Plans for the 2026 edition of the Warri International Film Festival (WARRIFF) are in top gear. This is according to founder of WARRIFF, Alex Eyengho who disclosed that the festival officially opened its film collection window from February 1st to August 31st, adding that filmmakers from Nigeria, Africa, and across the world “submited bold, original, and powerful works.”
Categories of Submissions to WARRIFF 2026 include Feature Films, Short Films, Documentaries, Student Films, Experimental Works, and
Skits.
Eyengho, a veteran filmmaker, stated that the theme for WARRIFF 2026 is, Making The Film And Making The Money, pointing out that the festival will hold as usual from December 8 to 12, 2026, in the oil city of Warri, the commercial nerve centre of Delta State, Nigeria.
“WARRIFF is more than a festival. It is a meeting point for voices, visions, and stories that matter. From compelling feature films to daring shorts, documentaries, experimental works, engaging master classes, panels and networking. We celebrate cinema that reflects culture, challenges norms, and spark meaningful conversations,” Eyengho stressed.
Explaining why stakeholders should be part of WARRIFF 2026, Eyengho, who is an award-winning filmmaker, listed a growing international audience, industry exposure/networking, celebration of authentic African/global storytelling, and a platform where filmmakers are truly seen and heard, as some of the reasons.
Over a thousand filmmakers, film students, actors and film lovers from Nigeria, Africa and other parts of the world are projected to be part of WARRIFF 2026.
SEE FULL LIST BELLOW:
WARRI INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL (WARRIFF) 2026
LIST OF SELECTIONS/NOMINATIONS
(A). BEST DOCUMENTARY FILM
- The Inner Child — Germany
- Bulosan: On American Democracy — USA
- Monday — Nigeria
- No Let Dem Die — Nigeria
- Yatinka — Nigeria
- 40 Years of Crafting Africa — Nigeria
- Concrete Bread — Nigeria
8 Ogbodueyin (Call Of The Spirits) — Nigeria
(B). BEST SHORT FILM
- The Girl On The Bus — Argentina
- The Priest — Sweden
3 The Order — Nigeria - Kachi’s Odyssey — Nigeria
(C). BEST STUDENT FILM
- Threshold — Nigeria
- The Photographer Course — Nigeria
- Cast Out — Nigeria
- Trapped — Nigeria
- Unbound Freedom — Nigeria
- The Emperor Of Redemption — Nigeria
7 Not Yet — Nigeria
(D) BEST FEATURE FILM
- Follow Me Forever — Nigeria
2 The Source (Behind The Scenes) — Nigeria - Captain Ibrahim Traore — Ghana
- Dead Tide —
Nigeria - Isodehi — Nigeria
(E) BEST UPCOMING ACTOR
- Faith Ayemoba (As MELODY in Follow Me Forever) – Nigeria
- Krokake Timadi Emmanuel (As CLARK in The Source) – Nigeria
- Ayokunle Odeleye (As KAZEEM in Dead Tide) – Nigeria
- Esther Omokaro (As iSODEHI in Isodehi) – Nigeria
(F) BEST ACTOR IN A SUPORTING ROLE
- Asuo Felix Isaacs (As LOCATION MANAGER in The Source) – Nigeria
- Ovunda Ihunwho (As MUBO in Follow Me Forever) – Nigeria
- William Benson (As GAMBO in Dead Tide) – Nigeria
- Ibrahim Suleiman (As DARE in Dead Tide) – Nigeria
- Henry I. Legemah (As ENOGIE in Isodehi) – Nigeria
- Andrew Osawuru (As CHIEF PRIEST in Isodehi) – Nigeria
- Isaac Freeman (As GADAFI in Captain Ibrahim Traore) – Ghana
(G). BEST ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE (Female)
- Chioma Nwosu (As ATHENA in Folow Me Forever) – Nigeria
- Loveth Akuta (As BEDUSA in The Source) – Nigeria
- Janet Brefo Yankson (As MINISTER OF FINANCE in Captain Ibrahim Traore) – Ghana
- Uche Nwoko (As SENAYON in Dead Tide) – Nigeria
- Joyce Kalu (As QUEEN IMOSE in Isodehi) – Nigeria
(H). BEST ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE (Male)
- Chimeze Imo (As KINIKA in Follow Me Forever) – Nigeria
- Emosco Victor (As CHARLES in The Source) – Nigeria
- Kwadwoh Nkansah-LIWIN (As CAPTAIN IBRAHIM TRAORE in Captain Ibrahim Traore) – Ghana
- Ukechukwu Onunaku (As ITORO in Dead Tide) – Nigeria
- Desmond Walter (As PRINCE IGBINEHI in Isodehi) – Nigeria
(I) BEST PRODUCER
- Eric Stephenson (FOLLOW ME FOREVER) – Nigeria
- Emosco Victor (The Source…) – Nigeria
- Kwadwo Nkansah Lilwin (Captain Ibrahim Traore) – Ghana
- Tosin Oludare (Dead Tide) — Nigeria
- Jeremiah Onoge (ISODEHI) – Nigeria
(J). BEST DIRECTOR
- Eric Stephenson (FOLLOW ME FOREVER) — Nigeria
- Emosco Victor (The Source…) — Nigeria
- Jackson Kwaku Bentum (Captain Ibrahim Traore) — Ghana
- Soji Ogunnaike (Dead Tide) — Nigeria
- Jeremiah Onoge (ISODEHI) — Nigeria
(K). BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
- Austin Kings (FOLLOW ME FOREVER) — Nigeria
- Emomotimi Samuel (The Source…) — Nigeria
- Patrick Osei Owusu (Captain Ibrahim Traore) — Ghana
- Taiwo Adeleye (in Dead Tide) — Nigeria
(L) BEST EDITOR
- Nnenna Abugu (FOLLOW ME FOREVER) — Nigeria
- Emos O. Samuel (The Source…) — Nigeria
- Walker Bentil (Captain Ibrahim Traore) — Ghana
- Nsisong Essien (Dead Tide) — Nigeria
(M) BEST SCREENPLAY
- Sandy Zion (FOLLOW ME FOREVER)– Nigeria
- Emosco Victor (The Source…) — Nigeria
- Jackson Kwaku Bentum (Captain Ibrahim Traore) — Ghana
- Chijioke Ononiwu (Dead Tide) — Nigeria
5 Teshola Boukwei (ISODEHI) — Nigeria
(N) BEST SOUNDTRACK
- Follow Me Forever — Nigeria
- The Source… — Nigeria
- DJ Clem (Dead Tide) — Nigeria
- Gregoire Lompo (Captain Ibrahim Traore) — Ghana
(O) BEST LIGHTING
- Follow Me Forever — Nigeria
- The Source… — Nigeria
- Muri (Dead Tide) — Nigeria
- Emmanuel Abrokwaa (Captain Ibrahim Traore) — Ghana
THE JURY OF WARRIFF 2026
- Amayo Uzo Philips – President
- Prof. Tony Adah – Member
- Joe Dudun – Member
- Theophilus Akatugba – Member
- Adenike Ayodele – Member
