Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG) has announced the 2027 edition of The Nigeria Prize for Creative Arts, giving $20,000 to a young Nigerian filmmaker for an excellent documentary.

The competition, themed “Nigeria Unseen”, asks filmmakers to look into overlooked parts of Nigerian life and provide new views on common topics.

It is open to Nigerian filmmakers aged 18 to 35, including those living abroad.

The submission portal will open on 1 February 2027 and close at 11:59 p.m. WAT on 30 April 2027.

Eligible documentaries must be made between January 2026 and April 2027 and must not be longer than 20 minutes.

The competition is back after its first edition in 2026.

Telling overlooked Nigerian stories

NLNG explained that the new theme aims to highlight people, communities, and daily experiences that do not often get enough screen time.

The documentaries do not have to focus only on remote areas or unknown topics. Filmmakers can also revisit familiar issues from angles that have not received much attention.

NLNG’s General Manager for External Relations and Sustainable Development, Sophia Horsfall, said making documentaries needs patience, research, and a desire to understand a topic before sharing it with viewers.

“With ‘Nigeria Unseen’, we are encouraging filmmakers to chase stories that need more attention and tell them carefully,” she stated.

“We want the Prize to honor excellent work and introduce audiences to parts of Nigeria they might not see otherwise.”

Ms Horsfall mentioned that the competition shows the company’s trust in Nigerian creative talent and its wish to support high-quality filmmaking.

Advisory board appointed

NLNG also announced a three-member advisory board to oversee the Prize’s growth and management.

Filmmaker and producer Femi Odugbemi will lead the board, while journalist and broadcaster Kadaria Ahmed and documentary filmmaker Joel Kachi Benson will serve as members.

The board will provide guidance, manage the competition, and ensure the judging process is fair.

It will also make sure that submitted films are judged on originality, artistic quality, and storytelling.

Mr Odugbemi said the theme gives filmmakers a lot of freedom in choosing their topics but emphasized that finding a new story is just the first step in making a documentary.

“‘Nigeria Unseen’ does not just mean going to a far place or finding a subject that has never been filmed,” he said.

“It could mean looking again at something we see every day and asking questions we have never thought to ask.”

He urged filmmakers to challenge their assumptions, do proper research, and let the people in their documentaries tell their own stories.

According to him, a good documentary should do more than show that a place, community, or lifestyle exists. It should help viewers understand the lives and situations of those featured.

Board members

Mr Odugbemi is the founder and CEO of Zuri24 Media and a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

He co-founded the iREP International Documentary Film Festival and was the first Academy Director of the MultiChoice Talent Factory in West Africa.

Ms Ahmed is the Executive Director of Daria Media and Managing Director of Radio Now 95.3 FM.

A former senior producer for BBC and editor at NEXT newspaper, she has worked in print, radio, and TV, including hosting interviews and presidential debates.

Mr Benson is known for his documentaries and immersive works focused on human experiences.

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 Outstanding Arts and Culture Documentary at the 2025 News and Documentary Emmy Awards.

NLNG believes that their combined experience in filmmaking, journalism, creative education, and media leadership will back the Prize’s goal of credible and socially relevant storytelling.

Submission requirements

Filmmakers who want to enter must submit their work through FilmFreeway before the April deadline.

Films longer than 20 minutes or made outside the eligibility period will not be accepted.

NLNG advised applicants to check the full call for entries on The Nigeria Prizes’ website for more eligibility rules, technical details, and submission requirements.

The Nigeria Prize for Creative Arts was set up to recognize Nigerian filmmaking talent and encourage documentaries that capture the country’s experiences for both local and international audiences.

It runs alongside The Nigeria Prize for Literature and The Nigeria Prize for Science and Innovation.