The capital city came alive last night as the highly anticipated closing ceremony of the 23rd Abuja International Film Festival,AIFF, concluded with a celebration of cinematic excellence. Filming stakeholders, international delegates, and Nollywood icons gathered to witness the unveiling of winners across 18 prestigious award categories, reinforcing AIFF’s position as a premier pillar of film, culture, and impact.
The night’s biggest winner was the Chinese feature The Shadow’s Edge, which walked away with three major plaques, including the coveted Golden Jury Award, Outstanding Director (won by Larry Yang), and Outstanding Feature Film (Foreign). On the domestic front, the highly acclaimed film Evi, directed by Uvoyou Adia, secured the top spot as the Outstanding Feature Film (Nigeria), while Black Koro by Chidera Sarah Onyejelam won Outstanding Short Film (Nigeria).
Speaking at the closing ceremony, the Founder of the Abuja International Film Festival, Fidelis Duker, expressed his immense pride in the longevity and growth of the platform:
“For twenty-three years, AIFF has remained an unwavering bridge connecting African storytellers with the global stage. Last night was not just about handing out trophies; it was a testament to the resilience, creativity, and evolving brilliance of contemporary filmmaking. Seeing a beautiful intersection of Nigerian and international cinema sweep these categories shows that our narratives are truly global.”
Adding to the sentiment, the Festival Director, Temitope Duker, highlighted the competitive nature of this year’s entries:
“The jury had an incredibly tough job this year. With exceptional entries from Russia, China, Cameroon, South Africa, and Ireland, the standard has been raised significantly. We congratulate all our winners who continue to push boundaries and inspire the next generation of visual storytellers.”
The 23rd AIFF wrapped up with a commitment to expanding its masterclasses, market access, and international distribution networks ahead of its next edition.
