Nigeria ends Uganda’s reign, sweeps top honors at Kaduna Film Festival 2025

Nigeria disrupted Uganda’s two-year reign by capturing 10 out of 16 awards at the 2025 Kaduna International Film Festival (KADIFF), held from August 26 to 30 in Kaduna, Nigeria. Despite Uganda’s smaller haul, the East African nation excelled in categories focusing on innovation and creativity in filmmaking.

Nigerian filmmakers secured major accolades including Best Actor for Kelechi Udegbe in “Offshoot”, Best Actress for Maryam Booth in “Taqdeer”, Best Director awarded to Steve Ayeny for “Offshoot”, and Best Feature Film for “Taqdeer: Divine Decree” by Reuben Reng and Abdulrasheed Bello. They also dominated the newly introduced KADIFF MTN Viewers Choice awards, sweeping categories from Best Film to Best Short Film.

Uganda, while earning fewer trophies, was recognized for its excellence in artistic and technical innovation. It won awards in critical areas such as Best Animation for Denis Dhikusooka’s “Kintu”, Best Experimental Film (“The Real General”), and Best Documentary (“The Shadow of the Pandemic” by Ssekandi Jimmy), along with Best Short Film and Best Student Film.

Participation from northern Nigerian creatives remained limited, which the festival’s founder, Israel Kashim Audu, attributed to a lack of awareness about the benefits film festivals bring to the industry. Although attendance has been low, the 2025 event marked the highest involvement of northern creatives, including students from Kaduna State University, Kaduna Polytechnic, and Nuhu Bamalli Polytechnic. The festival continues to serve as a catalyst for regional film events, inspiring the creation of other northern film festivals such as the Kano Indigenous Film Festival and the Arewa International Film Festival.

Festival attendees, both novice participants and seasoned professionals, praised the masterclasses and networking opportunities, emphasizing the event’s role in career development and industry growth. Kaduna State’s deputy governor, Dr. Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe, stressed that it is the government’s dedication to nurturing the creative sector as a vehicle for youth empowerment and economic growth.

The 2025 KADIFF theme, “Film for Social Change,” explored cinema’s power to influence society positively, with over 2,000 film submissions from 50 countries.

This year’s edition not only celebrated cinematic excellence but also aimed to deepen engagement with northern Nigerian filmmakers, fostering a stronger creative community for future success.