The ninth edition of the Kaduna International Film Festival (KADIFF) ended on a high note with a colourful awards ceremony that celebrated outstanding achievements in filmmaking, tourism promotion and creative industry development.

The event, held on Saturday, August 29, 2026, attracted prominent filmmakers, entertainers, government officials and stakeholders from across Nigeria’s creative sector, highlighting the growing influence of the festival in promoting cinematic excellence and cultural heritage.

One of the highlights of the evening was the presentation of Special Recognition Awards to distinguished individuals and organisations for their contributions to the growth of the film industry and cultural development.

Among those honoured was LEADERSHIP Newspapers, which received an award in recognition of its role in promoting Nigeria’s film industry, tourism and cultural activities through its media platforms.

Receiving the award on behalf of the organisation, LEADERSHIP’s Editor of Lifestyle and Culture, Adejoke Alabi-Henry, expressed appreciation to the festival organisers for the recognition and pledged continued collaboration in advancing the creative sector.

Several notable figures in Nigeria’s entertainment and public sectors were also honoured during the ceremony. They include veteran actor and filmmaker Femi Adebayo, Executive Director of the National Film and Video Censors Board, Dr Shaibu Husseini, Managing Director of the Nigerian Film Corporation, Dr Ali Nuhu, actress Juliet Ibrahim, actor Uzee Usman, actress Uche Ogbodo, Senator Shehu Sani, Asabe Madaki, Dr Tony Akposheri and other distinguished personalities.

The festival, themed “Cultural Renaissance,” featured a series of training programmes, workshops and capacity-building sessions designed to strengthen different segments of the movie production value chain.

In the competitive categories, “When Love Prays,” produced by Nigerian filmmaker Ben Casssie, emerged as the biggest winner of the night, clinching the coveted Best Feature Film award. The film’s success continued as Casssie was also named Best Director, while actor Uzee Usman won Best Male Actor for his portrayal of Hamza in the acclaimed production.

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Ugandan productions also made a strong impression at the festival. “Adui” won the award for Best Cinematography, while “Made in Uganda” claimed the Best Documentary Film category. Ugandan actress Mirembe Doreen Jr was recognised as Best Female Actor for her performance in “Mama Wange.”

Other major winners included “Pink Diary,” which secured awards for Best Supporting Female Actor through Iva U. Abraham’s performance as Salome and Best Production Design, while Chimezie Imo won Best Supporting Male Actor for his role as Nnamdi in “Nini.”

The award for Best Student Film went to “The Traveller” by Dizzy Noah of Nigeria, while “Then I Grew Up” by Uganda’s Ssenani Ssentongo emerged winner in the Best Animation category.

In the indigenous film category, “Oyiza” by Yemi Filmboy Morafa took top honours, while “For A Purpose Reborn” by Uganda’s Natukunda Blace won Best Short Film.

Founded by filmmaker Kashim Israel Audu, the Kaduna International Film Festival has continued to grow into one of Northern Nigeria’s most influential creative industry platforms, providing opportunities for networking, talent development and international collaboration.

With another successful edition concluded, stakeholders say the festival is steadily strengthening Kaduna’s reputation as a major hub for filmmaking, cultural exchange and creative innovation in Africa.