The third edition of The Filmjoint Awards 2026 took place on February 7 at Alliance Française in Lagos, celebrating short films, filmmakers, actors, and creative teams who bring these short stories to life. This year’s categories are divided into voting and non-voting sections, allowing audiences an opportunity to vote for their favourites. Public voting ended on November 6, 2025.
Wapah Ezeigwe’s Shall We Meet Tonight, with the most nominations, emerged as one of the biggest winners with three awards, including Best African Film, Best Picture, and Best Cinematography. Story Priest’s On Our Skin also took home three awards in acting, directing, and production design categories.
This edition of the ceremony introduced the Best AI Film award, in collaboration with the Naija AI Film Festival. The inaugural award went to Godzilla in Lagos by David Mgbeahuru.
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See the full list of winners below.
Best International Film (non-voting)
Thomas Negovan – Aurora (United States)
Levgen Koshyn – Chop Chop! (United Kingdom)
Adi Alfa – Bleached Out (United Kingdom) – WINNER
Stacey Darkwaah Duah – The Wilderness (United Kingdom)
Trevor Hardy – Buckshot (United Kingdom)
Best African Film (non-voting)
Barbara Minishi – Inheritance (Kenya)
Wapah Ezeigwe – Shall We Meet Tonight (Nigeria) – WINNER
Myde Glover, Morenikeji Uka – Irin Ajo (The Journey) (Nigeria)
Myde Glover – Isekonu (Nigeria)
Maurice Muendo – The Date (Kenya)
Abisola Ajayi – Ogbanje (Nigeria)
Best Indigenous Film (non-voting)
Wapah Ezeigwe – Shall We Meet Tonight
Adejo ‘Story Priest’ Emmanuel – Isekonu – WINNER
Nathaniel Deme – Ogbanje
Uchenna Ugwu – I Too Crave Death
Fayomi Temitope Samson – Anfani Ikeyin (Chance Medley)
Joy Nmezi – Slot
Kolade Mann – Ovisa
Best Picture (non-voting)
Thomas Negovan, Danielle Montana – Aurora
Bisi Alimi, Lanre Njoku – Shall We Meet Tonight – WINNER
Ivy Kiru – Inheritance
Mel Rouge – Toll Free
Stan Nze, Blessing Obasi-Nze – Unbound
Somto Ihezue, Bella Nadia Bemighi, Emmy Williams & Oreoluwa Obadofin – On Our Skin
Eugene Koshin – Chop Chop
Best Director
Wapah Ezeigwe – Shall We Meet Tonight
Joy Nmezi – Slot
James Amuta, Mel Rouge – Toll Free
Abiodun Udom, Adejo ‘Story Priest’ Emmanuel – On Our Skin – WINNER
Peter Inyang – Unbound
Kolade Mann – Ovisa
Ayomide A. Coker – Two Of Us
Best Cinematography
Ayoola Oladimeji – Shall We Meet Tonight – WINNER
Ifeme C.S – Slot
Ubong Ofong – Ovisa
Joseph Oladunjoye – Toll Free
Oluwaseun Sodeke – Mara
Tosin Igho – Unbound
Oyedokun ‘Davoy’ David – Two Of Us
Best Production Design
Wapah Ezeigwe – Shall We Meet Tonight
Lancy Artistry – Isekonu
Babatunde Oluwashogo – Ovisa
Tega Obahor – Nightmare
Nneka Jane Mekwunye – On Our Skin – WINNER
Stanley Okeke, Mayowa Damilare – Slot
Oluwatomiwa Otun – Mara
Best Sound Overall
McPherson Aghah – Shall We Meet Tonight
Idono Onyemunosa-Ibeeabuchi – Slot
Elias Gbadebo – On Our Skin
Kolade Mann – Ovisa – WINNER
Davison Onyemali – The Cry
Adams Ilia Smith, Joseph Bankole – Unbound
Elias Gbadebo – Ebiren Re
