Nigerian Film Festivals and Holiday Screenings 2025

If you love films and you love “Detty December”, then 2025 is your year. There are packed festival schedules and special Christmas premieres that will give movie lovers plenty of reasons to dress up, buy tickets and sit in dark halls with strangers who clap at the same scenes.

From big industry events like AFRIFF in Lagos to the Zuma Film Festival in Abuja, plus smaller regional festivals and diaspora showcases, the Nollywood film festival calendar is stacked. For more entertainment during this festive period, include December releases, cinema promos, and church/community movie nights, and you’ll suddenly realise that the holiday season in Nigeria is now also a movie season. 

In this article, we’ll walk through the major Nigerian film festivals, highlight key November–December events, and then look at how Nollywood Christmas movies and other festive releases are taking over screens nationwide.

Major Nigerian Film Festivals 2025

1. AFRIFF 2025 – Africa International Film Festival (Lagos)

AFRIFF 2025 remains one of Africa’s biggest film events, annually held in Lagos, Nigeria. The event typically spans a week, and it includes award shows and film training classes. AFRIFF combines screenings, masterclasses, and markets with the AFRIFF Globe Awards, which celebrate excellence across African and diaspora cinema. 

The 2025 Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF) was held from November 2 to 8, 2025, in Lagos, Nigeria. The festival’s theme was “Rhythms of the Continent: The Afrobeats Film Movement”, and it included film screenings and industry events like the Africa Creative Market. 

2. Zuma Film Festival – Abuja

The Nigerian Film Corporation Zuma was established in 1979 and tasked with laying the foundation for a vibrant and sustainable film industry in Nigeria. Its vision is to project Africa’s rich cultural heritage and contemporary narratives worldwide; it also includes developing the Nigerian film industry, which is now recognised as a global film brand. The Zuma Film Festival will be held this year in Abuja, Nigeria, from December 1st to 5th, 2025. The 15th edition of the festival will feature screenings, masterclasses, industry forums, and prestigious awards.  

3. Eko International Film Festival 2025 – Lagos

Eko International Film Festival 2025 continues to highlight both Nigerian and international films, with an emphasis on innovation and quality. Articles have mentioned Nigerian festivals, including specific details. The 15th edition of Eko, a prominent Lagos-based event, took place in April 2025. Hence, the next Eko International Film Festival is scheduled for May 11-15, 2026. 

4. ENIFF 2025 – Eastern Nigeria Film & Arts Initiative

ENIFF is the Eastern Nigeria International Film Festival, an annual event in Enugu, Nigeria, that is focused on showcasing African stories and connecting filmmakers with global audiences. It serves as a platform for independent filmmakers, digital artists, and storytellers to exhibit their work, gain industry knowledge, and participate in cultural exchanges.  

The 6th edition of the Eastern Nigeria International Film Festival (ENIFF) is currently underway, running from November 26 to 29, 2025, in Enugu, Nigeria. The event is being held at the IMT International Conference Centre. The festival, themed “Reframe. Reimagine. Rethink,” features film screenings, workshops, masterclasses, and a pitch competition. Attendance is free, but registration is compulsory to participate in the various events. 

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Lagos International Film and Cinema Convention 2025

The Lagos International Film and Cinema Convention offers cinema owners the opportunity to explore the latest and most significant advancements in concession and cinema equipment, catering to a competitive, high-stakes sector. If you are in the business of cinema exhibition, film distribution, and film production, or if operating a cinema is one of your business goals, you must be present at LIFACC in November 2025, as numerous industry professionals are expected to attend. We postponed this event from July 16–18, 2025, to November 20–21, 2025, in Lagos, Nigeria. 

Other notable Nigerian film events are: 

• Abuja International Film Festival
•  iREP International Documentary Festival

There is another Nigerian film festival, but it doesn’t take place in Nigeria. It is the NollywoodWeek Film Festival in Paris. The 2025 NollywoodWeek Film Festival ran from May 7 to 11, 2025, at Cinéma l’Arlequin, featuring Nigerian features and shorts, as well as panels and mentorship sessions. NollywoodWeek’s mission is to promote Nigerian cinema in Paris and connect Nigerian creators with international audiences, a mission it’s been pursuing since 2013. 

Cinema Events and Christmas Specials

Cinemas and venues are also offering unique Christmas experiences as part of their holiday programming. Some of these cinemas are:  

• Kirche Cinemas: they are promoting dedicated Christmas screening events from December 24 to 26, marketed as festive escapes for families and movie lovers. 

• Heritage Cinemas and OOPL Cinemas have been teasing Christmas titles and holiday trailers for films like Colours of Fire.
• Chains like Silverbird also plug “Nigeria Cinema Day” and Christmas Eve experiences. This encourages fans to come out for special screenings and offers in November and December 2025. 

Conclusion: Christmas Cinema Events in Nigeria.

Put it all together, and you’ll see that Nigerian film festivals are the engine for the December celebration and entertainment. AFRIFF establishes the mood in Lagos, Zuma brings the year to a close in Abuja, Eko and ENIFF maintain a busy schedule in between, and Nollywood Christmas movies and other holiday releases round off the festivities at cinemas and online. For film lovers, that means you can plan your year around premieres, panels and red carpets and still end up in December with popcorn in hand, watching something new with people you care about.

If you enjoy guides that connect film, travel, culture, and the Nigerian lifestyle, you can always find more lists, breakdowns, and ideas on RexClarkeAdventures.com.

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FAQs About Nigerian Film Festivals and Holiday Screenings 2025

1: Which Nigerian film festivals in fall 2025 are closest to the holiday season?

AFRIFF in early November, the Eko International Film Festival in Lagos, ENIFF in late November, and Zuma Film Festival in Abuja from 1–5 December all lead directly into the Christmas period, making them ideal if you want to mix travel, festivals, and early holiday vibes.

2: Where can I watch Nollywood Christmas movies in 2025 during the holidays?

You’ll find Nollywood Christmas movies and other festive releases in major cinema chains like Silverbird, Ozone and Heritage Cinemas, at special Christmas events like Kirche Cinemas’ December screenings, and on YouTube/streaming platforms that promote “Latest Nigerian Movies 2025” and Christmas titles. 

3: Are Nigerian film festivals open to regular movie fans or only industry professionals?

Most major Nollywood film festivals, such as AFRIFF, Zuma, Eko, and ENIFF, offer public screenings alongside industry-only sessions. You may need festival passes or tickets, but they are very open to film lovers who just want to watch, learn, and enjoy, not only professionals.