The Nigerian Film Corporation (NFC), organiser of the Zuma International Film Festival (ZUFF) Nigeria’s premier national film event has invited entries for the 15th edition of the festival.
This was announced in a statement issued on Tuesday in Abuja by the Director of Public Affairs at the NFC, Mr Brian Etuk.
The 2025 edition of the festival is scheduled to take place from 1 to 5 December in Abuja, with the theme: “Storytelling for Global Influence: Film as a Soft Power and Economic Force.” Etuk stated that this year’s event will once again underscore the power of storytelling in shaping global narratives and influence.
“The festival will continue to attract wide participation locally, across Africa, and globally enhancing its impact on the Nigerian film industry,” he said.
He noted that Nigeria, along with the wider African film industry, has made significant contributions to the global creative economy, and that ZUFF will provide a unique platform for dialogue on cinema’s role in soft power diplomacy.
“The focus of ZUFF 2025 is to explore policies, funding, distribution, exhibition, and international collaborations that position film as a key tool in cultural diplomacy and economic development,” Etuk added.
Submissions Now Open
Entries officially opened on Wednesday, 3 June, and will close at midnight (WAT) on Friday, 5 September 2025. Filmmakers are required to submit through the FilmFreeway platform at: https://filmfreeway.com/zumafilmfestival.
Submissions must include details such as genre, producers, directors, country, language, year of production/release, and a 30-second trailer. Eligible films must have been produced between 4 September 2023 and 5 September 2025.
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For further enquiries, participants are encouraged to contact Halima (+234 806 339 0420), Jeremiah (+234 803 504 6119), or Ene (+234 803 781 3376), or send an email to: admin@zumafilmfest.com.
Award Categories
Award categories for ZUFF 2025 include:
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Best Picture
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Best Cinematography
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Best Director
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Best Animation/Cartoon
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Best Actress / Supporting Actress
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Best Actor / Supporting Actor
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Best Documentary
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Best Foreign Film
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Best Student Film
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Best Sound
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Best Costume
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Best Indigenous Film (Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo, and others)
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Best Short Film
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Best Skit
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Best Music Video
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Best Special Effects
The festival promises to celebrate cinematic excellence and reinforce Nigeria’s influence on the global stage through compelling storytelling.
