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The Maiden Naija AI Film Festival 2025

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About the Festival

“AI_FRICA” is the theme of NAIFF’s maiden film festival. At its core, it is a bold call to action — a theme that invites us to reimagine the future of African storytelling at the intersection of artificial intelligence, innovation, and indigenous creativity.

Alliance Française Centre, Ikoyi, Lagos State

Saturday, 13 September, 2025.

1

Day event

300+

Films submiited

5

Jurors

Festival Program of Events

Join us for a day of film screenings, panels, and hands-on workshops exploring AI’s impact on storytelling.

Morning & Afternoon Sessions

8:00AM - 9:00AM

Registration Opens

Attendees can register and collect their badges for the festival.

9:00AM - 12:00PM

Global AI Film Showcase

Experience a curated selection of groundbreaking films leveraging artificial intelligence in their creation.

12PM - 1:30PM

Panel Session 1 – Code of Creation: Ethical Use of AI and the Future of Imagination

Topic: A critical discussion on the responsible and ethical application of AI technologies in the content creation and filmmaking industries.Participants: 4 distinguished panelists and 1 moderator.

2:30PM - 4:30PM

Tools, Talent & Technology - Growing Africa’s Creative Economy with AI

Focus: Discover practical applications and demonstrated results of AI tools and resources specifically tailored for the Nollywood industry. Format: Knowledge-sharing sessions and practical demonstrations.

Award Night

5:00PM - 6:00PM

Yellow Carpet

6:00PM - 7:00PM

Red Carpet

Networking/Press/Interviews

7PM - 7:10PM

Opening Spoken Word

Performance by Ms. Wana Wana.

7:10PM - 7:25PM

Keynote Speech

Dr. Toyosi Akerele-Ogunsiji

7:25PM - 7:30PM

Special message

French Mission

7:30PM - 7:35PM

Spoken Word Audio+AI Video showcase

7:35PM - 8:45PM

Category Announcements & Awards

8:45PM - 9:10PM

Special AI Showcase Films

Of some notable contributions

9:10PM - 9:15PM

NAIFF Founder Presentation/Recognitions/V.O.T

9:15PM - 9:30PM

Ambassador ELAJOE

9:30PM - 9:50PM

Closing music performance

Celeste Ojatula

9:50PM - 10:00PM

Networking and Refreshments

Our Jurors

The NAIFF Faculty exists to upskill, empower, and inspire the next wave of innovative filmmakers and creators harnessing AI technologies.

Chisom Ifeakandu is a film and TV director-producer who founded African Iris Media to tell powerful, boundary-crossing stories that amplify diverse African voices. Her versatile portfolio spans documentaries, short films, talk shows, reality TV, and features, all crafted to deepen global understanding of African narratives.

CHISOMME IFEAKANDU

Festival Director

Dana Verde is an award‑winning screenwriter, director, and producer behind The Perfect Match, two Tubi thrillers, a Hallmark holiday film, and nine shorts showcased at 30+ international festivals. As founder of 3CK Media (in partnership with Idris Elba’s 22 Summers and Laurence Fishburne’s Cinema Gypsy) and an MA graduate/adjunct professor, she champions transformative stories of women of color.

DANA VERDE

Festival Juror

Uche Okiya is a CGI specialist & 3D generalist with a strong passion for the intersection of art & technology. As an artist & tutor, he is dedicated to using creative storytelling & the latest digital tools to bring African-inspired narratives to life. With deep commitment to sharing unique cultural perspectives, his work focuses on blending technical skill with rich visual storytelling to engage a global audience.

UCHE OKIYA

Festival Juror

Yemi is an award‑winning creative strategist with 10+ years of driving brand growth—first Nigerian Young Lions Film Competition winner and Cannes Lions delegate—who helped turn Moniepoint into a household name. As Executive Creative Director of Soltracka Productions (“The Wolf”), he fuses business acumen and storytelling to showcase Africa’s rich culture.

YEMI ARAWORE

Festival Juror

Anthony Adah is Professor of Film Studies at Minnesota State University USA, specializing in global film history/theory with research on African & Indigenous cinemas; he’s a 2021 Fulbright Scholar, 2023 Carnegie Fellow, & current CODESRIA Fellow. Since 2009 he’s juried the Fargo & Frozen River Film Festivals, created works like Sleeping Dogs, published in leading journals, & has a forthcoming book on personhood in Indigenous cinemas.

ANTHONY ADAH

Festival Juror

Ronya Man is a mission-driven filmmaker, actress, and producer who bridges cultures through storytelling and international collaboration as founder of Ronyamanarts Ltd. Her RMA Academy, Productions, and Xchange divisions train talent, produce global narratives, and lead co-productions, while she serves on the Directors Guild of Nigeria, juries film festivals, and speaks on cross-border cinema.

RONYA MAN

Festival Juror

Sponsors

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Partners

Calm Hill partners with Naija AI Film FestivalIntense Studios partners with Naija AI Film FestivalUfundi partners with Naija AI Film FestivalJ Studio partners with Naija AI Film FestivalXplorenollywood partners with Naija AI Film FestivalAI Studio NG partners with Naija AI Film Festival
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