The maiden edition of the Africa International Christian Film Festival (AICFF) 2026 has concluded successfully in Abuja, bringing together leading Christian filmmakers, storytellers, media professionals, and church leaders from across Africa and beyond for four days of learning, collaboration, and inspiration.
Held from June 3 to June 6 at Silverbird Cinemas in Abuja’s Central Business District, the festival was themed “God’s Creative Army” and focused on equipping Christian creatives to influence culture through excellence-driven storytelling.
The event attracted prominent figures in the global faith-based film industry, including the Kendrick Brothers, renowned for producing impactful Christian movies, veteran gospel filmmaker Mike Bamiloye, and representatives of Kingdom Story Company. Participants engaged in film screenings, masterclasses, panel discussions, networking sessions, and industry-focused conversations aimed at strengthening faith-based filmmaking across the continent.
Speaking during the festival, organizers emphasized the need for Christian creatives to embrace both spiritual commitment and professional excellence in order to effectively communicate Kingdom values through film and media.
The opening ceremony featured goodwill messages from international faith-film leaders, including Alex and Stephen Kendrick of the Kendrick Brothers, Paul Sirmons of the International Christian Visual Media (ICVM), Phillip Telpher of the Christian Worldview Film Festival, and Tim Shields of the CONTENT Media Conference.
Mike Bamiloye delivered a keynote address on “Identity and Kingdom Storytelling,” encouraging filmmakers to remain grounded in their Christian values while creating stories capable of transforming lives and impacting society. Dr. Felix Oisamoje of the Christian Broadcast Network (CBN) also spoke on the festival’s central theme, while Teniola Zara King presented a keynote on the state of faith-based filmmaking in Africa.
A major highlight of the opening day was the screening of “Where The River Divides,” followed by a panel discussion on how the Church can reclaim storytelling and shape culture through media and entertainment.
Throughout the second and third days, attendees participated in intensive training sessions and industry discussions covering topics such as effective faith-based storytelling, film distribution, revenue generation, and strategies for taking African Christian films to global audiences.
Industry experts including Moses Babatope, Chris Odeh, Joshua Carpenter, Rex Nwakamma, Kunle Falodun, Hakeem Kae-Kazim Condotti, and Bright Wonder Obasi shared insights on navigating the evolving film industry while maintaining faith-centered narratives.
The final day focused on building sustainable partnerships within the Christian film community. A co-production mixer encouraged collaborations among filmmakers, while church media and drama departments were challenged to adopt higher standards of storytelling and strengthen cooperation across ministries.
One of the most anticipated segments of the festival was the AICFF Pitch-A-Thon, where six shortlisted screenwriters presented their projects before industry stakeholders. Tomisin Faoye emerged as the winner, receiving a cash prize of ₦250,000, mentorship support through Gospel Cinema International, and a development opportunity under the First Features Project led by veteran filmmaker Steve Gukas.
The festival also unveiled six participants selected for a mentorship programme under Kingdom Story Company, the studio behind acclaimed films such as Unsung Hero, Jesus Revolution, and I Can Only Imagine. The selected filmmakers are Joshua Adeyi, Ayomide Aina, Phillip Oyeleye, Olayinka Ayinde, Temidayo Ayodele, and Miracle Ebute.
A recurring message throughout the event was the call for Christian creatives to boldly embrace their identity while striving for excellence, innovation, and global relevance.
The festival concluded with the AICFF Awards 2026, recognizing outstanding achievements in Christian filmmaking. Where The River Divides dominated the awards, winning Best Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Directing, Best Music/Soundtrack, Best Evangelical Film, and the coveted Overall Best Film award.
Other winners included In Custody for Best Short Film, Forgiving The Nightmare for Best Editing and Best Foreign Film, Lavender Hills for Best Documentary, Gadwill Odhiabo Dennis for Best Male Actor, and Faith Ohuoba for Best Female Actor.
As the curtains closed on its inaugural edition, AICFF 2026 left participants with renewed passion and optimism for the future of faith-based filmmaking in Africa. Organizers have already begun preparations for an expanded and more impactful edition of the festival in 2027, with the goal of positioning Africa as a major force in global Christian storytelling.
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