The Nigeria AI Film Festival (NAIFF) returns this September 2026 at Alliance Française Lagos to continue exploring the growing role of AI in filmmaking across Africa.
Following a strong debut, the festival founded by Obinna Okerekeocha has quickly become a gathering point for filmmakers, technologists, and creatives examining the intersection of AI and storytelling. Last year’s inaugural edition recorded over 400 submissions and featured curated screenings, industry panels, and the AI Academy—an initiative providing creatives with practical tools for AI-driven production.
Chidera “Odera Collins” Okonji, the festival’s Director of Communications, described the experience as “a necessary disruption,” noting how it challenges traditional narratives and opens new creative possibilities. For many attendees, the festival provided a firsthand look at how AI is already shaping filmmaking within Nollywood and across the continent.
Building on that momentum, the 2026 edition will emphasize experimentation, collaboration, and grounded conversations regarding the ethical use of AI in film. The festival will feature:
– Screenings of selected AI-driven films
– Industry panels and conversations
– Hands-on workshops and training sessions
– Networking opportunities across the creative and tech communities
Submissions for the 2026 edition opened on May 1 and will close on July 31. Filmmakers, artists, and digital creators are invited to submit works that explore new ways of telling stories with AI.
Director of Programs Chisom Ifeakandu noted that African storytellers deserve to be at the center of global conversations around AI and creativity. “We want to see films that use AI not as a gimmick, but as a real tool in service of stories that matter,” she said. “Show us something we’ve never seen before, make it feel true, and make it unmistakably yours.”
NAIFF remains dedicated to building a space where innovation in African cinema can grow in a meaningful and sustainable way, ensuring technology supports rather than replaces human creativity.
For submissions, please visit: https://filmfreeway.com/NaijaAIFilmFestival
For more information about the festival, visit: https://www.naijaaifilmfest.com/
