Lagos International Festival of Animation (LIFANIMA) crowns 2025 winners and unveils a ₦22.5m NOA Animation Award to boost creativity

The Lagos International Festival of Animation (LIFANIMA) has announced the winners of its 9th edition, celebrating creativity and innovation in African and global animation.

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This year’s festival attracted 1,337 submissions from 114 countries, reaffirming its status as one of the continent’s premier animation showcases.

FIRE REGALIA, directed by Enose Emmanuel, clinched the Best Visual Effects Award, while BANKING NEVER STOPS WITH KEYSTONE BANK, directed by Chinagozim Abraham, won Best Animation Commercial.

The award for Best Stop Motion Animation went to THE TRAVAILS OF AJADI, directed by Adetunji Adeoye, while Francis Brown’s BLINDED BY THE LIGHTS triumphed in the 3D Animation category. Damilola Solesi’s HADU was named Best 2D Animation.

Adding an exciting new dimension, the National Orientation Agency (NOA) unveiled the NOA Animation Award, with a total cash prize of ₦22.5 million. The award, implemented in partnership with LIFANIMA, will soon open for entries.

Panel sessions featured animated discussions with experts from Nigeria, Uganda, and South Africa, alongside representatives from government and the private sector.

Children were also part of the excitement as the LIFANIMA Kids Animation Park offered fun activities, learning experiences, and film screenings tailored for young audiences.

The festival’s success in 2025 was made possible through the support of sponsors and partners, including the Embassy of France in Nigeria, National Orientation Agency, Bank of Industry, Checkers Custard, and Sovereign Trust Insurance.