Coal City Film Festival celebrates the originality of African and world cinema in the city that arguably gave birth to the Nigeria Film Industry otherwise known as Nollywood. Enugu State Nigeria played integral role in hosting early filmmakers and provided locations in the beginning days of the largest film industry in Africa and has continued to do so; what other way to pay the state back, than assembling filmmakers from all over the world annually to this tourist city with so much historical and archaeological significance to Nigeria and Africa as a whole.

The Festival founded by African Avant-garde filmmaker and Screenwriter, Uche Agbo, is an Okike Media initiative with the goal of serving as the gateway to the heart of tourist potentials of South East Nigeria.

CCFF as the festival is fondly called is proud to provide activities that foster an appreciation of the art of film as well as educate International, local and regional filmmakers, students of film, the broader arts community, and the general public. It’s an opportunity for independent filmmakers and the art community at large to celebrate the beauty of the art of cinema.

The maiden edition was billed to take place in March 2020 before the terrible COVID-19 pandemic that broke out across the world. It was then moved to March 25th to March 27th 2021 and was successfully hosted, described by attendees as the most successful first time film festival in the history of Nigeria.

The festival has two categories - competitive and non-competitive. The jury will decide which category all submitted films fall into. Some awards will have prizes while some will have special mentions. These are the categories:

Best Feature Film
Best Documentary
Best Animation
Best Short Film
Best Student/Experimental Film
Best Nigerian Film
Best Director
Best Screenwriter
Best Leading Actor (Male & Female)
Best sub-Leading category (male and female)
Best Cinematography
Best Production Design
Best Lighting Design
Best Sound Design
Best Art Direction

By submitting your film, you grant permission to Coal City Film Festival (CCFF) , her promoters Okike Media and partners the rights to use clips of your film for promotional use. You also confirm that you have the rights to the project submitted and indemnify CCFF and/or its promoters and partners of any legal action that may arise from our access/use of such content.

You also agree that the decisions of the jury for this festival is final, and you cannot enter into litigation against the festival in whatsoever reason because your film wasn't selected or didn't win any prize.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Oyetayo Ojoade

    I am very honored that my feature film "The Hidden Crime: Violence Against Men" was selected as the "Best Documentary" for 2023. Thank you to the judges at the Coal City Film Festival for this amazing recognition.

    May 2023
  • Perception Filmworks

    Nice experience but we did not get the organizers to communicate properly

    April 2023
  • I won best overall feature film category, beyond my excitement I learnt a lot at the festival

    April 2022
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you for finding time to review our festival. We shall continue to get better.

  • Davidson Imosime Izegaegbe

    The festival was cool & more so having my movie LOST TREASURE amongst films selected for screening was awesome. I met most of my friends & made new ones too.However, I would suggest that to allow more active participation next year, there should be stationed buses to move participants to various sites for tourism as well as the various master classes. There should also be awards or certificates of participation for universities that took time to get their students involved. Kudos to the organisers!
    DAVIDSON IZEGAEGBE
    (CHAIRMAN DIRECTORS GUILD OF NIGERIA, EDO STATE CHAPTER)

    April 2022
  • Osaigbovo Eriamiantoe

    It was a great time at the Coal City film festival. Every moment was eventful.

    April 2022