Out Of Africa: 2025 Edition Of Nigeria’s Zuma International Film Festival Set To Take Place In December

Nigeria’s Premier Film Festival Set to Celebrate Storytelling, Culture, and Creativity in Abuja …

Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy (FMACTCE), in collaboration with the Nigerian Film Corporation (NFC), and the country’s Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), has announced that the 2025 Zuma International Film Festival (ZIFF) will take place from 1st to 5th December 2025, in Abuja, the nation’s capital territory.

Now in its 15th edition since its inception in 1993, the Zuma International Film Festival remains one of Nigeria’s foremost film festivals and a key platform for celebrating and advancing the country’s cinematic voice.

Themed “Storytelling for Global Influence: Film as a Soft Power and Economic Force”, this year’s edition emphasises cinema’s expanding role in shaping perception, strengthening cultural diplomacy, and driving economic growth.

At a press briefing, Hannatu Musa Musawa, Nigeria’s Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism, and the Creative Economy, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to strengthening the creative economy through film and cultural exchange. She emphasised that the festival represents an opportunity to showcase Nigeria’s creative strength and reaffirm the country’s position as a leading voice in global storytelling.

The Managing Director of the Nigerian Film Corporation, Dr. Ali Nuhu, described ZUMA as a symbol of Nigeria’s creative pride and a platform that connects storytelling with enterprise, culture with commerce, and creativity with national development. He revealed that the 2025 edition received a record-breaking 3,156 film entries from countries including Nigeria, India, France, China, South Africa, Egypt, the United States, Spain, Germany, Tunisia, and Iran.

The submissions span feature films, documentaries, shorts, student projects, indigenous language films, animations, music videos, and skits.

The festival will feature a rich programme of events, including the NFC Annual Film Lecture, Emerging Talent Showcase, Film Trade & Finance Forum, Co-Production and Pitching Sessions, daily screenings, and the ZUMA Awards. These events aim to foster networking, collaboration, and business opportunities across the local and international film industries.

Click here to learn more about the lineup of festival activities.