How AI debates, film awards shaped 23rd Abuja Int’l Film Festival 2026
By Editor
THE Chinese action thriller The Shadow’s Edge emerged as the biggest winner at the 23rd Abuja International Film Festival (AIFF), taking the Golden Jury Award for Overall Best Film as the six-day event brought questions about artificial intelligence, creative ownership and international film collaboration to the forefront of industry discussions. The Shadow’s Edge takes three awards at AIFF 2026, where questions of technology, international collaboration and the future of Nigerian cinema shared the spotlight with tributes to veteran filmmakers.
The festival, which ran from October 20 to 25, 2026 in Abuja, adopted the theme ‘Frames Without Borders: AI, Ethics, and the Future of Filmmaking.’ Its programme combined film screenings, masterclasses, industry discussions and networking opportunities, culminating in an awards ceremony on Sunday, October 25. Beyond the awards, the edition addressed a question increasingly confronting filmmakers: how can the industry embrace new technology while protecting the creativity, cultural identity and professional contributions that sustain filmmaking? Discussions about Artificial intelligence was central to this year’s edition, with filmmakers and industry stakeholders examining its potential to change how films are developed, produced and marketed.
Festival director Temitope Duker urged practitioners to engage with the technology, highlighting its potential to reduce certain production costs and expand creative possibilities. Founder Fidelis Duker, meanwhile, stressed that AI should support filmmakers rather than compromise the originality and cultural authenticity of their work.
The debate extends beyond production efficiency. AI-generated images, voices and performances raise questions about consent, intellectual property, authorship and the protection of creative workers. For Nigerian cinema, there is also the challenge of ensuring that new tools strengthen rather than dilute the languages, histories and cultural experiences that distinguish its stories.
The discussions reflected a wider industry reality: technological adoption alone does not guarantee better films or stronger businesses. Screenwriting, performance, directing, production management and distribution remain essential to transforming an idea into a film that can connect with audiences. For Nollywood, the opportunity lies in using AI where it adds value while investing in the skills, infrastructure and commercial structures needed to sustain quality production.
Directed by Larry Yang, The Shadow’s Edge won three awards from four nominations: Overall Best Film, Outstanding Feature Film (Foreign) and Outstanding Director. The action-crime thriller stars Jackie Chan and Tony Leung Ka-fai and is loosely adapted from the 2007 Hong Kong film Eye in the Sky. The film’s success reflected the festival’s international reach, with submissions and screenings representing countries including Nigeria, China, South Africa, the United Kingdom, Germany, Cameroon and Russia.
The Chinese presence extended beyond the screen. A 10-member diplomatic and industry delegation from the China Film Administration was among the festival’s participants, highlighting opportunities for closer engagement between Nigerian and Chinese film practitioners. The National Film and Video Censors Board also announced plans to pursue cooperation with Chinese filmmakers. Potential areas of collaboration include co-production, distribution and professional exchange, although the long-term impact will depend on whether discussions develop into concrete projects and agreements.
For Nigerian filmmakers seeking wider markets, such relationships could create opportunities to reach new audiences and exchange technical expertise. Turning those possibilities into lasting benefits, however, requires clear arrangements on financing, creative control, distribution and revenue sharing.
Nigerian films featured prominently in the award categories. Evi won Outstanding Feature Film (Nigeria), while Uzor Arukwe received Outstanding Actor for his performance in the film. Other Nigerian winners included Yellow Slipper, which received Outstanding Music Score, Siri and the Whispering Woods, recognised for Outstanding Animation and A Night of Gold, which won Outstanding Experimental Film. The Witnesses: Boys Who Lived with Violence won Documentary (Short), while With Immediate Effect received the award for Documentary (full length). Rotimi Salami was recognised for his performance in The Invincible Child (Kilanko).
Director, Legal Service, Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC), Mrs. Oyebola Oyewo (left); Festival Founder, Fidelis Duker; Director, Public Affairs (NCC), Mrs. Ijeoma Egbunike and another festival attendee
International productions also received awards. The South African-British film Dread won Outstanding Narrative Concept, Cameroonian film Enjema received Outstanding Short Film (Foreign), and Russia’s Another World won Outstanding Cinematography. In the student category, the Germany-Nigeria production Wake the Flies and the United Kingdom’s Kilter were recognised. The Audience Choice Award went to Voice of Motherland and Depth of Death.
The awards spanned feature films, documentaries, animation, experimental cinema and student productions, reflecting the range of work represented at the festival.
The festival also recognised established figures in Nigerian cinema. Dame Taiwo Ajayi-Lycett and Grace Oyin-Adejobi received Lifetime Achievement Awards, while Pete Edochie and Adebayo Salami, popularly known as Oga Bello, were honoured with Industry Merit Awards. Their recognition highlighted the contribution of generations of performers to Nigerian screen culture at a time when the industry is considering how emerging technologies may change creative work.
The festival’s founder, Duker, who is also in the race for a House of Representatives seat in the 2027 election, also emphasised the importance of competition and collaboration in improving filmmaking. He said his vision was to build an institution that would continue to grow beyond its founders, underscoring the need for continuity in an industry where festivals can provide platforms for emerging talent and established practitioners alike.
Cinecouture Abuja added a fashion dimension to the festival, bringing costume and visual design into focus alongside film screenings and industry sessions. Costume design helps establish a film’s setting, communicate character and convey cultural identity. Its inclusion highlighted the relationship between cinema and other creative industries, as well as the contributions of professionals whose work shapes the visual language of film.
The runway showcase complemented the festival’s wider programme, which sought to connect filmmakers with practitioners across different creative disciplines.
Also, the festival’s closing days were overshadowed by the death of veteran actor Francis Duru, whose passing was reported on October 22, 2026. He was aged 57. Duru was widely remembered for playing Ahanna in Amaka Igwe’s 1995 film Rattlesnake. His career spanned several decades of Nigerian screen acting. According to accounts, Duru had attended AIFF for 18 consecutive years. Organisers and attendees observed a minute of silence in his honour before the final awards presentation.
His death brought a sombre note to an edition focused on the future of filmmaking, reminding the industry of the people whose performances and professional commitment have helped shape Nigerian cinema.
The 23rd Abuja International Film Festival brought together international competition, discussions about AI and recognition of Nigerian filmmaking talent. Its longer-term significance will depend on how effectively the conversations translate into professional development, industry partnerships and opportunities for filmmakers.
AI can offer new production possibilities, but its value depends on responsible use, appropriate skills and protections for creative work. International partnerships can expand access to markets, but they require practical agreements and sustained cooperation. Awards can raise a film’s profile, but long-term industry growth also depends on financing, distribution and the ability to reach audiences.
These are the challenges facing Nollywood as it navigates technological change and seeks a stronger international presence. AIFF placed them firmly on the agenda, leaving filmmakers with a task that extends beyond the festival: to embrace useful innovation while protecting the originality and human experience at the heart of their stories.
