The Warien Rose International Film Festival (WRIFF) has debuted in Lagos, screening six Nigerian films ranging from three minutes to almost two hours.

The festival, organised as a platform for filmmakers and other creatives, featured documentaries, short films and other works centred on historical narratives, personal experiences and organisational stories.

Creative Director of WRIFF, Jheri Blake, said the festival was established to provide filmmakers with opportunities to showcase their works to international audiences.

Speaking during an interactive session, Blake said the festival welcomed different forms of creative expression and sought to provide opportunities for young filmmakers to develop and showcase their talents.

Country Head of Warien Rose Academy, Efe Anaughe, said the festival was aimed at promoting storytelling and creating opportunities for filmmakers whose works address social and cultural issues.

She said the theme of the festival, “Great Stories, Global Impact,” reflected its objective of using storytelling to influence perspectives, preserve history, encourage dialogue and connect people across cultures and generations.

Anaughe said film had become an important tool for education, advocacy, economic development and cultural expression, adding that many African stories remained underrepresented.

According to her, WRIFF was created partly to provide a platform for filmmakers whose works go beyond entertainment and generate conversations around social issues.

She also disclosed that the festival was an offshoot of Warien Rose Academy, which is set to launch what she described as the first Filmmaking MBA programme in Nigeria and Africa.

Another Co-director of WRIFF, Babatunde Akinnayajo, described the 2026 edition as an opportunity to bring filmmakers from different backgrounds together and provide a platform for their works to be screened, recognised and awarded.

Akinnayajo said the festival was also intended to contribute to the development of a filmmaking community and ecosystem in Nigeria, Africa and beyond.

Among the films screened was Kaka, a short tragedy thriller about the experiences of a young schoolgirl in Northern Nigeria. Its producer, Prince Daniel, said the film had won more than 20 awards locally and internationally.

Another film, Old Soldier, was produced on a budget of $100, according to its producer, Dayo George.

Akinnayajo said film screenings were important to filmmakers because they provided opportunities for their works to receive recognition from audiences and industry stakeholders.

He said such recognition could encourage filmmakers to continue developing their craft and producing more works.