Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG) has announced a $20,000 prize for the 2027 edition of The Nigeria Prize for Creative Arts, inviting young Nigerian filmmakers to tell stories that highlight lesser-known aspects of the country.
The competition, themed “Nigeria Unseen,” is open to Nigerian filmmakers aged 18 to 35, regardless of their country of residence.
Following its inaugural edition in 2026, the prize will recognise documentary films that explore overlooked experiences, communities and perspectives, as well as familiar subjects that have not received sufficient attention.
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NLNG's General Manager, External Relations and Sustainable Development, Sophia Horsfall, said the initiative reflected the company's commitment to supporting Nigerian creative talent and promoting quality filmmaking.
She noted that documentary production required research, patience and a deep understanding of the subjects being presented to audiences.
According to her, the competition aims to recognise outstanding productions and introduce viewers to aspects of Nigeria they might not otherwise encounter.
The company has also appointed a three-member advisory board to guide the competition and protect the integrity of its judging process.
Award-winning filmmaker and producer Femi Odugbemi will chair the board, while journalist and broadcaster Kadaria Ahmed and documentary filmmaker Joel Kachi Benson will serve as members.
The board will provide strategic direction, oversee the administration of the prize and ensure that entries are assessed based on originality, artistic quality and storytelling.
Odugbemi said the theme offered filmmakers an opportunity to examine familiar subjects from fresh perspectives rather than limiting their stories to remote or previously undocumented locations.
He encouraged prospective entrants to conduct proper research, build trust with the people featured in their documentaries and allow them to tell their own stories.
He added that strong documentary filmmaking should help audiences understand the experiences of the people being portrayed, rather than simply introduce them to unfamiliar places or lifestyles.
Odugbemi is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Zuri24 Media, a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and a co-founder of the iREP International Documentary Film Festival.
Ahmed is the Executive Director of Daria Media and Managing Director of Radio Now 95.3 FM. She previously worked as a senior producer at the BBC and editor of NEXT newspaper.
Benson is an award-winning documentary filmmaker whose virtual reality production, 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.
The submission portal for the 2027 competition will open on February 1, 2027, with entries closing at 11:59 p.m. West African Time on April 30.
Eligible films must have been produced between January 2026 and April 2027 and must not exceed 20 minutes.
Entries are to be submitted through FilmFreeway, while additional eligibility criteria and submission requirements are available on The Nigeria Prizes' website.
The Nigeria Prize for Creative Arts is part of NLNG's broader initiative to recognise excellence in the creative sector, alongside The Nigeria Prize for Literature and The Nigeria Prize for Science and Innovation.
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