The 2025 edition of the Lagos International Festival of Animation (LIFANIMA) celebrated the best of African creativity as top animators and studios from across the continent were honoured for their outstanding work. The ninth edition of the festival, held in Lagos, featured over 1,300 submissions from 114 countries, confirming its growing global recognition as one of Africa’s biggest animation events.
This year’s festival also saw the unveiling of the National Orientation Agency (NOA) Animation Award, a new initiative with a total cash prize of ₦22.5 million, designed to encourage the use of animation in storytelling, education, and national reorientation. The contest, announced in partnership with LIFANIMA, will open for entries soon.
In the awards segment, Fire Regalia, directed by Enose Emmanuel, won Best Visual Effects, while Banking Never Stops with Keystone Bank, directed by Chinagozim Abraham, earned the Best Animation Commercial award. The Best Stop Motion Animation prize went to The Travails of Ajadi, directed by Adetunji Adeoye, while Francis Brown’s Blinded by the Lights took home the Best 3D Animation award. Damilola Solesi’s Hadu was named Best 2D Animation.
Beyond the awards, the festival hosted interactive panel sessions featuring experts from Nigeria, Uganda, and South Africa, alongside government and private sector representatives. Discussions centered on building sustainable animation ecosystems, funding opportunities, and Africa’s growing role in the global animation industry.
LIFANIMA 2025 also made room for the next generation of creatives through its Kids Animation Park, which featured workshops, screenings, and games aimed at inspiring children’s interest in animation and digital arts.
The festival’s success was made possible by its sponsors and partners, including the Embassy of France in Nigeria, NOA, Bank of Industry, Checkers Custard, and Sovereign Trust Insurance. Media partners included The Culture Newspaper, The Art Hub, Comic Panel World, Brand Crunch, and Breezy News, among others.
With record participation and the unveiling of a ₦22.5 million national prize, LIFANIMA 2025 reaffirmed Lagos as Africa’s creative capital and positioned the continent’s animators for even greater global recognition.
