The 22nd Abuja International Film Festival (AIFF) reaffirmed the resilience and creative ingenuity of Nigeria’s film industry. Stakeholders, filmmakers, and cultural advocates converged in Abuja to mark over two decades of continuous contribution to the nation’s creative economy.
Former Deputy Director of Corporate Affairs at the National Film and Video Censors Board, Yunusa Tanko Abdullahi, urged filmmakers to embrace artificial intelligence (AI) as a complementary tool for creativity and global visibility. “AI alone cannot replace human creativity,” he said, “but it can enhance productivity and expand the reach of Nigerian storytelling.”
He praised the festival’s founder, Mr. Fidelis Duker, for his unwavering consistency in sustaining the event for 22 consecutive years despite limited institutional and financial support.
Echoing similar sentiments, industry veteran Francis Ndunugwu lauded Duker’s perseverance and called for government and corporate collaboration to sustain the initiative. “For 22 years, this festival has run without any government support,” he said. “It’s time for it to be recognised as a creative carnival that empowers Nigeria’s next generation of filmmakers.”
Mr. Duker reflected on the festival’s growth from a modest vision into a globally recognised platform in his address. He revealed that the 2025 edition attracted over 1,300 film entries from 95 countries, attributing the milestone to the festival’s credibility and international reach. Duker also highlighted the festival’s impact on nurturing emerging filmmakers who have gone on to achieve prominence in the industry.
Among the winners was Soji Oganike, producer and director of Dead Tide, who won the award for Outstanding Music Score. He expressed delight at the recognition, noting the creative effort invested in developing original music for the production.
Multiple award-winning filmmaker Obi Emelonye, who clinched three awards, described his wins as a “grand slam,” encouraging young filmmakers to embrace modern tools such as AI to improve their craft. “The key is to start small, stay consistent, and grow,” he advised.
Merit Awards were also presented to Kano State governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, for his continued support of the Kannywood industry, and to Dr. Olasupo Olusi, Managing Director of the Bank of Industry, for championing access to finance and development support for filmmakers.
As the curtains fell on the 22nd edition, participants called for structured government involvement and private sector partnership to sustain the festival’s legacy and further strengthen Nigeria’s position as Africa’s creative powerhouse.
