Mi Tazi (Remember), a documentary by Blessing Bulus, has won the Women in Arts Impact Grant at the 2026 edition of the All African Indie Film Festival (AAIFF), securing N1 million in funding.
The announcement followed the Women in Arts and Film 2026 event hosted by AAIFF. Bulus’ film emerged as the winner among more than five impact-driven projects, including Not Too Far by Olajesu Lord’sfavour, Unfiltered by Mordi Nymphteri, and The Same Hurt by Oluwaferanmi Roberts.
The documentary explores grief and memory through a personal lens. Speaking with The Nollywood Reporter, Bulus said she expected the film to connect with the festival’s theme, “Art as Healing and Social Impact,” but remained uncertain given the strength of other entries.
She described the win as both support and validation of the story’s depth. “I think Mi Tazi stood out because it is deeply personal but also universally relatable. It begins with something intimate and opens into broader conversations about memory, grief, ancestry, and the importance of preserving our stories,” she said.
Bulus also recalled a moment after her pitch when an audience member shared how the project resonated with him following the loss of his mother. According to her, the interaction reinforced the film’s ability to extend beyond personal experience and connect with wider audiences.
The filmmaker said the grant comes at a critical stage as she focuses on distribution. She noted that the funding will support additional festival submissions and expand the film’s reach.
She added that the team also plans to organise curated screenings to engage different communities, with the aim of prompting conversations around memory, identity, and cultural preservation.
Mi Tazi is a short documentary supported by StoryMi Academy and the French Embassy in Nigeria. The film has screened at the 2026 IRepresent International Documentary Film Festival.