Dignitaries, filmmakers and members of the creative sector stormed the Kaduna International Film Festival (KADIFF) as it climaxed on Saturday, 29th August 2026, with Special Recognition Awards. Leadership Newspapers was recognised for its contributions to promoting film and tourism in Nigeria. Adejoke Alabi-Henry, the Editor, Lifestyle and Culture at Leadership Newspapers, while receiving the […]
Dignitaries, filmmakers and members of the creative sector stormed the Kaduna International Film Festival (KADIFF) as it climaxed on Saturday, 29th August 2026, with Special Recognition Awards.
Leadership Newspapers was recognised for its contributions to promoting film and tourism in Nigeria.
Adejoke Alabi-Henry, the Editor, Lifestyle and Culture at Leadership Newspapers, while receiving the award on behalf of the newspaper organisation, thanked the organisers of KADIFF for the recognition and assured them of more robust collaborations in the future.
Others who got honoured at the award night held last weekend include the executive director of the National Film and Video Censors Board, Dr Shaibu Hussein, Managing Director of Nigeria Film Corporation, Dr Ali Nuhu, Femi Adebayo, Uche Ogbodo, Uzee Usman, Dr Tony Akposheri, Asabe Madaki, Juliet Ibrahim, Senator Shehu Sani, among others.
Themed ‘cultural Renaissance’, the film festival had training sessions across different value chains of the movie industry.
When Love Prays by Ben Casssie (Nigeria) won the feature film of the year at the ceremony.
Founded by Kashim Israel Audu, the film festival has continued to impact the movie industry in the north
Below are the categories of the Award:
SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARD
1. FEMI ADEBAYO
2. DR. SHAIBU HUSSEINI Husseini (ED NATIONAL FILM AND VIDEO CENSORS BOARD)
3. DR. ALI NUHU (MD. NIGERIAN FILM COOPERATION)
4. OLA AWAKAN (DG NIGERIAN TOURISM DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY)
5. UCHE OGBODO
6. JULIET IBRAHIM
7. RABIU RIKADAWA
8. UZEE USMAN
9. SEN. SHEHU SANI
10. NASIRU MUHAMMAD
11. ASABE MADAKI
12. FIONA GARBA
13. HAPPY JULIAN
14. JOHN COSTER
15. HALIMA ABDULRAUF CEO S24 TELEVISION
16. CHARLES ERUKAA
17. Prince Daniel Aboki
LEADERSHIP NEWSPAPER
Sani Ahmed Kankarofi
Hon. Ahmed Maiyaki
Commissioner for Information and Culture, Kaduna State, Nigeria
Hon. Patience Fakai
Commissioner for Business, innovation and technology. Kaduna state Nigeria
Barrister Gloria Ibrahim
Commissioner for Youth Development, Kaduna State, Nigeria
Dr Tony Akposheri
Mr Koye Shotade (Channels Television)
Late Hajiya Wasila Ismail (Posthumous Award)
9TH KADUNA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL WINNERS
BEST FEATURE FILM
When Love Prays by Ben Casssie (Nigeria)
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Adui (Uganda)
BEST DIRECTOR
When Love Prays by Ben Cassie
BEST ACTOR (MALE)
Uzee Usman as Hamza in When Love Prays
BEST ACTOR (FEMALE)
MIREMBE DOREEN JR as Atim in Mama Wange
BEST SUPPORTING / SUB-LEAD MALE
Chimezie Imo as Nnamdi in Nini
BEST SUPPORTING / SUB-LEAD FEMALE
Iva U. Abraham as Salome in Pink Diary
BEST EDITOR
Okoth Peter & Alibet Joshua – Adui
BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN
Pink Diary – Samuel Idaigboya
BEST STUDENT FILM
The Traveller by Dizzy Noah (Nigeria)
BEST ANIMATION
Then I Grew Up – Ssenani Ssentongo (Uganda)
BEST INDIGENOUS FILM CATEGORY
Oyiza by Yemi Filmboy Morafa (Nigeria)
BEST SHORT FILM
For A Purpose Reborn by NATUKUNDA BLACE (Uganda)
BEST DOCUMENTARY FILM
Made in Uganda by NTALE DERRICK CHRISTOPHER (Uganda)
