Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF)

Overview

The Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF) is Nigeria's premier international film festival and one of Africa's most significant film industry events. The 14th edition ran November 2 to 8, 2025, in Lagos. The 15th edition is scheduled for November 1 to 7, 2026, at the Landmark Centre in Lekki, Lagos. AFRIFF programs African and diaspora cinema alongside international films, and starting with the 2025 edition, includes a dedicated Film and Content Market (AFCM) - Nigeria's first - designed to facilitate buying, selling, co-productions, and distribution of content.

AFRIFF occupies a unique position at the intersection of Nollywood's commercial film industry and the art cinema tradition. Nollywood is the world's second-largest film industry by volume, producing thousands of films per year and generating an estimated $6.4 billion in annual revenue. AFRIFF programs both independently produced art films and commercially oriented Nollywood productions, creating a bridge between these two sectors that few other African festivals attempt.

For filmmakers, AFRIFF provides the most important domestic international platform in Nigeria. For African filmmakers, its Lagos location provides access to the continent's largest film market. For international filmmakers, AFRIFF offers entry into one of the world's most dynamic and rapidly growing film industries. The 2026 theme is "Frames of the Future: Africa's Creative Intelligence." AFRIFF also partners with the Marche du Film's "Goes to Cannes" program, showcasing five selected African films at Cannes in May 2026.

Submissions are accepted via FilmFreeway. Entry fees are $20 (regular) / $25 (late) for features and documentaries, with lower rates for shorts, animation, and student films. Discounts are available for students and FilmFreeway Gold members. The festival does not pay rental or screening fees for submitted works in competition.

Key Sections

• Feature Film Competition - African and international feature films competing for jury prizes
• Documentary Competition - nonfiction features in competition
• Short Film Competition - African and international short films
• Animation Competition - animated films
• Student Short Competition - short films by students
• AFRIFF Film and Content Market (AFCM) - Nigeria's first dedicated film and content market, running November 3 to 6 during the 2025 edition. Facilitates buying, selling, co-productions, and distribution deals between creators, distributors, studios, and financiers.
• Industry Sessions - 60- to 90-minute panels and fireside chats (4 to 6 speakers plus moderator) covering financing, co-production, distribution, animation/gaming, television, and continental collaboration. Conducted over multiple days with 3 to 5 sessions per day.
• Masterclasses and Workshops - training programs for filmmakers
• Special Screenings - gala premieres and curated programs
• AFRIFF Globe Awards - the festival's award ceremony, typically closing the festival week

What Filmmakers Should Know

Submission Process and Fees

AFRIFF accepts submissions exclusively via FilmFreeway. The 2026 submission timeline is:

• Submissions open: May 6, 2026
• Regular deadline: August 6, 2026
• Late deadline: August 26, 2026
• Notifications: by October 3, 2026
• Festival dates: November 1 to 7, 2026

Entry Fees (2026):

• Feature/Documentary: $20 (regular) / $25 (late)
• Shorts/Animation/Student: lower fees (exact amounts on FilmFreeway)
• Discounts available for students and FilmFreeway Gold members

Eligibility Requirements

• Only films produced within the previous calendar year are eligible
• Open to filmmakers globally, with a focus on African cinema and diaspora voices
• Non-English or foreign-language films must be subtitled in English
• A concise and complete press kit is required with each submission
• All entries are reviewed by the AFRIFF selection committee and programming team
• The festival will not make cuts or changes to submitted works
• The festival does not pay rental or screening fees for submitted works in competition
• Selections are announced in October annually, with all entrants notified by email
• Selected films are also posted on the AFRIFF website
• Enquiries: programmes@afriff.com

Market and Industry Presence

The AFRIFF Film and Content Market (AFCM), introduced in 2025, is Nigeria's first dedicated film and content market. It runs November 3 to 6 alongside the festival at the Landmark Centre in Lekki, Lagos. The market is designed to facilitate:

• Buying and selling of films and content
• Co-production deals between African and international producers
• Distribution partnerships
• Financing connections between creators and financiers

The market transforms AFRIFF from a purely screening event into a commercial hub for African cinema. Combined with the Durban FilmMart (Southern Africa) and FESPACO (Francophone Africa), AFRIFF completes the trio of continent-defining African film industry events.

AFRIFF's Industry Sessions run as 60- to 90-minute panels or fireside chats, each with 4 to 6 speakers plus a moderator. They cover business and professional issues relevant to African cinema: financing, co-production, distribution, animation/gaming, television, and continental collaboration.

AFRIFF also participates in the Marche du Film's "Goes to Cannes" program, showcasing five selected African films at Cannes in May 2026, providing international market exposure for African filmmakers before the festival itself.

Festival Context

Lagos is Africa's largest city, with a population of approximately 21 million. It is Nigeria's commercial capital and the center of the Nollywood film industry. The city's entrepreneurial culture and energy directly influence AFRIFF's character. The festival is held at the Landmark Centre in Lekki, a major event venue in Lagos's business district.

AFRIFF is partnered with the Nigerian Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, reinforcing its position within Nigeria's official cultural infrastructure. The festival's transformation from a screening event to a marketplace reflects the broader growth of Nigeria's creative economy, which is the largest in Africa by GDP contribution.

Major Awards

The AFRIFF Globe Awards are presented at the festival's closing ceremony. Categories include:

• Best Feature Film
• Best Documentary
• Best Short Film
• Best Animation
• Best Student Short
• Best Director
• Best Actor
• Best Actress
• Best Screenplay
• Audience Choice Award
• Jury Prize for Outstanding Film

Awards are presented by the festival jury and special guests.

Festival History

AFRIFF was founded in 2010 and held its first edition in Lagos. The festival was created to provide Nigeria with an international film festival that could serve as a bridge between Nollywood's commercial output and the global art cinema circuit. Over 14 editions, AFRIFF has grown from a screening event into a full industry platform with a dedicated film market, industry sessions, masterclasses, and international partnerships.

The 2025 edition (AFRIFF 14, November 2 to 8) marked a significant development with the introduction of the AFRIFF Film and Content Market (AFCM), Nigeria's first dedicated film and content marketplace. The 2026 edition (AFRIFF 15, November 1 to 7) builds on this with the theme "Frames of the Future: Africa's Creative Intelligence," focusing on the intersection of African storytelling and emerging creative technologies.

AFRIFF has operated alongside the Abuja International Film Festival (AIFF), which was founded in 2004 and focuses on cultural policy and national identity in Nigeria's capital. Where AIFF positions itself around government engagement, AFRIFF operates in Lagos's commercial heart, focusing on industry networking, market deals, and the Nollywood ecosystem.

See Also

For Nollywood and African cinema markets, see International Film Markets. For the Abuja International Film Festival, see Abuja International Film Festival. For festival submission strategy, see Film Festival Strategy. To calculate the return on festival submission spending, use the Festival Entry Fee ROI Calculator. For submissions, visit the AFRIFF FilmFreeway page.