The 2026 edition’s emphasis on collaboration reflects the organisers’ stated ambition to encourage filmmakers to build relationships across national and linguistic boundaries.
With the nominees now announced, attention turns to the voting process and the December ceremony, where the selected films and industry professionals will compete for recognition.
The iKON Awards will take place on December 12, 2026, at Serena Hotel in Kampala.