The Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Limited has announced a $20,000 prize for the 2027 edition of the Nigeria Prize for Creative Arts, inviting Nigerian filmmakers to explore underrepresented stories through documentary films.
The competition, themed “Nigeria Unseen”, is designed to showcase lesser-known aspects of Nigerian life and present familiar subjects from fresh perspectives, particularly stories that have received little attention on screen.
The announcement was contained in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Monday by NLNG’s Manager, Corporate Communications and Public Affairs, Anne-Marie Palmer-Ikuku.
According to the statement, the competition, which debuted in 2026, is open to Nigerian filmmakers between the ages of 18 and 35, regardless of their country of residence, with a prize of US$20,000.
The company also announced the appointment of a three-member Advisory Board to provide guidance and maintain the quality of the competition.
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 is expected to provide strategic direction, supervise the administration of the prize and ensure the integrity of the judging process.
Its responsibilities will also include promoting originality, artistic excellence and transparency in the competition.
Speaking on the initiative, NLNG’s General Manager, External Relations and Sustainable Development, Sophia Horsfall, said the prize was part of the company’s efforts to encourage and recognise Nigerian creative talent.
“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.
“Documentary filmmaking demands time, research and the patience to understand a subject before presenting it to an audience. With ‘Nigeria Unseen’, we are encouraging filmmakers to pursue stories that deserve closer attention and tell them with care.
“We want the Prize to give outstanding work the recognition it deserves and introduce audiences to aspects of Nigeria they may not otherwise encounter,” Horsfall said.
The chairperson of the Advisory Board, Odugbemi, said the theme allowed filmmakers to explore a wide range of subjects, including everyday experiences that audiences might have overlooked.
“Nigeria Unseen’ does not necessarily mean travelling to a remote place or finding a subject that has never been filmed. It may mean looking again at something we pass every day and asking questions we have never thought to ask.
“An unfamiliar subject is a starting point, but the filmmaker still has to find the story and establish why it matters. That requires research, access and the trust of the people whose lives are being documented.
“We encourage filmmakers to test their assumptions and give the people in their films room to speak for themselves,” Odugbemi said.
The statement added that the Advisory Board comprises professionals with expertise in filmmaking, journalism, creative education and media leadership.
The submission portal for the 2027 competition is scheduled to open on February 1, 2027, with entries expected to be submitted through www.filmfreeway.com by 11:59 pm West African Time on April 30, 2027.
Eligible documentaries must have been produced between January 2026 and April 2027 and must not exceed 20 minutes in duration.
The Nigeria Prize for Creative Arts is aimed at celebrating Nigerian filmmaking talent and promoting documentary films as a means of documenting the country’s stories and presenting them to wider audiences.
The prize, alongside The Nigeria Prize for Literature and The Nigeria Prize for Science and Innovation, forms part of NLNG’s commitment to rewarding excellence in the arts and sciences.
