Five young Nigerian documentary filmmakers have been shortlisted for the inaugural Nigeria Prize for Creative Arts (NPCA), following a rigorous judging process that reduced the field from 11 nominees.
Anne-Marie Palmer-Ikuku, Manager, Corporate Communications and Public Affairs at Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG), disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday.
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 Aiwuyuse, and Women of Salt: The Resilience of Ebonyi’s Women by Jessica Chinyer.
The finalists emerged from 98 submissions received from young Nigerian creatives for the maiden edition of the prize, which focused on the theme “Identity.”
The theme challenged filmmakers to examine Nigeria through the experiences of its people, communities and cultures, while exploring the changing understanding of what it means to be Nigerian.
According to the organisers, the shortlisted documentaries reflect the diversity of Nigeria’s social and cultural landscape, presenting different perspectives on identity, community, resilience and everyday life.
The selected works explore a range of issues, including the resilience of women in Ebonyi, life around Tarkwa Bay, the character and community of Okrika, as well as other personal and social narratives that capture different dimensions of the Nigerian experience.
The Nigeria Prize for Creative Arts was established in 2025 and is sponsored by Nigeria LNG Limited. The initiative is designed to identify, recognise and promote outstanding creative works produced by young Nigerians between the ages of 18 and 35.
Beyond recognising individual talent, the prize seeks to provide a platform for emerging Nigerian creatives to tell stories that reflect the country’s diverse identities, experiences and perspectives.
The inaugural edition’s focus on documentary filmmaking also highlights the role of non-fiction storytelling in preserving cultural experiences and bringing important social issues to wider audiences.
With the five filmmakers now shortlisted, the competition moves closer to its final stage, where one filmmaker will emerge as the inaugural recipient of the Nigeria Prize for Creative Arts.
The winner will receive a $20,000 cash prize, making the award not only a major recognition of creative excellence but also a significant financial opportunity for the winning filmmaker to further develop their craft and future projects.
The organisers said the quality and diversity of submissions demonstrated the depth of creative talent among young Nigerians and the wide range of stories that can be told about the country.
The five shortlisted documentaries ultimately offer different windows into Nigerian life, reinforcing the idea that national identity is shaped by diverse communities, cultures, personal experiences and social realities.
The inaugural Nigeria Prize for Creative Arts is therefore positioned as a platform for young filmmakers to contribute to conversations about Nigeria while gaining recognition for their creative work.
The eventual winner will make history as the first recipient of the Nigeria Prize for Creative Arts.