NLNG unveils $20,000 prize for young Nigerian filmmakers

Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG) has announced a $20,000 prize for young Nigerian filmmakers in the 2027 edition of The Nigeria Prize for Creative Arts, targeting documentaries that spotlight overlooked stories about the country.

The competition, themed “Nigeria Unseen,” is open to Nigerian filmmakers aged 18 to 35, regardless of their country of residence.

NLNG’s General Manager, External Relations and Sustainable Development, Sophia Horsfall, announced the competition in a statement issued on Monday in Port Harcourt by the company’s Manager, Corporate Communications and Public Affairs, Anne-Marie Palmer-Ikuku.

Horsfall said the initiative was designed to recognise emerging creative talent and promote documentary filmmaking that offers fresh perspectives on Nigerian society.

“With ‘Nigeria Unseen’, we are encouraging filmmakers to pursue stories that deserve closer attention and tell them with care,” she said.

She expressed confidence that the competition would inspire filmmakers to produce well-researched documentaries capable of bringing neglected stories to wider audiences.

The company has appointed a three-member advisory board to guide the competition and ensure that its standards are maintained.

The board is chaired by award-winning filmmaker and producer Femi Odugbemi, with journalist and broadcaster Kadaria Ahmed and documentary filmmaker Joel Benson as members.

According to Horsfall, the submission portal will open on February 1, 2027, while entries will close at 11:59 p.m. on April 30, 2027.

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She said eligible films must have been produced between January 2026 and April 2027 and must not exceed 20 minutes in duration.

Interested filmmakers are required to submit their entries through www.filmfreeway.com, while the full eligibility criteria, film specifications and submission guidelines are available at www.thenigeriaprizes.org.

Speaking on the competition’s theme, Odugbemi said “Nigeria Unseen” offered filmmakers an opportunity to explore familiar subjects from fresh perspectives and uncover stories that had received little attention.

He urged participants to conduct thorough research, build trust with their subjects and portray their experiences with accuracy and sensitivity.

Odugbemi also assured entrants that the advisory board would uphold originality, artistic quality and compelling storytelling, while ensuring a transparent and independent adjudication process.

The Nigeria Prize for Creative Arts recognises Nigerian filmmaking talent and the role of documentary films in preserving the country’s stories.

The prize is part of NLNG’s broader recognition programmes, alongside The Nigeria Prize for Literature and The Nigeria Prize for Science and Innovation.