Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG) has announced the 2027 edition of The Nigeria Prize for Creative Arts, offering a $20,000 cash prize to the winner of its documentary film competition. Under the theme “Nigeria Unseen”, the competition invites young Nigerian filmmakers to explore overlooked stories, perspectives and experiences that reveal the country’s cultural and social diversity.
The theme challenges filmmakers to consider the many stories that exist beneath Nigeria’s familiar narratives. From communities whose histories remain undocumented to cultural practices and everyday experiences that reveal the country’s diversity, “Nigeria Unseen” creates room for stories that offer a different understanding of what it means to be Nigerian. Through original non-fiction storytelling, the competition seeks documentaries that preserve heritage, challenge perspectives, and encourage audiences to see the country through a new lens.
The competition is open exclusively to Nigerians aged 18 to 35, regardless of where they reside. Only completed, original non-fiction documentary films are eligible. Submitted films must have been completed between January 2026 and April 2027, and entries outside this period will not be considered. Documentaries must not exceed 20 minutes in running time, while films featuring AI-generated imagery or music are not eligible.
Although the competition has been announced, submissions will not open until February 1, 2027. Interested filmmakers will have until April 30, 2027, at 11:59 p.m. WAT to submit their entries through The Nigeria Prize for Creative Arts’ page on FilmFreeway.
NLNG has also appointed a three-member Advisory Board to provide strategic direction and oversee the prize’s administration and integrity. Award-winning filmmaker and producer Femi Odugbemi will chair the board, alongside journalist and broadcaster Kadaria Ahmed and documentary filmmaker Joel Kachi Benson.
Odugbemi founded Zuri24 Media and co-founded the iREP International Documentary Film Festival. Ahmed is the Executive Director of Daria Media and Managing Director of Radio Now 95.3 FM, while Benson is known for his documentary and immersive storytelling. His virtual-reality documentary, Daughters of Chibok, won the Venice Lion for Best Immersive Story at the 2019 Venice International Film Festival.
Established in October 2025, The Nigeria Prize for Creative Arts recognises young Nigerian filmmakers who use documentary storytelling to explore the country’s identity, culture and collective experiences. It joins The Nigeria Prize for Literature, The Nigeria Prize for Science and The Nigeria Prize for Literary Criticism among the awards sponsored by NLNG.
The full eligibility criteria and submission guidelines are available on The Nigeria Prizes’ official website. Entries will be submitted through FilmFreeway when the portal opens on February 1, 2027.
