Reimagine Africa: Storytelling For Transformation

Your Camera. Your Voice. Your Story. Your Africa.

The Delegation of the European Union to Nigeria and ECOWAS, in partnership with High Definition Film Academy (HDFA), invites filmmakers and creatives across Nigeria to participate in the 2026 European Union Short Film Competition.

This year’s competition challenges Nigerian storytellers to use the power of film to imagine a better Africa, challenge existing narratives, inspire meaningful conversations, and explore how storytelling can contribute to positive transformation.

The Challenge

Make an original short film of 3 minutes maximum inspired by the theme:

“Reimagine Africa: Storytelling For Transformation”

Your film can explore Nigeria/Africa’s challenges, possibilities, people, culture, innovation, identity, future, or any issue that speaks to transformation.

We want stories that make us think, feel, question, imagine and act.

You can tell your story through fiction, documentary, or animation.

NB: AI Films are not admissible in this competition.

The question is simple:

If You Could Reimagine Africa Through Film, What Story Would You Tell?

Who Can Enter?

The competition is open to filmmakers and creatives across Nigeria.

Whether you are an experienced filmmaker or making your first serious short film, your story deserves to be heard.

Film Requirements

To qualify for consideration, your submission must meet the following requirements:

1. Maximum Duration

Your film must be 3 minutes or less, including credits.

2. Theme

The film must respond meaningfully to:

“Reimagine Africa: Storytelling for Transformation.”

3. Originality

The submitted film must be an original work created by the entrant or submitting team.

4. Nigerian Participation

The competition is open to filmmakers and creatives across Nigeria.

5. Language

Films may be produced in English or any Nigerian language.

Films in languages other than English should include English subtitles.

6. Genre

Fiction, documentary, and animation are accepted.

7. Production Date

The film should be a work produced for, or suitable for, the 2026 competition.

8. Copyright

Participants must have the necessary rights and permissions for all elements used in their film, including music, footage, photographs, artwork, performances and other copyrighted materials.

9. Content

Submissions must comply with applicable laws and should not contain content that promotes hatred, discrimination, violence, extremism or other forms of harmful or unlawful conduct.

10. One Film Per Entrant

Each filmmaker or creative team may submit one film to the competition.

How Will Films Be Judged?

All eligible submissions will undergo a professional screening and selection process.

Films will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

Relevance to the Theme — 25%

How effectively does the film engage with “Reimagine Africa: Storytelling for Transformation”?

Storytelling & Narrative Strength — 25%

How compelling, coherent and emotionally engaging is the story?

Creativity & Originality — 20%

Does the filmmaker demonstrate a fresh, distinctive or innovative approach?

Social Impact & Transformational Potential — 15%

Does the film provoke thought, inspire conversation, challenge perspectives or encourage positive change?

Cinematic & Technical Execution — 15%

Consideration will be given to directing, cinematography, sound, editing, performance, production design and overall execution, while recognizing that films may be produced with varying levels of resources.

Important: Technical sophistication alone will not determine the winner. A powerful story told creatively and effectively can compete strongly regardless of production budget.

The Top 10

Following the screening and evaluation process, 10 films will be selected as finalists.

The Top 10 films will be officially announced and invited to screen at the Grand Finale of the 2026 European Union Short Film Competition, taking place as part of the:

Africa Films For Impact Festival 2026

October 28–30, 2026

Abuja, Nigeria

The finalists will have the opportunity to showcase their work before filmmakers, industry professionals, young creatives, development practitioners, diplomats, policymakers, festival audiences and other stakeholders.

The Prizes

BEST FILM

₦1,000,000

FIRST RUNNER-UP

₦500,000

SECOND RUNNER-UP

₦300,000

Beyond the cash prizes, being selected among the Top 10 provides filmmakers with visibility, recognition, networking opportunities and a platform to showcase their work to an influential creative and development audience.

How To Submit Your Film

To submit your film, click HERE, follow the competition submission instructions and complete the online entry form.

Step 4 — Wait For The Selection

Every eligible submission will undergo the competition’s screening and evaluation process.

The Top 10 finalists will be announced ahead of the Grand Finale.

Submission Deadline

OCTOBER 7, 2026

Late submissions will not be considered.

We strongly encourage filmmakers to submit early rather than waiting until the final day.

Why Participate?

The European Union Short Film Competition is more than a filmmaking contest.

It is an opportunity to:

TELL a story that matters.

CHALLENGE the way Africa is seen and understood.

INSPIRE new possibilities.

CONNECT with filmmakers and industry professionals.

SHOWCASE your work before a diverse audience.

WIN significant cash prizes.

CONTRIBUTE to a larger conversation about Africa’s future.

Follow The Conversation

Stay informed about announcements, finalist selections, competition updates and the Grand Finale.

Instagram

@hdfilmacademy
@euinnigeria

Website

www.hdfilmacademy.com

Are You Ready To Reimagine Africa?

Africa has been told many stories.

Some stories have defined us.

Some have limited us.

Some have inspired us.

Now, it is your turn to tell the story.

Pick up your camera.

Find your voice.

Imagine what Africa can become.

And tell us a story that can help transform it.

Reimagine It. Tell It. Transform It.

Submit Your Film By October 7, 2026

www.hdfilmacademy.com

Presented by the Delegation of the European Union to Nigeria and ECOWAS in partnership with High Definition Film Academy.