Eastern Nigeria International Film Festival
| Location | Enugu, Nigeria |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2020 |
| Founded by | Ujuaku Akukwe,Chris Odili |
| Website | http://eniff.org/ |
The Eastern Nigeria International Film Festival (ENIFF) is an annual international film festival that was launched in Enugu State, Nigeria in 2020.[1] The film festival was founded by Ujuaku Akukwe and Chris Odili.[2]
The film festival has attracted over 4000 submissions from filmmakers from all over the globe.[1] The Eastern Nigeria International Film Festival since inception, has collaborated with The Film Lab Africa, European Union, United States Mission, Afia TV and Viva Cinema.[3][1]
History and founding
In 2020, a filmmaker, Ujuaku Akukwe and Chris Odili founded the Eastern Nigeria International Film Festival in Enugu, Enugu State, Nigeria.[1] As of 2025, the festival has been held for five consecutive years since its maiden edition.[4]
The festival premiered with award categories for Best Animation, Best Documentary Feature, Best Narrative Short, Best Nigerian Film, Best Narrative Feature, Best Female Performance, Best Male Performance, Best Director, Best Film and Special Jury Prize.[5]
Despite being planned as an in-person event, the maiden edition of the festival resorted to a virtual event due to the COVID-19 restrictions on public gathering.[6] Forty films were screened at the maiden edition, including the 91st Academy Awards Best Live Action Short Film winner, Skin.[7]
The second edition of the of the festival held in 2021, showcasing 50 films from 15 countries from across the world.[8] The 2022 edition of ENIFF opened with Black Mail, a film by the Nollywood filmmaker, Obi Emelonye.[1]
In 2023, the Eastern Nigeria International Film Festival marked its fourth edition, opening with the Oscar-nominated Mami Wata by Nigerian filmmaker C.J Obasi, and showcasing 35 other films from 20 countries across the globe.[9] The edition, themed "Reshaping the South East Creative Economy" was attended by the Consulate General of the United States in Nigeria.[10] The sessions at the 2023 festival were facilitated by some industry executives like Femi Odugbemi, Ego Boyo, Emeka Mba, Jahman Anikulapo, Frank Nweke Jnr, Chiege Alisigwe, and Ujuaku Akukwe.[11]
The 2024 edition of the festival was the fifth iteration of it, which screened The Man Died, a film inspired by Wole Soyinka's memoir, The Man Died.[12] The 2024 festival featured a new category, the Best Film Shot in the Southeast award, as well as a special partnership with the European Union to promote short films and documentaries.[13]
To build on the success of the Storytelling With AI workshop at the 2024 festival, the 2025 ENIFF promises a new award category dedicated to AI-generated films.[14]
Events
2020 Eastern Nigeria International Film Festival
The maiden edition of the Eastern Nigeria International Film Festival was held online, from Wednesday, 4 November to Saturday, 7 November 2020, in Enugu State, Nigeria.[15]
Award winners
| Award | Winner | Country |
|---|---|---|
| Best Animation | Gon, the Little Fox | Japan |
| Best Documentary Short | Sunset in Makoko | Nigeria |
| Best Documentary Feature | Basill'ora | Italy |
| Best Narrative Short | Skin | United States |
| Best Nigerian FIlm | Blue | Nigeria |
| Best Narrative Feature | Anya | Mexico |
| Best Female Performance | María Fernanda Tovar (Anya) | Mexico |
| Best Male Performance | Anish Gosavi (Tak-Tak) | India |
| Best Director | Mika Johnson (Confessions of a Box Man) | Czech Republic |
| Best Film | Skin | United States |
| Special Jury Prize | Two Autumns in Paris | Venezuela |
| Audience Choice Award | Journey to Kenya | Sudan |
2021 Eastern Nigeria International Film Festival
The second edition of the Eastern Nigeria International Film Festival was held in-person, from Wednesday, 3 November to Saturday, 6 November 2021, in Enugu State, Nigeria, featuring winners like Ultimate Ink, a Moroccan movie and Yahoo+, a Nigerian movie.[8]
Award winners
| Award | Winner | Country |
|---|---|---|
| Best Female Performance | Echelon Mbadiwe for Yahoo+ | Nigeria |
| Best Male Performance | Jerry Williams for Katakata (Chaos) | Nigeria |
| Best Documentary Feature | A Portrait On The Search For Happiness by Benny Rost | Germany |
| Best Director | Ram Ally Kasongo for Nyara | Tanzania |
| Special Mention | Verona by Ane Sidarman | Brazil |
| Special Jury Prize | Listen by Udoka Oyake | Nigeria |
| Best Narrative Feature | Yahoo+ by Ebuka Njoku and Lorenzo Menakaya | Nigeria |
| Best Narrator Short | Ultimate Ink by Yazid Elkadiri | Morocco |
| Best Documentary Short | I Won't Kneel by Hilda Awori | Uganda |
| Best Animation | Artifact by Durotimi Akinkugbe | Nigeria |
| Best Experimental FIlm | The First Call by Angela Onuora | Canada |
2022 Eastern Nigeria International Film Festival
The 2024 edition of the Easter Nigeria International Film Festival was held in-person, from Tuesday, 29 November to Friday, 2 December 2022, in Enugu State, Nigeria.[16]
Award winners
| Award | Winner | Country |
|---|---|---|
