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

Awards & Prizes

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

Rules & Terms


23rd Abuja International Film Festival – Rules & Terms
1. General Eligibility
1.1. The 23rd Abuja International Film Festival (AIFF) is open to filmmakers from all countries.
1.2. Films submitted must have been completed between January 1, 2023 and September 2025.
1.3. All genres are accepted: Feature, Short, Documentary, Animation, Experimental, Student Films, TV/Online Content, and Music Videos.
1.4. Films previously submitted to earlier editions of AIFF are not eligible unless significantly re-edited.

2. Submission Guidelines
2.1. All submissions must be made online via the official entry portal (link to be provided).
2.2. Only secure online screeners (Vimeo/YouTube links or uploaded files) are accepted.
2.3. Filmmakers may submit multiple works; however, each entry must be submitted separately.
2.4. Submissions must include:
Film title, runtime, country of production

Synopsis (max 250 words)

Director’s biography and photo

2–5 high-resolution stills

Poster

3. Film Categories
AIFF awards and screens films in the following categories:
Feature Film (International)
Feature Film (Nigerian)
Short Film (International
Short Film (Nigerian)
Documentary Film
Animation Film
Student Film
Experimental Film
Music Score
Cinematography
Audience Choice
Golden Jury
Special Mention
Outstanding Actor
Outstanding Actress

4. Technical Requirements
4.1. Final exhibition copies must be in HD 1080p or higher, preferably 4K.
4.2. Accepted formats: .mp4, .mov, .mkv.
4.3. Films in languages other than English must have English subtitles.
4.4. Poor audio or video quality may result in disqualification.

5. Deadlines & Fees
5.1. Early Deadline: July 3rd, 2026
5.2. Regular Deadline: August 15, 2026
5.3. Late Deadline: September 18, 2026
5.4. Submission fees are non-refundable.

6. Selection & Notification
6.1. Selected films will be notified via email by September 20th 2025.
6.2. Final selection is at the sole discretion of the AIFF Programming Committee.
6.3. AIFF is not obligated to provide individual feedback on films not selected.

7. Screening Rights & Permissions
7.1. By submitting, the filmmaker grants AIFF the non-exclusive rights to screen the film at the festival and related events.
7.2. AIFF may use excerpts, trailers, stills, and posters for promotional purposes.
7.3. The entrant must own all rights to music, footage, images, and content used. Any copyright dispute is the responsibility of the filmmaker.

8. Awards & Jury
8.1. Awards are determined by an independent jury appointed by AIFF.
8.2. Jury decisions are final.
8.3. AIFF reserves the right not to award a category if insufficient quality entries are received.
8.4. Awards include trophies, certificates, and partner-sponsored prizes (where applicable).

9. Festival Attendance
9.1. Attendance is encouraged but not mandatory.
9.2. Selected filmmakers attending the festival must confirm their presence ahead of time.
9.3. Travel, accommodation, and visa arrangements are the responsibility of attendees unless otherwise stated.

10. Code of Conduct
10.1. AIFF promotes a safe, inclusive, and creative environment.
10.2. Harassment, discrimination, or disruptive behavior will result in removal from the festival. 10.3. Filmmakers must comply with venue rules, security requirements, and festival protocols.

11. Liability
11.1. AIFF is not responsible for:
Damaged or corrupted files submitted

Loss of materials during transfer

Copyright claims on submitted works
11.2. By submitting, filmmakers agree to indemnify AIFF from any legal claims related to their film.

12. Acceptance of Terms
12.1. Submission to the Abuja International Film Festival constitutes full acceptance of these rules and terms.
12.2. The festival reserves the right to update its rules without prior notice.

56 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • stanley ohikhuare

    A consistent festival!  The 2025 edition was well-organized and managed by filmmakers who truly grasp the aspirations of those in the film industry. AIFF stands as one of Nigeria's oldest film festivals! The communication was appropriate and clear. Our film, "MONOLOGUE," won the Best Experimental Film Award and was also nominated for Best Short Film. I will be back in 2026!

    November 2025
    Helpful
  • Soji Ogunnaike

    This was my first official selection and nomination in a prestigious film festival and it was a surreal experience. My film Dead Tide was nominated in 4 categories and won 2 of them:
    - Outstanding Music score
    - Outstanding Actor (Ikechukwu).
    The entire committee was very hospitable and ensured I had a pleasant stay in Abuja.

    November 2025
    Helpful
  • Erik Jasaň

    Thank you for the official selection of our film THE PROFESSIONAL PARENT. The atmosphere at the festival was wonderful and offered many great networking opportunities. The film is currently For Your Consideration in category Best Live Action Short Film, and I believe that participating in this festival has also helped increase its visibility. I’m grateful that my film could be part of your festival. Wishing you all the best!

    November 2025
    Helpful
  • NSOH PIEPANSE NIBA

    AIFF the hope of African cinema , interactive and has a high value for quality appreciates hard work and talent with honesty. Meeting up new people and treat strangers like their own.

    December 2024
    Helpful
  • Comfort Booth

    Thank you to the platform for giving the short film a voice

    November 2024
    Helpful