Nigeria AI Film Festival Returns in September With Focus on Creative Tools
The Nigeria AI Film Festival (NAIFF) will run this September at Alliance Française Lagos, continuing its exploration of how AI is changing filmmaking across Africa. The festival, founded by Obinna Okerekeocha, brings together filmmakers, technologists, and creatives to examine AI's role in storytelling.
The inaugural edition last year drew over 400 submissions and included curated screenings, panel discussions, and the AI Academy-a training program designed to give creatives hands-on experience with AI-driven production. Attendees described the event as educational and eye-opening, with many experiencing AI filmmaking tools for the first time.
This year's edition will expand that focus. The 2026 festival emphasizes experimentation, collaboration, and ethical considerations around AI in film. Organizers want to show how technology can support human creativity rather than replace it.
What's on the program
- Screenings of AI-driven films
- Industry panels and conversations
- Hands-on workshops and training sessions
- Networking for creatives and technologists
Submissions opened May 1 and close July 31. Filmmakers and digital creators can submit work that explores new storytelling approaches using AI.
Chisom Ifeakandu, director of programs, said the festival wants films that use AI as a tool for meaningful stories, not as a novelty. "Show us something we've never seen before, make it feel true, and make it unmistakably yours," she said.
The festival positions African filmmakers in global conversations about the future of cinema. For creatives looking to build skills in this space, generative video courses and AI for creatives programs offer structured training in these tools.
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