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About Us

The Toronto International Nollywood Film Festival (TINFF) is a multicultural film and music festival that champions diversity, inclusion, and cultural exchange through the arts. Hosted annually in Toronto, Canada, the festival showcases Canadian and international films, providing a platform for both established and emerging artists.

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The festival includes:

  • Live screenings of selected films

  • An annual awards gala

  • Red carpet interviews and networking opportunities

  • Recognition of independent filmmakers through audience and jury awards

Our Mission

TINFF’s mission is to support independent filmmakers by providing opportunities for review, judging, marketing, networking, and overcoming barriers to creativity and distribution.

Our Commitment

  • TINFF strives to provide exceptional service to filmmakers from submission to award presentation. The festival values diversity, equality, and cultural representation, aiming to:

  • Connect filmmakers with distributors and audiences

  • Celebrate creativity and originality

  • Promote cultural diversity in film and music

Accreditation

The Toronto International Nollywood Film Festival (TINFF) is an Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television (Canadian Screen Award) qualifying festival, recognized on the Academy’s official list of approved festivals. Often referred to as the Canadian equivalent of the Oscars, the Canadian Screen Awards honor excellence in film, television, and digital media.

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This recognition means all past and future official selections at TINFF are eligible to list the festival as a qualifier when submitting entries to the Canadian Screen Awards.

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In addition to this distinction, TINFF is:

  • IMDb-qualifying

  • Telefilm Canada-qualifying

  • Supported by: City of Brampton, Ontario Creates, Canadian Heritage, and the Canada Media Fund

Submission and Evaluation Process

  • Official Selection Review – Films reviewed by the TINFF jury for quality and alignment with festival values.

  • Nominee Announcement – Selected films proceed to compete for awards.

  • Audience & Jury Voting – Winners chosen from each category.

  • Awards & Screenings – Winners receive recognition at the live festival event in Toronto.

Awards and Prizes

TINFF honors outstanding independent filmmakers with:

  • Trophies or Certificates for Best Project, Audience Choice, and category winners

  • Cinema Distribution Opportunities via Silverbird Film Distribution WA, FilmOne Distribution, Evritfilms UK, and True Sail Distribution

  • Video-on-Demand (VOD) Opportunities to monetize content internationally

Short Film Festival Contest

TINFF will host a Short Film Festival Contest open to all short filmmakers.


Winners receive:

  • A cash prize

  • Screening at the annual September festival in Toronto

  • Special awards at the closing gala

  • A TINFF trophy and category-specific recognition

  • Audience Choice Award based on viewer voting

 

Judges select winners from a curated list of entries, with all chosen works screened during the festival.

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