The organisers of the International Students Film Festival have announced a call for participation for the 4th edition of the festival, scheduled to hold from 19th to 23rd November 2026 at Centre For African Arts And Festival Studies, Akwa Ibom State University, Uyo, under the theme Connecting Generations.
The festival was founded in 2022 by renowned Nollywood filmmaker and cultural activist, Ambassador Dr. Lancelot Oduwa Imasuen, who is widely known across the Nigerian film industry as De’ Guvnor of Nollywood and has produced over five hundred films since beginning his career in 1995. The International Students Film Festival was built on a simple but deliberate idea: a travelling festival that moves from one university campus to another, bringing the film industry directly to the next generation of filmmakers.
The festival is structured to continuously move from one campus to another each year, with engaging activities including hands-on masterclasses, film screenings, award nights, and more. It is open to filmmakers from universities, polytechnics, colleges of education, high schools, and academies. The maiden edition attracted over 250 entries from different countries across the world, including Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon, Kenya, and Spain, with the independent jury selecting about 37 films from Africa and 22 films from outside the continent for screening.
The previous edition, hosted by Imo State University, recorded notable success, with students from Wigwe University winning four major awards, highlighting the growing competitiveness and excellence among participants.
The 2026 edition comes to Uyo following formal institutional approval. The hosting of ISFF 2026 follows the approval of the Vice Chancellor, Professor Otoabasi Akpan, who accepted the role of Grand Patron of the festival as conferred by the founder. This was formalised on 9th March 2026 when the festival team, led by the Acting Director of the Centre for African Arts and Festival Studies, Dr. Lucy Iseyen, paid a courtesy visit to the Vice Chancellor and conferred the honour on him. In his response, Professor Akpan pledged strong institutional support, assuring that all necessary resources would be provided to ensure the success of the event.
The 2026 edition will feature a rich programme of activities including film screenings, panel discussions, masterclasses, networking sessions, and award presentations recognising outstanding student productions. It will also bring together academics, industry experts, and creative leaders committed to nurturing the next generation of filmmakers.
Award categories at the festival include Best Actor in a male and female role, Best Director, Best Editor, Best Cinematography, Best Screenplay, Best Costume, Best Short Film, Best Overall Film, Best Humanitarian Documentary, and Best Live Contest, among others. Several of these categories carry named honours recognising pillars of the Nigerian film industry.
Submissions are open across five categories: short films, documentaries, animations, experimental films, and music videos. Participation is open to students worldwide. Interested persons can reach the organisers via call or WhatsApp on +234 802 106 6914 or +234 706 869 9285.
