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African Smartphone Film Festival Showcases Global Innovation

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The African Smartphone Film Festival spotlights mobile and AI filmmaking, celebrating innovation and global talent in digital cinema

The ninth edition of the African Smartphone International Film Festival (ASIFF) showcased how smartphones, AI, and digital-first production models are reshaping global cinema.

Also read: South Korea Bans Phones in Classrooms to Boost Focus

The festival, held from 18 to 21 December 2025, brought together filmmakers from Africa, Europe, Asia, and the Americas under the theme “The Future of Film Is Already in Your Hands.”

Founded in 2017 by filmmaker Michael Osheku, ASIFF was created to demonstrate that compelling films could be made without expensive cameras or large crews.

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The festival now promotes “African SmartFilm,” a movement combining mobile filmmaking, AI-assisted production, experimental techniques, and culturally rooted narratives designed for contemporary screens.

The 2025 programme reflected evolving audience habits and platforms, featuring mobile cinema, vertical and social-first storytelling, AI-powered creation, animation, and digital distribution.

Screenings ranged from short films and documentaries to feature-length narratives and AI-generated works.

Award winners included Nigeria’s Kelechi Eze, whose Road to Hell took Best African Feature Film, and India’s Adhithya Baby, awarded Best International Feature Film for Cupid Saw the Star.

Cameroon’s Echoes of You won Best African Short Film, while the UK’s Mask received Best International Short Film.

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Canada’s Abandoned in the 6ix was named Best Narrative Short Film.

Innovation was central to the festival.

Australia’s FaceTime won Best Experimental Short Film, while Taiwan’s Samurai Spirits received Best AI Film.

Documentary awards went to Kenya’s When the Water Rises(Best Documentary Short) and Brazil’s Water Vapour (Best Documentary Feature).

Individual and technical achievements were also recognised.

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Nigeria’s Fiyinfolu Okedare won Best Actor for Sabbath, while Priscila Buiar took Best Actress for Prayer Petrópolis (Brazil).

Best Cinematography was awarded to José (Italy).

The festival also highlighted leadership and social relevance.

The Happiness Experiment* (USA) won Best Social Impact Film, with Meghan Reese named Best Producer.

Kenya’s Ramadhan Nungu received Best Director for Hatua.

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Emerging talent was celebrated, with Tosin Olomu (Nigeria) winning Best First-Time Filmmaker, and Wendy Munangwe (Kenya) and Offie Darlington (Nigeria) recognised as Next Rated Female and Male Filmmakers.

Honourable Mentions went to projects from Korea, Venezuela, Brazil, Indonesia, Egypt, the UK, and South Africa.

Also read: Yul Edochie Cashless Policy Plea Sparks Emotional Nationwide Reactions

Beyond awards, ASIFF provides mentorship and resources for filmmakers, signalling that smartphone and digital filmmaking is no longer peripheral but an increasingly influential force in global cinema.

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Entertainment

Lizzy Anjorin Questions Court Order Over Priscilla Ojo’s Son

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Nollywood actress Lizzy Anjorin has questioned the authenticity of an interim order issued by the Lagos State High Court on 2 September 2026, restraining her from publishing photographs of Priscilla Ojo’s one-year-old son, Rakeem Mkambala, and from posting editorials concerning the family on specified social media platforms.

Anjorin raised the issue during an Instagram Live session on Friday, 4 September, after Priscilla shared a copy of the court order online.

The actress argued that publicising court documents before formally serving the respondent undermines the case.

“Your case na dead on arrival. If you post court letter on any platform before serving person wey you wan go serve, that court case na fake court case,” Anjorin said during the live session.

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Her comments came shortly after the High Court of Lagos State granted an ex parte application brought by Priscilla, her husband, Tanzanian singer Juma Mussa Mkambala, and their son, Rakeem.

Justice Yetunde Adesanya issued the interim order in Suit No. LD/ADR/6646/2026.

The order restrains Anjorin, as well as people acting under her authority, from publishing, posting, circulating, uploading or broadcasting photographs of Rakeem on specified social media platforms, including Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp and TikTok.

The court also directed Anjorin to cease publishing or broadcasting editorials concerning the applicants on the platforms covered by the order.

An ex parte order is made at an interim stage without the respondent being heard. The order is therefore not a final determination of the dispute and remains subject to further proceedings.

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Priscilla shared the certified copy of the order on her Instagram Story on Friday, bringing the legal development into public view.

Anjorin’s reaction centres on the timing and manner in which the court documents were publicised. Her assertion that such publication makes a case “fake” is her own claim and is not a finding contained in the court order.

The development marks another chapter in the prolonged public dispute between Anjorin and Priscilla’s family, particularly Priscilla’s mother, actress Iyabo Ojo.

The disagreement has played out largely on social media and has previously resulted in legal action, including a ₦1 billion defamation suit filed by Iyabo Ojo against Anjorin.

In recent weeks, the dispute has also drawn Priscilla and her young son into the controversy, following public comments by Anjorin concerning the family.

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BBNaija Kess Says Big Brother Makes Life Harder

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Kesiena Tony Adjekpovu, popularly known as Kess, has said that participating in Big Brother Naija can make life harder, offering a candid reflection on the challenges that may come with the reality television experience.

The former Big Brother Naija housemate made the comment in a statement shared on social media, where he suggested that winning or simply taking part in the reality show does not necessarily make life easier after leaving the house.

“Big Brother makes your life harder,” Kess said.

The remark has drawn attention because life after reality television can bring a different set of expectations, particularly as former housemates adjust to increased public attention and the pressure that can accompany visibility.

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Kess was a housemate on the seventh season of Big Brother Naija, which aired in 2022. He entered the show as a businessman and was among the contestants who competed for the season’s grand prize.

His time on the programme also placed him in the public eye, giving viewers an opportunity to follow his personality and relationships inside the house.

Kess’s latest comment offers a more reflective view of the reality TV platform, suggesting that the experience does not end when a contestant leaves the house.

However, he did not provide further details in the available post explaining which specific aspects of life after Big Brother he was referring to.

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Damilola Oni Suffers Backlash at Mama Deola Movie Premiere

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Damilola Oni

Nigerian actress Damilola Oni has come under heavy fire across social media over her controversial outfit at the star-studded Mama Deola movie premiere (more…)

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