Ibadan International Film Festival Unveils 2026 Official Selection and Award Nominations
21 films from 12 countries advance from a record 554 submissions across 85 nations; fifth edition moves to a fully virtual format, 17–19 September 2026
IBADAN, NIGERIA — 27 August 2026
The Ibadan International Film Festival (IIFF) today announced its Official Film Selection and Award Nominations for 2026, a milestone for the festival as it approaches its fifth edition, to be staged virtually from 17 to 19 September 2026.
The 2026 edition drew 554 submissions from 85 countries, underscoring the festival's expanding international reach and its ambition to build a credible platform where Nigerian, African and global filmmakers can connect, showcase their work and engage audiences through cinema.
Following a rigorous review by the festival's College of Screeners and a subsequent assessment by the Festival Jury, 21 films from 12 countries have been named to the Official Selection. The selected works span four continents and include feature films, short films, documentaries, animations and student productions, and will compete across 17 award categories recognising achievement in acting, directing, screenwriting, cinematography, editing, animation, documentary filmmaking, production design and student filmmaking.
BY THE NUMBERS
This year's Official Selection brings together filmmakers from Nigeria, Russia, the United Kingdom, the United States, Germany, Iran, Italy, China, Portugal, Ghana, Spain and Mexico. Nigeria leads the field with six films, while 15 international productions round out the global programme.
| Country | Films | Officially Selected Titles |
|---|---|---|
| Nigeria | 6 | One More Patient; What Emma Wants; ÒDÈ! There Is No Bus Stop on This Trip; The Presidency; The Beacon Man; On Our Skin |
| Russia | 2 | The Letter; Manga Day |
| UK | 2 | Echoes from the Past; The Streets Know My Name |
| USA | 2 | Departing; The Women of Fuji, Episode II of "The Fuji Documentary" |
| Germany | 2 | November Fog; Actually, I Didn't Want to Stay Long |
| Iran | 1 | Holy Water |
| Italy | 1 | Via Bellezza 11 |
| China | 1 | Jade Buddha Amulet |
| Portugal | 1 | Prayer |
| Ghana | 1 | The Rise of Aya |
| Spain | 1 | Ace |
| Mexico | 1 | Papá |
| Total | 21 | 12 countries represented |
A RIGOROUS PATH TO SELECTION
Before reaching public announcement, all 554 submissions were reviewed by the IIFF College of Screeners, who assessed each film's storytelling, originality, artistic merit, technical execution, performances and overall cinematic value. With hundreds of entries competing for a limited number of places, the process demanded not only cinematic expertise but discipline and consistency in decision-making. The festival credits the College of Screeners' work as foundational to the integrity of this year's selection
The Festival Jury then undertook the final assessment of competitive entries, evaluating craft, creativity, originality, performance, technical achievement, directorial vision and storytelling excellence. The resulting nominations span 17 categories and include filmmakers and creative professionals from Nigeria, Russia, Germany, China, Iran, Italy, the United Kingdom, the United States, Portugal, Ghana, Spain and Mexico.
FESTIVAL LEADERSHIP REACTS
"Receiving 554 films from 85 countries is significant for us, but we also understand that the real responsibility begins after the numbers. Every filmmaker who submits a film is entrusting us with a piece of their creative journey. Our responsibility as a festival is to provide a platform that respects that investment, celebrates excellence and creates opportunities for filmmakers to connect with audiences and with one another. IIFF is proudly rooted in Ibadan, but our vision has always been international."
"The virtual edition is a deliberate decision to expand the reach of the festival. We want filmmakers and audiences who may not be able to travel to Ibadan to still experience IIFF and participate in the conversations around the films. This year's edition will be loaded — the films are at the heart of the programme, but audiences should expect much more."
"The announcement of the Official Selection is not the end of the story; it is the beginning of the conversation. Our communications responsibility is to take audiences behind the films, introduce them to the filmmakers and nominees, and create anticipation ahead of 17 September."
