Five documentary films have emerged as finalists for the inaugural US$20,000 Nigeria Prize for Creative Arts (NPCA), following a rigorous judging process that narrowed the field from 11 nominees.
The five shortlisted documentaries are Beyond Tarkwa Bay by Peter Oghenetega Oke; Mara Mania by Feranmi Abiola; No Food for Lazy Man by Ummi Bukar; Okrika by Abraham Ayodele Aiwuyuse; and Women of Salt: The Resilience of Ebonyi’s Women by Jessica Chinyere.
The finalists were selected from 98 submissions received for the maiden edition of the Prize, which challenged young Nigerian creatives to explore the theme, “Identity.” The theme encouraged filmmakers to examine Nigeria, its people, communities, cultures and the evolving meaning of being Nigerian.
Their emergence marks another major stage in the competition, taking the filmmakers from the initial pool of entries through the 11-nominee stage to the final shortlist.
Sponsored by Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG), the Nigeria Prize for Creative Arts was established in 2025 to identify, recognise and promote outstanding creative works by Nigerians aged between 18 and 35.
The US$20,000 Prize is designed to provide emerging documentary filmmakers with a platform to tell original Nigerian stories while gaining national and international recognition for their work.
According to NLNG, the five shortlisted documentaries offer distinctive perspectives on the Nigerian experience and continue the exploration of identity that has characterised the inaugural edition of the Prize.
The films examine diverse experiences, from the resilience of women in Ebonyi and life around Tarkwa Bay to the character of Okrika and other personal and social narratives, reflecting the richness and diversity of contemporary Nigerian society.
The shortlist also highlights the growing strength of Nigeria’s emerging creative industry and the confidence of young filmmakers in telling authentic Nigerian stories from their own perspectives.
Chairperson of the Advisory Board of the Nigeria Prize for Creative Arts, Professor Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo, said the quality and diversity of the submissions demonstrated the depth of emerging creative talent in the country.
She noted that the young filmmakers had shown an ability to engage thoughtfully with Nigeria’s stories while offering fresh perspectives on the country’s identity and experiences.
With the competition now narrowed to five finalists, attention shifts to the final stage of adjudication ahead of the announcement of the winner at NLNG’s Grand Award Night scheduled for October 2026.
The winning documentary will make history as the first recipient of the Nigeria Prize for Creative Arts.