| Best Film | Black Mail by Obi Emelonye | Nigeria |
| Best Director | Obi Emelonye for Black Mail | Nigeria |
| Audience Choice Award | Away by Victor Okechukwu Onwudiwe and Goodnews Erico Isika | Nigeria |
| Best Narrative Short | Tales Of The Browbeaten by Sebastien Ukwa | Nigeria |
| Lifetime Achievement Award | Pete Edochie | Nigeria |
| Best International Short | In The Stillness by Naira Adedeji | United States |
| Best Documentary Feature | The Africologist:Chronicles Of Africa by Valerio Lopes | Cape Verde |
| Best Documentary Short | Barry The Beekeeper by Ikram Ahmed | United Kingdom |
| Best Animation | Scale by Joseph Pierce | France |
| Special Jury Prize | Operation Lights Out by Angela Onuora | Canada |
2023 Eastern Nigeria International Film Festival
The fourth iteration of the Eastern Nigeria International Film Festival was held in Enugu State, Nigeria, from Tuesday, 21 November to Saturday, 25 November 2023.[17]
Award winners
| Award | Winner | Country | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best Film | Mami Wata | Nigeria | [18] |
| Best Animation | Hekima Ya Usawa by Telly Gary Jeannot | Cameroon | |
| Best Director | C.J Obasi for Mami Wata | Nigeria | |
| Best International Documentary Feature | The Journey | Morocco | |
| Best Cinematography | Lilis Soares for Mami Wata | Nigeria | |
| Grand Jury Award | Jigeen Ni - The Way Of The Women by Zribiaa Said | France | |
| Best Diaspora Narrative Short | Ada Ani (The Awakening) by Andrea R. Ciobanu | United Kingdom | |
| Audience Choice Award | Ifediche by Brown Ene | Nigeria | |
| Best Documentary Short | On Your Own by Daniel Omokhagbo Itegboje | Nigeria | |
| Special Jury Award | Oso Afia | Nigeria | |
| Best Documentary Feature | The Soul Of Oja by Chiamaka Keren-happuch Odinenu | Nigeria | |
| Best Narrative Short | Man And Masquerades by Adekunle Blue | Nigeria | |
| ENIFF Honorary Award | The Delectable Azeezah Sama | Nigeria | |
| Legend Award (Posthumous) | Amaka Igwe | Nigeria |
2024 Eastern Nigeria International Film Festival
The 2024 edition and the 5th iteration of the Eastern Nigeria International Film Festival was held in Enugu State, Nigeria, from Wednesday, 27 November to Saturday, 30 November 2024.[13]
Award winners
| Award | Winner | Country | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|
| Audience Choice Award | The Man Died | Nigeria | [13] |
| Best Short Film | I Too, Crave Death by Uchenna Ugwu | Nigeria | |
| Best Film Shot in the Southeast | Women of Salt by Chinyere Eneh | Nigeria | |
| Best Screenplay award | The Man Died | Nigeria | |
| Best Feature Film | Makula by Nisha Kalema | Uganda |
References
- ^ a b c d e Acho, Affa (2022-11-25). "Eastern Nigeria International Film Festival Holds In Enugu Nov 29". Retrieved 2025-07-26.
- ^ Amos (2024-12-21). "Lorenzo Menakaya shines at Eastern Nigeria International Film Festival 2024". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. Retrieved 2025-07-26.
- ^ Amos (2024-11-25). "Film Lab Africa takes center stage at ENIFF 2024". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. Retrieved 2025-07-26.
- ^ Nwafor (2024-09-21). "ENIFF 2024: Nnaebue promises juicy rewards for filmmakers". Vanguard News. Retrieved 2025-07-26.
- ^ Nation, The (2020-12-06). "Eastern Nigerian International Film Festival holds maiden edition". The Nation Newspaper. Retrieved 2025-07-26.
- ^ "Eastern Nigeria International Film Festival maiden edtion held virtually | FRONTLINE NEWS". 2020-11-30. Retrieved 2025-08-04.
- ^ Kan, Toni (2020-11-05). "You can register to attend the First Eastern Nigeria International Film Festival (ENIFF)". The Lagos Review. Retrieved 2025-08-04.
- ^ a b Bankole, Idowu (2021-11-19). "ENIFF showcases 50 films from 15 countries from Enugu". Vanguard News. Retrieved 2025-08-04.
- ^ "Oscar-nominated ‘Mami Wata’, 35 other films from 20 countries to screen at 2023 ENIFF in Enugu". News Express Nigeria. Retrieved 2025-08-04.
- ^ Nwafor (2023-12-02). "ENIFF ends in grand style". Vanguard News. Retrieved 2025-08-04.
- ^ Rapheal (2023-11-16). "Frank Nweke, Emeka Mba, others endorse ENIFF 2023". The Sun Nigeria. Retrieved 2025-08-04.
- ^ Eze, Chinalurumogu (2024-11-28). "Eastern Nigeria International Film Festival Opens With Vibrant Cultural Displays And Screening of Wole Soyinka's The Man Died". West Africa Weekly. Retrieved 2025-08-04.
- ^ a b c Eze, Chinalurumogu (2024-12-02). ""The Man Died" Wins Big At Eastern Nigeria International Film Festival 2024". West Africa Weekly. Retrieved 2025-08-04.
- ^ Chikelu, Chinelo (2025-05-17). "ENIFF Introduces New Category For AI-Generated Films". Retrieved 2025-08-04.
- ^ "Winners emerge at maiden ENIFF show". The Nigerian Xpress. 2020-12-01. Retrieved 2025-08-05.
- ^ Acho, Affa (2022-11-25). "Eastern Nigeria International Film Festival Holds In Enugu Nov 29". Retrieved 2025-08-16.
- ^ Kan, Toni (2023-11-20). "Eastern Nigeria International Film Festival (ENIFF) 2023 set to elevate art of filmmaking in Enugu". The Lagos Review. Retrieved 2025-08-16.
- ^ https://eniff.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/ENIFF-2023-WINNERS-1.pdf