Zuma International Film Festival (ZIFF) 2025 will hold from December 1 to 5 in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital and official host city. The festival will sustain the massive domestic, continental and global participation, including attendance, as well as surpass its offerings and impact on the Nigerian film industry.
Themed, Storytelling for Global Influence: Film as a Soft Power and Economic Force, ZIFF 2025, the 15th in the series, will once more project the imperativeness of storytelling as a soft power in driving global influence. Nigeria and indeed Africa’s cinematic excellence have continued to exert positive impact globally, supporting the growth of creative economies. Furthermore, ZIFF 2025 will offer incredible opportunities to further conversations on the strategic role of cinema in soft power diplomacy, as well as in the shaping of global perceptions, fostering of cultural exchange; given its limitless cross border, people-to-people capabilities.
According to a statement issued by the Director, Public Affairs Nigerian Film Corporation, Brian Etuk, “The thrust of ZIFF 2025 is to harness strategic policies, distribution, exhibition, funding mechanisms and global partnerships that will ensure that film remains a key asset in the interplay of cultural diplomacy and creative economic development,” the statement said.
“Consequently, under applicable terms and conditions, submission of entries, for ZUMA International Film Festival 2025 opens on Wednesday, June 4, and closes at midnight (WAT) of Friday, September 5, 2025.
“All entries, addressed to The Festival Director, Zuma International Film Festival should be submitted through the film freeway platform https://filmfreeway.com/zumafilmfestival; with information on Genre, Producer(s), Director(s), Country, Language, Year of Production/Release and a 30 seconds trailer. All films must have been produced between September 4, 2023 and September 5, 2025.”
Award categories of Zuma international film festival 2025 includes Best Picture Best Cinematography, Best Director, Best Animation/Cartoon, Best Actress/Supporting Actress, Best Actor/Supporting Actor, Best Documentary, Best Foreign Film, Best Student Film, Best Sound, Best Costume, Best Indigenous Films (Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo & any other indigenous film), Best Short Film, Best Skit, Best Music Video and Best Special Effects.
