The awards ceremony, which marked the conclusion of AFRIFF’s 15th edition in Lagos, also recognised several other African productions and filmmakers across feature, short film, documentary, animation, and acting categories.
By Joseph Jonathan
Ugandan filmmaker Maureen Jolly Nankya’s Slum Bomber has won Best Feature Film at the 2026 Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF), while Nigerian filmmaker Olive Nwosu received Best Director for her feature debut, Lady, at the festival’s Globe Awards.
The awards ceremony, which marked the conclusion of AFRIFF’s 15th edition in Lagos, also recognised several other African productions and filmmakers across feature, short film, documentary, animation, and acting categories.
Nankya’s Slum Bomber, a boxing drama centred on a young Ugandan woman who turns to the sport in an attempt to improve her family’s circumstances, had previously secured 14 nominations at the 2026 Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA). Vivian Nneka Nwajiaku recently reviewed the film as part of Afrocritik’s coverage of this year’s festival.
Nwosu’s Lady, meanwhile, received the festival’s opening-night screening. The film, which follows a Lagos taxi driver navigating the city’s underbelly while confronting the consequences of her past, previously premiered in the World Cinema Dramatic Competition at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival, where it won the Special Jury Award for Acting Ensemble before screening at the Berlinale. Afrocritik has also published a review and an interview with the filmmaker.
The Audience Choice Award went to Adanne, directed by Orobosa Ikponmwen. The Nigerian drama explores the experiences of three generations of Igbo women and their relationships with marriage, motherhood, and inherited expectations. Ahead of its AFRIFF screening, Afrocritik spoke with Ikponmwen, the film’s writer-producer Gold Gerry, and co-producer Lotanna Nwose about its development and the complexities of bringing the story to the screen.
South African co-directors Jason Jacobs and Devon Delmar’s Variations on a Theme received the Special Jury Prize for Outstanding Film. The film has enjoyed a notable festival run, winning the Tiger Award at the International Film Festival Rotterdam, Best African Film at the Joburg Film Festival, and the Best Feature Narrative Jury Prize at BlackStar International Film Festival. It was also selected as South Africa’s submission for the 99th Academy Awards. Afrocritik previously reviewed the film and interviewed its directors.
Other notable winners included One Woman, One Bra, with Sarah Karei receiving Best Female Actor for her performance in the Kenyan-Nigerian production. Directed by Vincho Nchogu and produced by Nigerian filmmaker Josh Olaoluwa, the film previously won the Sutherland Award for Best First Feature at the 2025 BFI London Film Festival and received 14 nominations at the 2026 Africa Movie Academy Awards. Afrocritik has published an interview with Nchogu and Olaoluwa about the film.
Nigerian filmmaker Kaelo Iyizoba’s The Spectacular Death of Prisca won Best Short Film, while Iyizoba also received the Pulse Award for Emerging Filmmaker. The short previously earned an Honourable Mention in the Short Cuts category at the 2026 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). Afrocritik recently interviewed Iyizoba about the film and its engagement with the aesthetics of Old Nollywood.
The full list of 2026 AFRIFF Globe Awards winners is below.
AFRIFF 2026 Globe Awards Winners
- Best Feature Film: Slum Bomber — Maureen Jolly Nankya
- Best Director: Olive Nwosu — Lady
- Audience Choice Award: Adanne — Orobosa Ikponmwen
- Special Jury Prize for Outstanding Film: Variations on a Theme — Jason Jacobs and Devon Delmar
- Best Female Actor: Sarah Karei — One Woman, One Bra
- Best Male Actor: Stevenson Jean — The Tropic Sun and His Eyes
- Best International Feature: The Tropic Sun and His Eyes — Elisee Junior St Preux
- Best Short Film: The Spectacular Death of Prisca — Kaelo Iyizoba
- Best Documentary: Miss Jobson — Amanda Sans Pantling
- Special Mention, Documentary: For Life — Ahmet Seven
- Best Animation: Lice n’ Shine — Maria Byoma
- Best International Short: Little Soldier — Roxana Karami
- Best Student Short: Sinai America — Rewan Musa
- Best Documentary Short: Throne of Wood — Sadegh Kazemi
- Best Screenplay: Elisee Junior St Preux — The Tropic Sun and His Eyes
- Pulse Award for Emerging Filmmaker: Kaelo Iyizoba — The Spectacular Death of Prisca
AFRIFF Loyalty Awards: The Herbert Wigwe Award for Excellence
Named in memory of the late Herbert Wigwe, the award recognises individuals whose work and contributions have advanced African creativity and cinema.
- Danielle Brooks — Academy Award-nominated actress, Grammy Award winner, and producer.
- Francis Nebot — For his vision, leadership, and contribution to the global evolution of African cinema.
- Kene Okwuosa — For his leadership and contributions to African cinema, exhibition, and distribution.
- Joel Chikapa-Phiri — For his leadership and innovation in African film and television over three decades.