Enugu Set to Host 6th Edition of Eastern Nigeria International Film Festival 2025

The Coal City is gearing up for a creative and cultural awakening as it prepares to host the 6th edition of the Eastern Nigeria International Film Festival (ENIFF), opening on November 26, 2025, at the IMT International Conference Centre, Enugu.

Over four days, ENIFF 2025 will bring together filmmakers, storytellers, and creative entrepreneurs from across Nigeria, Africa, and the world to celebrate film, culture, and innovation. Since its inception, ENIFF has evolved into one of the most dynamic creative gatherings in Eastern Nigeria, combining film screenings, masterclasses, panel discussions, and youth capacity-building programs that inspire the next generation of storytellers.

This year’s festival, themed “Reimagine. Reframe. Rethink.”, challenges filmmakers and audiences alike to see storytelling as a tool for transformation — a way to reframe perspectives, rethink realities, and reimagine Africa’s creative future.

A major highlight of this edition is the European Union Day @ ENIFF, in partnership with the Delegation of the European Union to Nigeria and ECOWAS. Scheduled for November 27, the event will celebrate creative collaboration and cultural diplomacy between Europe and Nigeria, showcasing the shared power of storytelling to foster understanding across continents. The festival will also have the honour of hosting the European Union Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, H.E. Ambassador Gautier Mignot, who will attend and deliver a goodwill message.

Beyond screenings and red-carpet moments, ENIFF 2025 continues its commitment to capacity building through development-focused programs such as the EU Pitch Competition, which teaches young people how to structure and present their creative ideas to potential investors and mentors, and the Impact Storytelling Lab, which explores storytelling as a tool for social change — with several prizes to be won, supported by the European Union.

Over the past six years, ENIFF and its parent organization, the Eastern Nigeria Film and Arts Initiative (ENFAI), have built a vibrant community of young creatives from Enugu, Anambra, Imo, Abia, and Ebonyi who converge each year to learn, collaborate, and create — shaping the region’s creative economy.
This year’s opening film, Water Girl by Nnamdi Kanaga, will set the tone for the festival, celebrating authentic African storytelling through a blend of spirituality, motherhood, and ecological awareness. International guests such as Berlin-based filmmaker and journalist Karin Helmstaedt and documentary producer Willie Schumann will also lead exclusive sessions on investigative storytelling and global documentary production.

Speaking on the significance of this year’s festival, ENIFF Co-founder and Festival Director, Ujuaku Akukwe, said: “ENIFF is more than a film festival; it is a creative movement that amplifies African voices and builds sustainable pathways for young talents. Each edition is a testament to our belief that storytelling can transform communities and connect cultures.”
ENIFF 2025 promises an inspiring experience filled with discovery, dialogue, and creativity. The festival will run from November 26 to 29, 2025, at the IMT International Conference Centre, Enugu.