Lagos will host the first-ever Naija AI Film Festival (NAIFF) on September 13, 2025, an event designed to explore how artificial intelligence can reshape African cinema. Founded by filmmaker Obinna Okerekeocha, the festival will spotlight how Nigerian storytellers can use AI to cut costs, boost creativity, and compete on a global scale.
The festival comes at a pivotal moment for Nollywood. A 2024 DLA Piper Africa survey revealed that 35% of Nigerian film and television professionals already use generative AI tools, with another 35% considering adoption. From script development and concept art to editing and distribution, AI is rapidly becoming part of the filmmaker’s toolkit.
At NAIFF, creators will gain hands-on exposure to AI applications across the production cycle—storyboarding, virtual set design, post-production VFX, dubbing in multiple languages, and automated distribution. Workshops and panels will also address pressing issues of ethics, copyright, and the future of creative jobs.
For Nollywood, the benefits are clear: lower budgets, faster turnarounds, and higher-quality films that can travel further. By giving local creators access to studio-grade tools, NAIFF is positioning Nigeria as a leader in AI-driven cinema.
With global attention on Lagos, the festival promises to be a milestone moment for African storytelling.
