Two Nigerian films: Damilola Solesi’s Hadu and Dika Ofoma’s God’s Wife have been selected to screen at the IFFR 2025 edition.
By Hamid Sowemimo
The prestigious International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR) in the Netherlands has selected two Nigerian short films for screening at its 2025 edition: Hadu, directed by Damilola Solesi, and God’s Wife, directed by Dika Ofoma. Renowned for showcasing independent and experimental cinema, the festival will run from 30 January to 9 February 2025.
Damilola Solesi’s Hadu, an animated short film, will feature in the Educational Programme section, designed to introduce children and students to independent cinema. The story follows Simi, a young girl who reconnects with her heritage through a bond with her grandmother.

The film has already received significant recognition, winning Best Animation Short at the 2024 Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF) and the Fak’ugesi Digital Africa Festival in Johannesburg.
Further cementing its importance, it recently screened at the CINANIMA International Animated Film Festival in Portugal, an Academy Award-qualifying festival.
Meanwhile, Dika Ofoma’s God’s Wife will be showcased in the Short and Mid-Length category. The film tells the story of a young widow caught between her values and family traditions when her late husband’s brother makes an unexpected proposail.

God’s Wife had its Nigerian premiere at the S16 Festival, where it was honoured with the Rising Star Award. Ofoma’s work has previously been featured at renowned festivals, including Film Lab Africa, Internationale Kurzfilmtage Winterthur in Switzerland, and the Brazil African Film Festival.
This is not the first time Nigerian talent has been spotlighted at IFFR. Earlier this year, Ishaya Bako’s adaptation of Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani’s novel, I Do Not Come to You by Chance — executive produced by Genevieve Nnaji and Chinny Carter — was also screened at the festival.

IFFR continues to serve as a global platform for innovative filmmaking, and the inclusion of these Nigerian films marks another milestone for the country’s growing presence in international cinema.