2026 OFFICIAL SELECTION AND AWARD NOMINATIONS
The Jury has recognised outstanding creative contributions across 17 award categories, resulting in 43 nomination entries. No winners are announced in this release; recipients will be revealed through the festival's official awards programme.| # | Category | Nominee | Film | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Best Actor – Female | Sidney Falish | November Fog | Germany |
| 2 | Best Actor – Female | Ejiroghene Asagba | What Emma Wants | Nigeria |
| 3 | Best Actor – Female | Doris Okorie | ÒDÈ! There Is No Bus Stop on This Trip | Nigeria |
| 4 | Best Supporting Actor – Female | Tian Xin | Jade Buddha Amulet | China |
| 5 | Best Supporting Actor – Female | Paula Buratto | Via Bellezza 11 | Italy |
| 6 | Best Short Film | Donald Tombia | ÒDÈ! There Is No Bus Stop on This Trip | Nigeria |
| 7 | Best Short Film | Esmail Ramezani & Marziyeh Bani Ali | Holy Water | Iran |
| 8 | Best Student Film – Nigeria | Abiodun Udom | On Our Skin | Nigeria |
| 9 | Best Student Film – Nigeria | Njoku Samuel Kehinde | One More Patient | Nigeria |
| 10 | Best Student Film – International | Sensei Ayodeji Sanni CBK | Echoes from the Past | United Kingdom |
| 11 | Best Student Film – International | Sofia Geweiler | Prayer | Portugal |
| 12 | Best Student Film – International | Jiarui Zhang | Jade Buddha Amulet | China |
| 13 | Best Director | Amur Amerkhanov | The Letter | Russia |
| 14 | Best Director | Donald Tombia | ÒDÈ! There Is No Bus Stop on This Trip | Nigeria |
| 15 | Best Director | Abiodun Udom | On Our Skin | Nigeria |
| 16 | Best Animation | Nicolas Arturo Grande Traba | Papá | Mexico |
| 17 | Best Animation | Tomisin Sarumi | Departing | United States |
| 18 | Best Animation | Bruno Simões | Ace | Spain |
| 19 | Best Documentary | Prof. Saheed Aderinto | The Women of Fuji, Episode II of "The Fuji Documentary" | United States |
| 20 | Best Documentary | Eghoghon Sarah Ifidon | The Streets Know My Name | United Kingdom |
| 21 | Best Documentary | Andreas Grützner | Actually, I Didn't Want to Stay Long | Germany |
| 22 | Best Feature Film – Nigeria | Njoku Samuel Kehinde | What Emma Wants | Nigeria |
| 23 | Best Feature Film – Nigeria | Sampson Afolabi Johnson | The Presidency | Nigeria |
| 24 | Best Feature Film – Nigeria | Marc Adebesin | The Beacon Man | Nigeria |
| 25 | Best Feature Film – International | Amur Amerkhanov | The Letter | Russia |
| 26 | Best Feature Film – International | Anna Lena Höhne | November Fog | Germany |
| 27 | Best Cinematography | Esmail Ramezani & Marziyeh Bani Ali | Holy Water | Iran |
| 28 | Best Cinematography | Winifred hMensa | The Rise of Aya | Ghana |
| 29 | Best Editing | Nikita Druzhinin | Manga Day | Russia |
| 30 | Best Editing | Yaroslav Yakin | The Letter | Russia |
| 31 | Best Editing | Elma Baisie | ÒDÈ! There Is No Bus Stop on This Trip | Nigeria |
| 32 | Best Screenplay | Somto Ihezue | On Our Skin | Nigeria |
| 33 | Best Screenplay | Anna Lena Höhne | November Fog | Germany |
| 34 | Best Screenplay | Njoku Samuel Kehinde | What Emma Wants | Nigeria |
| 35 | Best Production Design | Prof. Saheed Aderinto | The Women of Fuji, Episode II of "The Fuji Documentary" | United States |
| 36 | Best Production Design | Aleksandr Kudryavov | The Letter | Russia |
| 37 | Best Production Design | Benedict Hahn & Lynn Lipka | November Fog | Germany |
| 38 | Best Child Actor | Timofey Chersky | Manga Day | Russia |
| 39 | Best Supporting Actor – Male | Johnson Ibeh | On Our Skin | Nigeria |
| 40 | Best Supporting Actor – Male | Magomed Zurabov | The Letter | Russia |
| 41 | Best Actor – Male | Korede Lawal | On Our Skin | Nigeria |
| 42 | Best Actor – Male | Viktor Pipa | The Letter | Russia |
| 43 | Best Actor – Male | Korede Soyinka | What Emma Wants | Nigeria |
A GLOBAL PROGRAMME OF STORIES
