THE 23rd Abuja International Film Festival (AIFF) has wrapped up with a commitment to expanding its masterclasses, market access, and international distribution networks ahead of its next edition.

The closing ceremony concluded with a celebration of cinematic excellence, as industry 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).

Also, Dr. Maureen Tamuno, the Group Managing Director of Abuja Investments Company Limited, was honoured with the Industry Merit Award, in recognition of her  visionary leadership and strategic strides in championing the revitalisation of the Abuja Film Village.
Through her aggressive drive for land development, state-of-the-art facilities, and collaborations with Nollywood guilds, she has successfully bridged critical gaps between institutional real estate investment and the fast-growing creative economy, positioning Abuja as a premier hub for cultural and cinematic excellence.

Accepting the recognition on behalf of her team, Tamuno shared her insights on the economic future of Nigerian cinema: “I am deeply humbled by this recognition from the Abuja International Film Festival. At Abuja Investments Company Limited, we view the creative industry not just as entertainment, but as a critical economic driver. Our work with the Abuja Film Village is designed to provide the world-class infrastructure that filmmakers need to produce globally competitive content. This award reinforces our commitment to empowering local talent and repositioning Abuja as the ultimate film capital of Africa.”

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 23 years, AIFF has remained an unwavering bridge connecting African storytellers with the global stage. The ceremony was not 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.”