Nollywood movie ‘Safari’ has emerged as the top winner and received the Golden Jury Award (Overall Best Film) at the 22nd edition of the Abuja International Film Festival.

The awards presentation was made at the closing ceremony of the festival on Monday in Abuja.

The 2025 AIFF was held from November 6 to 10.

‘Safari’ was nominated for five categories of the awards but clinched three, including the award for Outstanding Director, Outstanding Actress, and the highly coveted Golden Jury Award.

Ace actress Osas Ighodalo clinched the Outstanding Actress for her role in the film, while veteran Nollywood Director, Obi Emelonye won the Outstanding Director award.

The star-studded movie features a dazzling cast, including Osas, Jide Achufusi, Emmanuel Mugo, Ken Ambani, and Ali Nuhu, as well as veteran actor and Managing Director of the Nigerian Film Corporation (NFC), among others.

In an interview on the red carpet, Emelonye, who also produced the film, thanked the organisers of AIFF and expressed delight over the feat achieved by the film at the festival.

”We just won three awards at the Abuja International Film Festival 2025, and it is  a thing of honour for me and my team.

”We have worked very hard since last year to make this film and to bring it to the people, and it’s opening in cinemas on Nov. 21.

”As I thank the organisers of AIFF, I also appreciate Providus Bank because this award-winning film was made with its support,” he said

Other categories of competitive awards and winners at the 2025 AIFF include Experimental Film—Monologue (Nigeria), Outstanding Animation Film— Bridge My Little Friends (Japan), and Outstanding Cinematography—Just Live (Russia).

The Outstanding Short Film (Foreign) was clinched by Echoes From the Past (UK), and ace actor Nollywood Ikechukwu Onanuku won the Outstanding Actor for his role in ‘Dead Tide’.

Others include Outstanding Short Film (Nigeria)—Storapy Sessions on Colos, Outstanding Documentary Film (South Africa)—Six Kings & Six Queens, and Feature Film (Nigeria)—Kakanda (Toka Mcbaror).

The Outstanding Student Film category award was received by ‘Meet Me at the Park’ (USA), and the latest ‘Special Mention’ category was won by Ajaga the Yoke (Nigeria).

(NAN)