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Uganda has emerged as the biggest winner at the just concluded Kaduna International Film Festival (KADIFF). Here is Why
At the recently concluded Kaduna International Film Festival (KADIFF), Nigeria secured six out of 18 awards categories, while Uganda emerged as the biggest winner with seven awards.
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Ghana and the United Kingdom each took home one award. Notably, Uganda also had the largest number of film entries in the festival, which contributed to their impressive haul of awards.
Dr. Victor Okhai, the Head of Jury at KADIFF and a member of the Oscar 2025 Nigerian Selection Committee, explained the factors behind these results. According to him, Uganda’s success was due to their filmmakers targeting categories often overlooked by the Nigerian film industry, such as Best Short Film, Best Animation, Best Costume, Best Production Design, Best Special/Visual Effect, Best Lead Actress, and Best Supporting Actress.
Despite increasing global interest in Nigerian animation—evidenced by collaborations on projects like *Iwaju* and the upcoming *Iyanu*—local animators in Nigeria often work in isolation and lack support, resulting in their exclusion from local festivals.
Okhai emphasized that the number and quality of entries are crucial in winning awards. He noted that Uganda had more entries in KADIFF, giving them better odds of success. He also pointed out that the Nigerian entries did not impress the jury, which consisted of respected experts in the field. The jury included both local and international members, such as Prof. Femi Shaka from the University of Port Harcourt, actress Faithia Williams Balogun, and American-based French filmmaker Anna Deluche.
Moreover, Okhai mentioned that KADIFF, despite being recognized as one of the top northern film festivals in Nigeria, is still considered relatively new by many Nigerian filmmakers. This has led some filmmakers to prefer submitting their work to more established festivals like the Lagos International Film Festival or the African International Film Festival (AFRIFF).
Okhai encouraged Nigerian filmmakers to increase their participation in such events to improve their chances in future festivals, as they provide valuable opportunities for networking, securing funding, and gaining recognition for their work. He also highlighted the importance of strategic festival submissions, which can enhance a filmmaker’s career by attracting the attention of distributors and investors.
