Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG) has selected 11 young filmmakers as the inaugural longlist contenders for the Nigeria Prize for Creative Arts (NPCA) following a nationwide assessment of 98 entries.

The US$20,000 prize, fully sponsored by NLNG, was established to recognise and promote outstanding creative talent among Nigerians between the ages of 18 and 35.

For its first edition, the competition invited young filmmakers to interpret the theme “Identity” through documentary storytelling focused on Nigeria’s diverse cultures, communities and changing social realities.

The 11 longlisted filmmakers will proceed to the final adjudication stage ahead of the grand award night scheduled for October 2026, when the overall winner will be announced.

Announcing the longlist, Professor Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo, Chair of the Advisory Board for the prize, said the number and standard of submissions demonstrated the depth of creative talent among young Nigerians.

“For a maiden edition, 98 entries represent a strong vote of confidence in the Prize and in the ability of young Nigerians to tell their own stories,” Adimora-Ezeigbo said.

She added that the 11 nominees secured their places through compelling interpretations of the theme. According to her, their documentaries preserve significant cultural narratives while exploring contemporary Nigerian realities from fresh perspectives.

The selected documentaries cover a broad range of Nigerian experiences, including cultural traditions, economic resilience, community life, spirituality, heritage and personal identity.

Among the filmmakers on the longlist is Blessing Bulus, whose documentary Mi Tazi explores Nigerian identity. Jessica Chinyere, in Women of Salt: The Resilience of Ebonyi’s Women, examines economic resilience among women in Ebonyi State.

Ummi Bukar explores the realities of everyday hustle in No Food for Lazy Men, while Dominic Fayenuwo examines spiritual and cultural folklore in Àkúdàáyà.

Traditional heritage and cultural festivals are explored in Tosin Keshinro’s Arugba: The Weight of Purity and Ibrahim Khalil Bala’s Argungu Fishing Festival, which documents the iconic gathering in Northern Nigeria.

Other works on the longlist are Peter Oghenetega’s Beyond Tarkwa Bay, Joseph Okulaja’s Calabar My Calabar and Abraham Ayodele Aiwyuse’s Okrika, which explores community commerce.

The remaining selections are Feranmi Abiola’s Mara Mania and Aimalohi Ojeamiran’s Far From Home, a reflection on distance and dislocation.

All 11 documentaries will now advance to the final adjudication stage, with the overall winner set to be announced during NLNG’s Grand Award Night in October 2026.

The inaugural Nigeria Prize for Creative Arts provides a platform for young Nigerian filmmakers to showcase local stories, preserve cultural narratives and contribute to the development of the country’s creative economy.

By centring the initiative on youth-led documentary filmmaking, the prize also provides emerging creatives with an opportunity to gain recognition while using storytelling to explore Nigeria’s history, culture and evolving social realities.

Source: MSME Africa Online