The 14th edition of the Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF 2025) wrapped up on Saturday, November 8, in Lagos with the AFRIFF Globe Awards, the festival’s annual ceremony celebrating excellence in African and Diaspora filmmaking. This year, 18 awards were handed out across a wide range of categories.

 

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The festival also presented the Herbert Wigwe Award for Excellence to individuals making remarkable contributions to film, governance, and community development. Honorees included actor David Oyelowo, recognized for amplifying African stories globally; Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah for progressive leadership; Hakeem Muri-Okunola for championing youth initiatives; and music star Flavour for promoting African cinema.

In the film categories, The Eyes of Ghana, a documentary on legendary Ghanaian filmmaker Christian Tsui Hesse directed by Canadian Ben Proudfoot, won both the Special Jury Prize for Outstanding Film and Best Documentary. Nwamaka Chikezie’s historical romance To Adaego With Love took home Best Feature Film and Best Screenplay. Ghanaian-American director Zöey Martinson earned Best Director for The Fisherman, a comedy about an aging Ghanaian fisherman navigating modern city life.

Kalu Oji’s Pasa Faho was named Best International Film, while Adeoye Adetunji’s The Travails of Ajadi won Best Animation. Acting awards went to Richard Bamgbaye (Aljana) and Michelle Lemuya Ikeny (Nawi) for Best Male and Female Performances, respectively. Shorts honors included Russell Oru’s The Day the Heart Died (Best Short), Toluwalope Okunade’s The Labyrinth (Best Student Short), Peter Fada Osiughwu’s Beyond the Screen (Best Documentary Short), and Joshua Neubert and Victor Muhagachi’s Majini (Best International Short).

The festival’s final screening, TUKKI: From Roots to Bayou, a co-production between France, Ghana, Senegal, and the USA, won Best International Documentary. The Audience Choice Award went to Son of The Soil, a gritty Nigerian crime thriller directed by British-Chinese filmmaker Chee Keong Cheung.

Below is the full list of winners.

Special Jury Prize for Outstanding Film

The Eyes of Ghana

Best International Short Film

Majini 

Best Documentary Short

Beyond the Screen: The Nollywood Journey

Best Short Film

The Day The Heart Died

Best Student Short

The Labyrinth

Best Animated Film

The Travails of Ajadi

Best International Documentary

Tukki: From the Roots to the Bayou

Best Screenplay

Brenda Garuba (To Adaego With Love) 

Best Documentary

The Eyes of Ghana

Best International Feature

Paso Faho

Best Feature Film

To Adaego With Love

Best Actress in a Feature Film

Michelle Lemuya Ikeny (Nawi)

Best Actor in a Feature Film

Richard Bamgbaiye (Aljana)

Best Director

Zoey Martinson (The Fisherman)

Audience Choice

Son of the Soil