Best Actor in A Leading Role
Moshood Fattah – Slot
Seun Ajayi – Mofe
Korede Lawal – On Our Skin – WINNER
Anthony Nwahiri – Song Of Solomon
Cheyi Okoaye – Cause, Effect & Maybe Consequence
Nwankwo Kingsley Obi – To The He Who Wants Nothing More
Josiah Chuks Adigwe – Beneath The Surface
Best Actress in A Leading Role
Goodness Emmanuel – Shall We Meet Tonight
Adunolaoluwa Osilowo – Isekonu
Jessica Gabriel’s Ujah – Echoes
Chinaza Ezeani –The Cry
Chinelo Ejianwu – Unbound
Hauwa ‘Nananikeji’ Issa – Inside Of Me
Diekola Blessing – Two Of Us – WINNER
Best Screenplay (Original Or Adapted) (Non-Voting)
Myde Glover – Irin Ajo
Adejo ‘Story Priest’ Emmanuel – Isekonu
Uchenna Ugwu –I Too Crave Death – WINNER
Wisdom Deji-Folutile – Able Leader
Ufouma Bakporhe – Two Hearts One Soul
Tobi Hassan – The Cry
Thecla Uzozie – Unbound
Best Costume Design
Olufisayo Sholaja – Isekonu
Latifat Ifunaya Jadesimi – On Our Skin
Ohlanna Bu Zikora – Shall We Meet Tonight
Jadesimi Latifat Ifunanya – Ovisa – WINNER
Adunjesu Pedro – Toll Free
Precious Araromi – Mara
Olamide Awodire – Echoes
Best Make-Up/Sfx
Maureen Ebhodaghe – On Our Skin
Josephine Olukoju – Àńfàní Ìkẹyìn (Chance Medley)
Deola Soneye – Nightmare
Anuoluwapo Fayenuwo – Two Of Us – WINNER
Maureen Ebhodaghe – Ebiren Re
Modupe Durojaiye – Song Of Solomon
Omalicha – Isekonu
Best Film Editing
Tobi Hassan – The Cry – WINNER
Taofik Ahmed, Darlington Odor, Godspower Emmanuel – Mofe
Wisdom Deji-Folutile – Able Leader
Enobong Albert – Song Of Solomon
Oloyede LCH Luthman – To He Who Wants Nothing More
Olamilekan Adedayo – Inside Of Me
Taofik Ahmed, Darlington Odor, Godspower Emmanuel – Ovisa
Best Documentary Film
Shedrack Salami – Beyond Olympic Glory – WINNER
Annabelle Ayangbade – What I Do Not Know Will Not Kill Me
Celestina Aleobua – Tina When Will You Marry
Ian Gituku – Toes Down
Damola Adewale, Makinde Oluwaseyifunmi – Henry, Reporting
Shittu Abdulafiz – The Grief
Best Student Film
Yinka Ikubuwaje – Omo Eko(Nigeria) – WINNER
Olabode Isreal Ibukunoluwa, Oghenekevwe Okporuwa – The Samaritan (Nigeria)
Ivande Miracle Ikyegh – Photoshoot (Nigeria)
Kevin Mukama – Please Wait (Uganda)
Christopher Leisewitz, Obakeng Malete – Isithunzi (South Africa)
Refilwe Thaka – Switched Perception
Jury Award For Outstanding Storytelling (Non-Voting)
Thomas Negovan – Aurora
Wapah Ezeigwe –Shall We Meet Tonight
Barbara Minishi – Inheritance
Adejo ‘Story Priest’ Emmanuel – Isekonu
Peter Inyang – Unbound
Levgen Koshyn – Chop Chop – WINNER
Filmjoint Award For Voice Of Impact (Non-Voting)
Myde Glover – Isekonu
Joy Nmezi – Slot
Mel Rouge – Toll Free – WINNER
Wisdom Deji-Folutile – Able Leader
Uchenna Ugwu – I Too Crave Death
Enobong Albert – Song Of Solomon
Stan Nze, Blessing Obasi Nze – Unbound
NAIFF Award For Best AI Film
David Mgbeahuru – Godzilla in Lagos (Nigeria) – WINNER
Promise Awoji – Courage (Nigeria)
Gurkan Atakan – The Root (Turkiye)
Jimena Aguilar – Finnish And Paranoid Dream (Argentina)
Stephen Shenboyejo – Dead Drop (Nigeria)
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