Abuja International Film Festival (18)

Festival start: 01 November 2021      Festival end: 05 November 2021

The festival offers a contemporary and liberal platform for the filmmakers of the World to exhibit the excellence of the film art form. The aim is mainly to contribute to the understanding and appreciation of cultures of different nations. We hope to present complex human situations of this rapidly changing world in the globalized era. The Festival Committee reserves the right to exclude films which are not in conformity with aims of the Festival, or which could offend the national feelings and susceptibilities of any participating country, or are likely to promote racial discrimination. Films not presenting sufficient technical qualities for good public screening can be refused after checking of the prints by the Print Checking Unit of the Film Festival Office. Date and Place: OCTOBER/NOVEMBER ANNUALLY IN ABUJA

The ABUJA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL offers Awards in 16 under-listed categories

1. OUTSTANDING FEATURE FILM (NIGERIA)
2. OUTSTANDING FEATURE FILM (FOREIGN)
3. OUTSTANDING MUSIC SCORE
4. OUTSTANDING DOCUMENTARY FILM
5. OUTSTANDING ANIMATION FILM
6. OUTSTANDING STUDENT FILM
7. FIRST TIME DIRECTOR
8. OUTSTANDING SHORT FILM (NIGERIA)
9. OUTSTANDING FILM IN DIRECTING
10. OUTSTANDING EXPERIMENTAL FILM
11. OUTSTANDING ACTOR
12. OUTSTANDING ACTRESS
13. OUTSTANDING FIRST TIME DIRECTOR
14. OUTSTANDING SHORT FILM FOREIGN
15. GOLDEN JURY AWARD
16. AUDIENCE RATING AWARD

- Films must have been produced in the last 18 months.


- International Features & Documentaries should be 50 minute or longer in length.


– Short Films must be 49 minutes or less in length.


– Short Films must be submitted online. Online screeners or downloadable files received via email will NOT be accepted.


– The festival prefers that all films (shorts, feature or docs within the submission period)


– Films that had theatrical releases, been for sale on DVD/VOD, aired on television or been publicly posted online are eligible for the Festival.


– All selected films must be available to screen during the Festival.


– The festival DOESN’T accept re-submissions.


1. Entries will be subject to preview by a selection committee constituted by the Organising Committee of AIFF. A film which is not accepted for the Competition section may be shown in the Global Cinema section with the consent of the entrant.

2. The Jury for the World Cinema Competition will be composed of minimum five members [including the chairman] of which a majority will be from outside NIGERIA.

3. The Jury for the AIFF Competition will be composed of minimum three members [including the chairman] of which at least one member will be non Nigerian..

4. The decisions of the jury will be taken by a simple majority of the members present and voting. The jury can evolve its own rules for assessment of the entries. The Director of the Festival and the Secretary of the Jury can attend the deliberations of the jury but shall neither participate nor vote.

5. No person in any way connected with the production or commercial exploitation of a competitive entry will be a member of the jury. All Members of the jury will refrain from releasing any articles or reviews to the press concerning the films submitted for their judgment until after the jury’s decisions have been formally published. The following prizes will be given away:

6. The AWARDS shall be in form of PLAQUES, CERTIFICATES OR Trophies
Audience Special Jury Award [non cash] : The audience will decide the winner in this category