Nollywood movie ‘Safari’ emerged as the top winner, receiving the Golden Jury Award (Overall Best Film) at the 22nd edition of the Abuja International Film Festival.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the awards were presented at the festival’s closing ceremony on Monday in Abuja.
The 2025 AIFF was held from November 6 to 10, with the theme “From Script to Nation: The Role of Film in Shaping National Identity.”
‘Safari’ was nominated for five categories of the awards but clinched three, including the award for Outstanding Director, Outstanding Actress and the highly coveted Golden Jury Award.
Ace actress, Osas Ighodalo, clinched the Outstanding Actress for her role in the film, while veteran Nollywood Director, Obi Emelonye, won the Outstanding Director award.
The star-studded movie has a dazzling blend of cast, including Osas Ighodaro, Jide Achufusi, Emmanuel Mugo, Ken Ambani and Ali Nuhu, veteran actor and Managing Director, Nigerian Film Corporation, among others.
In an interview with NAN on the red carpet, Emelonye, who also produced the film, thanked the organisers of AIFF and expressed delight over the feat attained by the film at the fiesta.
”We just won three awards at the Abuja International Film Festival 2025, and it is a thing of honour for me and my team.
”We have worked very hard since last year to make this film and to bring it to the people, and it’s opening in cinemas on November 21.
”As I thank the organisers of AIFF, I also appreciate Providus Bank because this award-winning film was made with its support,” he said
Other categories of competitive awards and winners at the 2025 AIFF include Experimental Film – Monologue (Nigeria), Outstanding Animation Film –Bridge My Little Friends (Japan) and Outstanding Cinematography – Just Live (Russia).
The Outstanding Short Film (Foreign) was clinched by Echoes From the Past (UK), and ace actor Nollywood Ikechukwu Onanuku won the Outstanding Actor for his role in ‘Dead Tide.’
Others include Outstanding Short Film (Nigeria) – Storapy Sessions on Colos, Outstanding Documentary Film – Six Kings & six Queens (South Africa) and Feature Film (Nigeria)-Kakanda (Toka Mcbaror).
The Outstanding Student Film category award was received by ‘Meet Me at the Park’ (USA), and the latest ‘Special Mention’ category was won by Ajaga the Yoke (Nigeria).
NAN
