A New Prize for Creative Arts to Inspire Young Filmmakers

Yinka Olatunbosun 

Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG) has reaffirmed its commitment to nurturing homegrown talent with the launch of The Nigeria Prize for Creative Arts, a new category designed to celebrate and empower young filmmakers.

Replacing The Nigeria Prize for Literary Criticism, the new award will focus on short documentary films that tell compelling stories about Nigeria’s people, culture, and identity.

According to NLNG, the prize is targeted at Nigerians aged 18 to 35 and aims to inspire them to use film as a tool for reshaping global perceptions of the country while deepening national pride and cultural understanding.

The maiden edition, themed “Identity,” will reward the best short documentary that captures the essence of being Nigerian. The winner will receive $20,000, with the first call for entries opening in February 2026.

At a press briefing held at the Marriott Hotel, Lagos, Sophia Horsfall, NLNG’s General Manager for External Relations and Sustainable Development, described the initiative as an extension of the company’s belief in storytelling as a vehicle for nation-building.

“The Nigeria Prize for Creative Arts is an invitation for young Nigerians to own their narrative — to show the world our brilliance, resilience, and complexity through film,” Horsfall said. “Every frame, every story, and every voice matters in shaping who we are as a people.”

Horsfall added that the new category aligns with NLNG’s broader mission of national development by connecting with Nigeria’s dynamic youth and thriving creative industry.

The prize joins The Nigeria Prize for Science and The Nigeria Prize for Literature in NLNG’s long-running programme celebrating excellence across disciplines.

The Advisory Board for The Nigeria Prizes, chaired by Professor Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo, will oversee the new award. Other members include Emeritus Professor Olu Obafemi and Professor Ahmed Yerima.

Professor Adimora-Ezeigbo described the initiative as a natural evolution of NLNG’s legacy of excellence.

“Excellence knows no boundary — it can be written, spoken, or filmed,” she said. “This prize challenges young documentary filmmakers to explore memory, question experience, and translate reality into meaning.”

She assured that the new category would uphold the same standards of integrity and transparency that have defined NLNG’s prizes for over two decades.

To ensure global credibility, NLNG has appointed Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Joel Kachi Benson as Technical Adviser to the Advisory Board.

Benson explained that entries would be judged according to international documentary festival standards, with only short films not exceeding 20 minutes eligible for submission.

“Nigeria’s young creatives have the talent and energy to compete globally,” Benson said. “This platform gives them the space and recognition to do just that.”

The judging panel for the inaugural edition will be chaired by veteran actor and filmmaker Dr. Sam Dede, a senior lecturer at the University of Port Harcourt. Other judges include Adeola Aderonke, an award-winning film director and art historian, and George Ugwuja, a renowned producer with an impressive international portfolio.

The prize will open for entries in February 2026 and close in April 2026, accepting short non-fiction films completed between April 2024 and April 2026. The judging process will involve longlisting, shortlisting, and background checks before the winner is announced at the NLNG Grand Award Night in October 2026, alongside winners of the Literature and Science categories.

There will also be opportunities for the public to view and engage with longlisted and shortlisted films, encouraging broader appreciation of documentary storytelling in Nigeria.

NLNG revealed that the idea for the new prize emerged from a stakeholder roundtable with filmmakers and creative professionals held in September 2025. The discussions helped shape the structure and sustainability of the award.

Calling the initiative a defining moment for Nigerian filmmakers, Benson urged young creators to embrace the opportunity.

“I call on all filmmakers to seize this chance — participate, create, and tell your story. Show the world who we are,” he said.