The Official Selection offers a wide-ranging portrait of contemporary cinema. Nigerian entries such as One More Patient, What Emma Wants, The Presidency and ÒDÈ! There Is No Bus Stop on This Trip explore social and political themes, alongside the cultural and historical dimensions of The Women of Fuji. Internationally, audiences will encounter The Letter (Russia), November Fog (Germany), Holy Water (Iran), Jade Buddha Amulet (China), Papá (Mexico), Prayer (Portugal) and Ace (Spain) — a programme built on the premise that different stories can meet on a single stage.
WHAT TO EXPECT: A VIRTUAL EDITION, FULLY LOADED
The fifth edition of IIFF will run virtually from 17–19 September 2026, a format designed to widen access for filmmakers and audiences unable to travel to Ibadan. The three-day programme will include
- Official Film Screenings - access to all 21 films in the 2026 Official Selection
- Filmmaker Engagement - conversations with directors and creative teams on their work and process
- Industry Conversations - discussions on production, storytelling, distribution and the future of the creative economy
- Learning and Knowledge Exchange - sessions connecting emerging filmmakers and students with industry practitioners
- Awards and Recognition - celebrating excellence across all 17 competitive categories
- International Audience Participation - a digital environment linking audiences and filmmakers worldwide
- Digital Festival Experience - sustained social media and online engagement before, during and after the festival
“We are approaching the virtual edition as a global festival experience,” said Festival Director Aloba Iyore. “The objective is to remove geographical barriers while retaining the energy, professionalism and sense of community that audiences associate with IIFF.”
IBADAN: THE CITY BEHIND THE FESTIVAL
Although the fifth edition is virtual, Ibadan remains central to IIFF's identity. The festival is rooted in a city with a distinguished history of intellectual, literary, theatrical and broadcast development, and it aims to extend that legacy by positioning Ibadan as a meeting point for Nigerian, African and global cinema. The scale of this year's international participation reflects the festival's capacity to generate a global cultural conversation from an Ibadan base
REGISTRATION NOW OPEN
From 17 to 19 September 2026, filmmakers, industry professionals, film lovers and audiences from Nigeria, Africa and across the world will come together virtually to celebrate cinema, creativity, culture and the future of storytelling. Registration for the 2026 edition is now open, and interested participants can secure their access to the festival's screenings, conversations and events through the official IIFF website.
LOOKING AHEAD
The announcement of the Official Selection marks the start of the festival's 2026 communications campaign. In the coming weeks, IIFF will release filmmaker profiles, nominee spotlights, film features, interviews, programme announcements, industry sessions and virtual participation details. Audiences are encouraged to follow the festival's official channels for regular updates ahead of the 17 September opening.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
IIFF extends its appreciation to the 554 filmmakers from 85 countries who submitted work this year, and its congratulations to the 21 filmmakers whose films entered the Official Selection and to every nominee across the 17 award categories. The festival also recognises the College of Screeners and the Festival Jury for the time, expertise and diligence invested in shaping the 2026 programme
ABOUT THE IBADAN INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
The Ibadan International Film Festival (IIFF) is a Nigeria-based festival dedicated to discovering talent, creating opportunities and facilitating cultural exchange through cinema. Now in its fifth edition, IIFF has grown into an international platform connecting Nigerian, African and global filmmakers with audiences around the world.