By | Goodluck E. Adubazi, Abuja
The Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG) has announced the opening of entries for the 2027 edition of The Nigeria Prize for Creative Arts, challenging young Nigerian filmmakers to explore untold stories and present lesser-known aspects of the country through documentary filmmaking.
The competition, themed “Nigeria Unseen,” seeks documentaries that bring overlooked stories of Nigerian life to wider audiences while examining familiar subjects from fresh and underrepresented perspectives.
Following its inaugural edition in 2026, the competition returns with a cash prize of $20,000 and is open to Nigerian filmmakers aged between 18 and 35, regardless of their country of residence.
As part of efforts to strengthen the competition’s governance and maintain professional standards, NLNG has appointed a three-member Advisory Board chaired by award-winning filmmaker and producer, Femi Odugbemi.
Other members are journalist and broadcaster Kadaria Ahmed, and documentary filmmaker Joel Kachi Benson.
The Board is expected to provide strategic direction, oversee the administration of the Prize and safeguard the integrity of its adjudication process, with emphasis on originality, artistic excellence, compelling storytelling and transparency.
Speaking on the competition, NLNG’s General Manager, External Relations and Sustainable Development, Sophia Horsfall, said the initiative reflected the company’s confidence in Nigerian creative talent and its commitment to promoting quality filmmaking.
She explained that documentary filmmaking requires extensive research, patience and a deep understanding of the subjects being presented to audiences.
According to her, the 2027 theme is designed to encourage filmmakers to explore stories that deserve greater attention and present them in ways that broaden public understanding of Nigeria and its people.
“Our support for The Nigeria Prize for Creative Arts reflects our confidence in Nigerian talent and our recognition of the work that goes into making good, structured content,” Horsfall said.
She added that the Prize would provide outstanding filmmakers with the recognition they deserve while exposing audiences to aspects of Nigeria they might not otherwise encounter.
In his remarks, Advisory Board Chairman, Odugbemi, said the theme offered filmmakers considerable creative freedom, stressing that discovering an untold story does not necessarily require travelling to remote locations.
He challenged participants to revisit familiar environments, question established assumptions and explore everyday experiences that have received little attention.
Odugbemi also emphasised the importance of research, access and building trust with people whose lives are documented, noting that filmmakers must allow their subjects to express their experiences authentically.
The Advisory Board brings together professionals with extensive experience in filmmaking, journalism, broadcasting and media leadership.
Odugbemi is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Zuri24 Media, a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and co-founder of the iREP International Documentary Film Festival. He previously served as pioneer Academy Director of the MultiChoice Talent Factory in West Africa.
Ahmed, Executive Director of Daria Media and Managing Director of Radio Now 95.3 FM, is a former Senior Producer at the BBC and Editor of NEXT newspaper. She brings extensive experience in public-interest journalism, broadcasting and editorial leadership.
Benson, an award-winning documentary filmmaker, is recognised internationally for his work in documentary and immersive storytelling. His virtual reality documentary, *Daughters of Chibok*, won the Venice Lion for Best Immersive Story at the 2019 Venice International Film Festival.
He also co-directed *Madu*, which won the Outstanding Arts and Culture Documentary award at the 2025 News and Documentary Emmy Awards.
Meanwhile, the submission portal for the 2027 competition will open on February 1, 2027, with entries closing at 11:59 p.m. West Africa Time on April 30, 2027.
Eligible documentaries must have been produced between January 2026 and April 2027 and must not exceed 20 minutes in running time.
Submissions are to be made exclusively through www.filmfreeway.com
Further details on eligibility, film specifications and submission requirements are available at www.thenigeriaprizes.org
The Nigeria Prize for Creative Arts is part of NLNG’s broader commitment to recognising and rewarding excellence in the arts and sciences, alongside The Nigeria Prize for Literature and The Nigeria Prize for Science and Innovation.
